The school was granted academy status in August 2011.

Its emblem is a phoenix rising from a crown with the legend 'Nec Aspera Terrent', which means 'hardships do not deter us'.

With the reorganisation of schools in the London Borough of Ealing and abolition of the tripartite system, Drayton Manor received its first comprehensive intake in 1975, and changed its name to reflect this change in status.

[1] In the 2012 Ofsted inspection report, the school was rated outstanding.

Ealing London Borough Council accused the school of discriminating against children living in areas of poverty by only admitting those who lived close to the school.