diff --git a/frontend/app.js b/frontend/app.js
index eb8c1cc..1961f3a 100644
--- a/frontend/app.js
+++ b/frontend/app.js
@@ -771,6 +771,58 @@ function setupEventListeners() {
     
     // Compare search
     let compareSearchTimeout;
+    let lastCompareSearchData = null;
+    
+    function renderCompareResults(data) {
+        if (!data) return;
+        lastCompareSearchData = data;
+        
+        const results = data.schools.filter(s => !selectedSchools.some(sel => sel.urn === s.urn));
+        
+        const headerHtml = `
+            <div class="compare-results-header">
+                <span>${results.length} school${results.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''} found</span>
+                <button class="compare-results-close" title="Close (Esc)">
+                    <svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="14" height="14" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2">
+                        <path d="M12 4L4 12M4 4l8 8"/>
+                    </svg>
+                </button>
+            </div>
+        `;
+        
+        if (results.length === 0) {
+            elements.compareResults.innerHTML = headerHtml + '<div class="compare-result-item"><span class="name">No more schools to add</span></div>';
+        } else {
+            elements.compareResults.innerHTML = headerHtml + results.slice(0, 10).map(school => `
+                <div class="compare-result-item" data-urn="${school.urn}" data-name="${escapeHtml(school.school_name)}">
+                    <div class="name">${escapeHtml(school.school_name)}</div>
+                    <div class="location">${escapeHtml(school.local_authority || '')}${school.postcode ? ' • ' + escapeHtml(school.postcode) : ''}</div>
+                </div>
+            `).join('');
+            
+            elements.compareResults.querySelectorAll('.compare-result-item').forEach(item => {
+                item.addEventListener('click', () => {
+                    const urn = parseInt(item.dataset.urn);
+                    const school = data.schools.find(s => s.urn === urn);
+                    if (school) {
+                        addToComparison(school);
+                        // Re-render results without closing (filter out newly added school)
+                        renderCompareResults(data);
+                    }
+                });
+            });
+        }
+        
+        // Add close button handler
+        const closeBtn = elements.compareResults.querySelector('.compare-results-close');
+        if (closeBtn) {
+            closeBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+                elements.compareResults.classList.remove('active');
+                elements.compareSearch.value = '';
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    
     elements.compareSearch.addEventListener('input', async () => {
         clearTimeout(compareSearchTimeout);
         const query = elements.compareSearch.value.trim();
@@ -784,41 +836,14 @@ function setupEventListeners() {
             const data = await fetchAPI(`/api/schools?search=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`);
             if (!data) return;
             
-            const results = data.schools.filter(s => !selectedSchools.some(sel => sel.urn === s.urn));
-            
-            if (results.length === 0) {
-                elements.compareResults.innerHTML = '<div class="compare-result-item"><span class="name">No schools found</span></div>';
-            } else {
-                elements.compareResults.innerHTML = results.slice(0, 10).map(school => `
-                    <div class="compare-result-item" data-urn="${school.urn}" data-name="${escapeHtml(school.school_name)}">
-                        <div class="name">${escapeHtml(school.school_name)}</div>
-                        <div class="location">${escapeHtml(school.local_authority || '')}${school.postcode ? ' • ' + escapeHtml(school.postcode) : ''}</div>
-                    </div>
-                `).join('');
-                
-                elements.compareResults.querySelectorAll('.compare-result-item').forEach(item => {
-                    item.addEventListener('click', () => {
-                        const urn = parseInt(item.dataset.urn);
-                        const school = data.schools.find(s => s.urn === urn);
-                        if (school) {
-                            addToComparison(school);
-                            elements.compareSearch.value = '';
-                            elements.compareResults.classList.remove('active');
-                        }
-                    });
-                });
-            }
-            
+            renderCompareResults(data);
             elements.compareResults.classList.add('active');
         }, 300);
     });
     
-    elements.compareSearch.addEventListener('blur', () => {
-        setTimeout(() => elements.compareResults.classList.remove('active'), 200);
-    });
-    
     elements.compareSearch.addEventListener('focus', () => {
-        if (elements.compareSearch.value.trim().length >= 2) {
+        if (elements.compareSearch.value.trim().length >= 2 && lastCompareSearchData) {
+            renderCompareResults(lastCompareSearchData);
             elements.compareResults.classList.add('active');
         }
     });
@@ -852,6 +877,13 @@ function setupEventListeners() {
     // Keyboard
     document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
         if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+            // Close compare results if open
+            if (elements.compareResults.classList.contains('active')) {
+                elements.compareResults.classList.remove('active');
+                elements.compareSearch.value = '';
+                return;
+            }
+            // Close modal if open
             closeModal();
         }
     });
diff --git a/frontend/styles.css b/frontend/styles.css
index e49e0d9..23507c0 100644
--- a/frontend/styles.css
+++ b/frontend/styles.css
@@ -476,6 +476,38 @@ body {
     display: block;
 }
 
+.compare-results-header {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    align-items: center;
+    padding: 0.6rem 1rem;
+    background: var(--bg-secondary);
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border-color);
+    font-size: 0.8rem;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    position: sticky;
+    top: 0;
+}
+
+.compare-results-close {
+    width: 24px;
+    height: 24px;
+    border: none;
+    background: transparent;
+    border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+    cursor: pointer;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    transition: var(--transition);
+}
+
+.compare-results-close:hover {
+    background: var(--accent-coral);
+    color: white;
+}
+
 .compare-result-item {
     padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
     cursor: pointer;