The school is situated just north of the town centre, towards Blackfords, east of Cannock Chase Hospital.

[citation needed] The sixth form opened in September 1959.

In 2016 the school was inspected by Ofsted and judged to Require Improvement.

[4] The proportion of children entered for the English Baccalaureate was 5%, compared to 34% for the local authority and 40% in England.

[4] The proportion of children achieving Grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs was 33%, compared to 37% for the local authority and 43% for England.