The school was established in 1967 and was the first purpose-built comprehensive school in Wiltshire. Previously a foundation school administered by Swindon Borough Council, it converted to academy status in August 2011 and is part of the White Horse Federation, a multi-academy trust.[3] The school continues to coordinate with Swindon Borough Council for admissions.
In 2005, in an attempt to aid integration after the 7 July 2005 London bombings, the local council began sending British Asian youth from Swindon (outside the normal catchment area) to the school.[4] Some of this group formed a gang which pupils and parents called the "Asian Invasion", who bullied other pupils.[5][6]
On 11 January 2007, Henry Webster, a 15-year-old singled out for his red hair and large size, stood up to a member of the "Asian Invasion" and agreed for a one-on-one fight. However, the boy showed up with several others, including adults and Webster suffered injuries including brain damage from a hammer. In February 2008, four people were convicted for the attack.[7] By May, thirteen had been convicted.[4]
In February 2010, the High Court of Justice ruled in favour of the school when it was sued by Webster and his family. He had claimed that although the attack was outside school hours, it had been caused by the school's lack of action against the "Asian Invasion".[8] In September that year, a case review was published about the situation at the school, which recommended that all incidents of bullying should record the ethnicity of perpetrators and victims to look for racial motivations.[4]
^"Gang convicted of claw hammer attack". The Guardian. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2018. Jurors were told that Henry, a 6ft 2in rugby player with bright red hair, was targeted because he "stood out".
