The students of the school came from areas with higher than average levels of socio-economic deprivation.

The number of students from minority ethnic groups, and those with learning difficulties and disabilities, were well above average.

[2] Hall Garth was the scene of a fatal stabbing, on 28 March 1994, when Stephen Wilkinson burst into a maths classroom and stabbed several children including 12-year-old Nikki Conroy who died from her injuries.

Wilkinson was subsequently convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to indefinite detention at a psychiatric hospital.

[6] Then in May 2005 the school hired an anti-bullying co-ordinator and set up a peer support group of older pupils.