Merge pull request 'fix: don’t portray special schools as failing the mainstream benchmark' (#70) from fix/special-schools-not-failing into main

Reviewed-on: #70

e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts

@@ -175,8 +175,30 @@ test('an all-through school shows BOTH its KS2 SATs and its GCSE results, not ju
   // The combined results section carries both phases.
   const results = page.locator('#results');
   await expect(results.getByText(/SATs & GCSE Results/)).toBeVisible();
-  await expect(results.getByText('Reading, Writing & Maths combined')).toBeVisible(); // KS2
-  await expect(results.getByText('Attainment 8').first()).toBeVisible(); // KS4
+  await expect(results.getByRole('heading', { name: /Primary.*KS2 SATs/ })).toBeVisible(); // KS2 block
+  await expect(results.getByRole('heading', { name: /Secondary.*GCSEs/ })).toBeVisible(); // KS4 block
+});
+
+test('a special school is not shown as failing against the mainstream England average', async ({ page }) => {
+  // Special schools sit the same tests but very few pupils reach the mainstream
+  // "expected standard", so a "0.0% · −62 pts below England average" rendering
+  // portrays them as failing against a benchmark that doesn't fit. The results
+  // section drops the England comparison and explains the context instead.
+  const SP_URN = 101099; // Greenmead School — a community special school
+  const res = await page.request.get(`/api/schools/${SP_URN}`);
+  expect(res.ok()).toBeTruthy();
+  const detail = await res.json();
+  test.skip(
+    !/special|pupil referral|alternative provision/i.test(detail.school_info?.school_type ?? ''),
+    'precondition: chosen URN must currently be a special school',
+  );
+
+  await page.goto(`/school/${SP_URN}`);
+  const results = page.locator('#results');
+  // The special-school context note is shown…
+  await expect(results.getByText(/This is a special school/i)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+  // …and the mainstream England-average comparison is dropped entirely.
+  await expect(results.getByText(/England avg/i)).toHaveCount(0);
 });
 
 test('school with no performance data still gets a working detail page', async ({ page }) => {

nextjs-app/__tests__/components/SpecialSchoolNote.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+/**
+ * SpecialSchoolNote Component Tests
+ */
+
+import '@testing-library/jest-dom';
+import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { SpecialSchoolNote } from '@/components/SpecialSchoolNote';
+
+describe('SpecialSchoolNote', () => {
+  it('renders nothing for a mainstream school', () => {
+    const { container } = render(<SpecialSchoolNote school={{ school_type: 'Academy converter' }} />);
+    expect(container).toBeEmptyDOMElement();
+  });
+
+  it('describes a special school as teaching pupils with SEND', () => {
+    render(<SpecialSchoolNote school={{ school_type: 'Community special school' }} />);
+    expect(screen.getByText(/This is a special school/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/special educational needs/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('does NOT call PRU pupils SEND — they are educated outside a mainstream school', () => {
+    render(<SpecialSchoolNote school={{ school_type: 'Pupil referral unit' }} />);
+    expect(screen.getByText(/This is a pupil referral unit/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/educated outside a mainstream school/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/special educational needs/i)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('does NOT call alternative-provision pupils SEND', () => {
+    render(<SpecialSchoolNote school={{ school_type: 'Academy alternative provision converter' }} />);
+    expect(screen.getByText(/This is an alternative provision setting/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/special educational needs/i)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});

nextjs-app/__tests__/lib/utils.test.ts

@@ -269,6 +269,44 @@ describe('isProposedToClose', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('isSpecialSchool', () => {
+  const { isSpecialSchool } = require('@/lib/utils');
+
+  it('matches every DfE special-school establishment type', () => {
+    for (const t of [
+      'Community special school',
+      'Foundation special school',
+      'Academy special converter',
+      'Academy special sponsor led',
+      'Non-maintained special school',
+      'Free schools special',
+      'Other independent special school',
+    ]) {
+      expect(isSpecialSchool({ school_type: t })).toBe(true);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('matches pupil referral units and alternative provision', () => {
+    expect(isSpecialSchool({ school_type: 'Pupil referral unit' })).toBe(true);
+    expect(isSpecialSchool({ school_type: 'Academy alternative provision converter' })).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('does not match mainstream types (no false positives)', () => {
+    for (const t of [
+      'Academy converter',
+      'Community school',
+      'Voluntary aided school',
+      'Free schools',
+      'University technical college',
+      'Other independent school',
+      null,
+      undefined,
+    ]) {
+      expect(isSpecialSchool({ school_type: t })).toBe(false);
+    }
+  });
+});
+
 describe('shortName', () => {
   it('drops the trailing establishment-type words', () => {
     expect(shortName('Barclay Primary School')).toBe('Barclay');

nextjs-app/components/SchoolDetailView.tsx

@@ -18,9 +18,10 @@ import type {
   SchoolDeprivation, SchoolFinance, NationalAverages,
 } from '@/lib/types';
 import {
-  formatPercentage, formatProgress, formatAcademicYear, isProposedToClose, ofstedLegacyAreas,
+  formatPercentage, formatProgress, formatAcademicYear, isProposedToClose, ofstedLegacyAreas, isSpecialSchool,
 } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { DeltaChip } from './DeltaChip';
+import { SpecialSchoolNote } from './SpecialSchoolNote';
 import { summariseAdmissions } from '@/lib/compareLogic';
 
 const PerformanceChart = dynamic(
@@ -233,6 +234,27 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
   const hasKS4Results = latestResults != null && latestResults.attainment_8_score != null;
   const hasAnyResults = hasKS2Results || hasKS4Results;
 
+  // Special schools / PRUs / AP: their pupils sit the same tests but very few
+  // reach the mainstream "expected standard", so a 0% headline and an England
+  // comparison portray them as failing against a benchmark that doesn't fit.
+  const isSpecial = isSpecialSchool(schoolInfo);
+  // Belt-and-braces for KS2: a whole-row zero attainment (every subject 0 — a
+  // special/suppressed signature) is a placeholder, not a real result. This
+  // needs ALL of RWM + reading + writing + maths to be 0, so a genuine 0%
+  // combined (some pupils met individual subjects but not all three) stays
+  // comparable. Attainment 8 is a single 0–80 score with no subject breakdown
+  // to form such a signature, so KS4 keys off establishment type only — a
+  // genuine (if extreme) 0.0 still shows its real figure and comparison.
+  const ks2Placeholder = latestResults != null
+    && latestResults.rwm_expected_pct === 0
+    && (latestResults.reading_expected_pct ?? 0) === 0
+    && (latestResults.writing_expected_pct ?? 0) === 0
+    && (latestResults.maths_expected_pct ?? 0) === 0;
+  // Whether to drop the England-average deltas / national markers / "below"
+  // framing on the attainment measures.
+  const suppressKs2Comparison = isSpecial || ks2Placeholder;
+  const suppressKs4Comparison = isSpecial;
+
   // Build section nav items dynamically — only sections with data.
   // Order is engagement-led (from section_nav_used analytics): the most-sought
   // sections — results, admissions, inclusion, history — sit near the top,
@@ -624,13 +646,22 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
             {isAllThrough ? 'SATs & GCSE Results' : isSecondary ? 'GCSE Results' : 'SATs Results'} ({formatAcademicYear(latestResults.year)})
           </h2>
           <p className={styles.sectionSubtitle}>
-            {isAllThrough
-              ? 'KS2 SATs (end of Year 6) and GCSE results (Year 11) — this school covers both. England averages shown for comparison.'
-              : isSecondary
-                ? 'GCSE results for Year 11 pupils. England averages shown for comparison.'
-                : 'End-of-primary-school tests taken by Year 6 pupils. England averages shown for comparison.'}
+            {isSpecial
+              ? (isSecondary
+                  ? 'GCSE results for Year 11 pupils.'
+                  : 'End-of-primary-school tests taken by Year 6 pupils.')
+              : isAllThrough
+                ? 'KS2 SATs (end of Year 6) and GCSE results (Year 11) — this school covers both. England averages shown for comparison.'
+                : isSecondary
+                  ? 'GCSE results for Year 11 pupils. England averages shown for comparison.'
+                  : 'End-of-primary-school tests taken by Year 6 pupils. England averages shown for comparison.'}
           </p>
 
+          {/* Explains up front why the England comparison is dropped below, so
+              a 0% headline never reads as a failing grade against a benchmark
+              that doesn't fit. Type-aware copy (special vs PRU vs AP). */}
+          <SpecialSchoolNote school={schoolInfo} />
+
           {/* ── Primary / KS2 content ── */}
           {hasKS2Results && (
             <>
@@ -646,7 +677,7 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                     </div>
                     <div className={styles.heroStatValue}>
                       {formatPercentage(latestResults.rwm_expected_pct)}
-                      {primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct != null && (
+                      {!suppressKs2Comparison && primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct != null && (
                         <DeltaChip
                           value={latestResults.rwm_expected_pct}
                           baseline={primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct}
@@ -655,7 +686,7 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                         />
                       )}
                     </div>
-                    {primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct != null && (
+                    {!suppressKs2Comparison && primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct != null && (
                       <div className={styles.heroStatHint}>England avg: {primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct.toFixed(0)}%</div>
                     )}
                   </div>
@@ -668,7 +699,7 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                     </div>
                     <div className={styles.heroStatValue}>
                       {formatPercentage(latestResults.rwm_high_pct)}
-                      {primaryAvg.rwm_high_pct != null && (
+                      {!suppressKs2Comparison && primaryAvg.rwm_high_pct != null && (
                         <DeltaChip
                           value={latestResults.rwm_high_pct}
                           baseline={primaryAvg.rwm_high_pct}
@@ -677,14 +708,15 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                         />
                       )}
                     </div>
-                    {primaryAvg.rwm_high_pct != null && (
+                    {!suppressKs2Comparison && primaryAvg.rwm_high_pct != null && (
                       <div className={styles.heroStatHint}>England avg: {primaryAvg.rwm_high_pct.toFixed(0)}%</div>
                     )}
                   </div>
                 )}
               </div>
 
-              {latestResults.rwm_expected_pct != null &&
+              {!suppressKs2Comparison &&
+                latestResults.rwm_expected_pct != null &&
                 latestResults.reading_expected_pct != null &&
                 latestResults.writing_expected_pct != null &&
                 latestResults.maths_expected_pct != null && (
@@ -708,28 +740,34 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                   </div>
                 )}
 
-              <SatsChart
-                subjects={[
-                  {
-                    name: 'Reading',
-                    expectedPct: latestResults.reading_expected_pct,
-                    exceedingPct: latestResults.reading_high_pct,
-                    nationalExpectedPct: primaryAvg.reading_expected_pct,
-                  },
-                  {
-                    name: 'Writing',
-                    expectedPct: latestResults.writing_expected_pct,
-                    exceedingPct: latestResults.writing_high_pct,
-                    nationalExpectedPct: primaryAvg.writing_expected_pct,
-                  },
-                  {
-                    name: 'Maths',
-                    expectedPct: latestResults.maths_expected_pct,
-                    exceedingPct: latestResults.maths_high_pct,
-                    nationalExpectedPct: primaryAvg.maths_expected_pct,
-                  },
-                ]}
-              />
+              {/* All-zero placeholder rows (special / suppressed) would render as
+                  three empty bars against the national markers — misleading, so
+                  skip the chart. For a special school with some non-zero
+                  subjects, keep the bars but drop the national markers. */}
+              {!ks2Placeholder && (
+                <SatsChart
+                  subjects={[
+                    {
+                      name: 'Reading',
+                      expectedPct: latestResults.reading_expected_pct,
+                      exceedingPct: latestResults.reading_high_pct,
+                      nationalExpectedPct: suppressKs2Comparison ? null : primaryAvg.reading_expected_pct,
+                    },
+                    {
+                      name: 'Writing',
+                      expectedPct: latestResults.writing_expected_pct,
+                      exceedingPct: latestResults.writing_high_pct,
+                      nationalExpectedPct: suppressKs2Comparison ? null : primaryAvg.writing_expected_pct,
+                    },
+                    {
+                      name: 'Maths',
+                      expectedPct: latestResults.maths_expected_pct,
+                      exceedingPct: latestResults.maths_high_pct,
+                      nationalExpectedPct: suppressKs2Comparison ? null : primaryAvg.maths_expected_pct,
+                    },
+                  ]}
+                />
+              )}
 
               {/* Progress scores row */}
               {(latestResults.reading_progress != null || latestResults.writing_progress != null || latestResults.maths_progress != null) && (
@@ -786,7 +824,7 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                       <MetricTooltip metricKey="attainment_8_score" />
                     </div>
                     <div className={styles.metricValue}>{latestResults.attainment_8_score.toFixed(1)}</div>
-                    {secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score != null && (
+                    {!suppressKs4Comparison && secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score != null && (
                       <div className={styles.metricHint}>England avg: {secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score.toFixed(1)}</div>
                     )}
                   </div>
@@ -810,7 +848,7 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                       <MetricTooltip metricKey="english_maths_standard_pass_pct" />
                     </div>
                     <div className={styles.metricValue}>{formatPercentage(latestResults.english_maths_standard_pass_pct)}</div>
-                    {secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct != null && (
+                    {!suppressKs4Comparison && secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct != null && (
                       <div className={styles.metricHint}>England avg: {secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct.toFixed(0)}%</div>
                     )}
                   </div>
@@ -822,7 +860,7 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                       <MetricTooltip metricKey="english_maths_strong_pass_pct" />
                     </div>
                     <div className={styles.metricValue}>{formatPercentage(latestResults.english_maths_strong_pass_pct)}</div>
-                    {secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct != null && (
+                    {!suppressKs4Comparison && secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct != null && (
                       <div className={styles.metricHint}>England avg: {secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct.toFixed(0)}%</div>
                     )}
                   </div>
@@ -1085,8 +1123,8 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                       data={yearlyData}
                       schoolName={schoolInfo.school_name}
                       isSecondary={false}
-                      nationalRwmAvg={primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct ?? null}
-                      nationalByYear={nationalAvg?.by_year}
+                      nationalRwmAvg={suppressKs2Comparison ? null : (primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct ?? null)}
+                      nationalByYear={suppressKs2Comparison ? undefined : nationalAvg?.by_year}
                     />
                   </div>
                 </>
@@ -1099,8 +1137,8 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                       data={yearlyData}
                       schoolName={schoolInfo.school_name}
                       isSecondary={true}
-                      nationalAtt8Avg={secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score ?? null}
-                      nationalByYear={nationalAvg?.by_year}
+                      nationalAtt8Avg={suppressKs4Comparison ? null : (secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score ?? null)}
+                      nationalByYear={suppressKs4Comparison ? undefined : nationalAvg?.by_year}
                     />
                   </div>
                 </>
@@ -1112,9 +1150,9 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                 data={yearlyData}
                 schoolName={schoolInfo.school_name}
                 isSecondary={isSecondary}
-                nationalRwmAvg={isPrimary ? (primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct ?? null) : null}
-                nationalAtt8Avg={isSecondary ? (secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score ?? null) : null}
-                nationalByYear={nationalAvg?.by_year}
+                nationalRwmAvg={isPrimary && !suppressKs2Comparison ? (primaryAvg.rwm_expected_pct ?? null) : null}
+                nationalAtt8Avg={isSecondary && !suppressKs4Comparison ? (secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score ?? null) : null}
+                nationalByYear={(isPrimary ? suppressKs2Comparison : suppressKs4Comparison) ? undefined : nationalAvg?.by_year}
               />
             </div>
           )}

nextjs-app/components/SchoolRow.tsx

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 
 import type { School } from '@/lib/types';
-import { formatPercentage, calculateTrend, getPhaseStyle, schoolUrl, buildOfstedListBadge, formatAgeRange, isProposedToClose } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { formatPercentage, calculateTrend, getPhaseStyle, schoolUrl, buildOfstedListBadge, formatAgeRange, isProposedToClose, isSpecialSchool } from '@/lib/utils';
 import styles from './SchoolRow.module.css';
 
 interface SchoolRowProps {
@@ -38,10 +38,23 @@ export function SchoolRow({
     school.religious_denomination &&
     school.religious_denomination !== 'Does not apply';
 
-  // vs-national delta
+  // A placeholder all-zero row (every subject 0 — a special/suppressed
+  // signature, matching SchoolDetailView's ks2Placeholder) isn't a real score,
+  // so its figure is hidden. A genuine 0% combined (some pupils met individual
+  // subjects but not all three) is NOT all-zero and stays shown.
+  const rwmPlaceholder =
+    school.rwm_expected_pct === 0 &&
+    (school.reading_expected_pct ?? 0) === 0 &&
+    (school.writing_expected_pct ?? 0) === 0 &&
+    (school.maths_expected_pct ?? 0) === 0;
+  // The school's OWN figure and its year-over-year trend are same-school
+  // measures — shown whenever there's a real value, special schools included.
+  const showRwmValue = school.rwm_expected_pct != null && !rwmPlaceholder;
+  // The vs-England delta is a mainstream benchmark: additionally dropped for
+  // special schools / PRUs / AP, whose pupils aren't measured against it fairly.
   const rwmDelta =
-    school.rwm_expected_pct != null && nationalAvgRwm != null
-      ? Math.round(school.rwm_expected_pct - nationalAvgRwm)
+    showRwmValue && !isSpecialSchool(school) && nationalAvgRwm != null
+      ? Math.round((school.rwm_expected_pct as number) - nationalAvgRwm)
       : null;
 
   const handleCompareClick = () => {
@@ -87,9 +100,9 @@ export function SchoolRow({
         <div className={styles.line3}>
           <span className={styles.stat}>
             <strong className={styles.statValue}>
-              {school.rwm_expected_pct != null ? formatPercentage(school.rwm_expected_pct, 0) : '—'}
+              {showRwmValue ? formatPercentage(school.rwm_expected_pct, 0) : '—'}
             </strong>
-            {school.prev_rwm_expected_pct != null && (
+            {showRwmValue && school.prev_rwm_expected_pct != null && (
               <span
                 className={`${styles.trend} ${styles[`trend${trend.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + trend.slice(1)}`]}`}
                 title={`Previous year: ${formatPercentage(school.prev_rwm_expected_pct)}`}

nextjs-app/components/SecondarySchoolDetailView.tsx

@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ import type {
   SchoolAdmissions, SenDetail, Phonics,
   SchoolDeprivation, SchoolFinance, NationalAverages,
 } from '@/lib/types';
-import { formatPercentage, formatProgress, formatAcademicYear, formatAgeRange, isProposedToClose, ofstedLegacyAreas } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { formatPercentage, formatProgress, formatAcademicYear, formatAgeRange, isProposedToClose, ofstedLegacyAreas, isSpecialSchool } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { DeltaChip } from './DeltaChip';
+import { SpecialSchoolNote } from './SpecialSchoolNote';
 import { track, getNavigationSource } from '@/lib/analytics';
 import styles from './SecondarySchoolDetailView.module.css';
 
@@ -107,6 +108,16 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
   const p8Suspended = latestResults != null && latestResults.year >= 202425;
   const hasResults = latestResults?.attainment_8_score != null;
 
+  // Special schools / PRUs / AP sit the same GCSEs but teach pupils with SEND,
+  // so their headline attainment is far below the mainstream average by design.
+  // Drop the England comparison + "below" framing so the page doesn't portray
+  // them as failing against a benchmark that doesn't fit. Attainment 8 is a
+  // single 0–80 score with no subject breakdown to test for a placeholder, so
+  // this keys off establishment type only — a genuine (if extreme) 0.0 at a
+  // mainstream school still shows its real value and comparison.
+  const isSpecial = isSpecialSchool(schoolInfo);
+  const suppressComparison = isSpecial;
+
   const admissionsTag = (() => {
     const policy = schoolInfo.admissions_policy?.toLowerCase() ?? '';
     if (policy.includes('selective')) return 'Selective';
@@ -452,9 +463,11 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
             GCSE Results ({formatAcademicYear(latestResults.year)})
           </h2>
           <p className={styles.sectionSubtitle}>
-            GCSE results for Year 11 pupils. England averages shown for comparison.
+            GCSE results for Year 11 pupils.{!suppressComparison && ' England averages shown for comparison.'}
           </p>
 
+          <SpecialSchoolNote school={schoolInfo} />
+
           {p8Suspended && (
             <div className={styles.p8Banner}>
               Progress 8 isn&apos;t published for 2024/25: this GCSE year group sat no KS2 tests
@@ -472,7 +485,7 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
                 </div>
                 <div className={styles.heroStatValue}>
                   {latestResults.attainment_8_score.toFixed(1)}
-                  {secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score != null && (
+                  {!suppressComparison && secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score != null && (
                     <DeltaChip
                       value={latestResults.attainment_8_score}
                       baseline={secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score}
@@ -481,7 +494,7 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
                     />
                   )}
                 </div>
-                {secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score != null && (
+                {!suppressComparison && secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score != null && (
                   <div className={styles.heroStatHint}>England avg: {secondaryAvg.attainment_8_score.toFixed(1)}</div>
                 )}
               </div>
@@ -512,7 +525,7 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
                 </div>
                 <div className={styles.heroStatValue}>
                   {formatPercentage(latestResults.english_maths_strong_pass_pct)}
-                  {secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct != null && (
+                  {!suppressComparison && secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct != null && (
                     <DeltaChip
                       value={latestResults.english_maths_strong_pass_pct}
                       baseline={secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct}
@@ -521,7 +534,7 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
                     />
                   )}
                 </div>
-                {secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct != null && (
+                {!suppressComparison && secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct != null && (
                   <div className={styles.heroStatHint}>England avg: {secondaryAvg.english_maths_strong_pass_pct.toFixed(0)}%</div>
                 )}
               </div>
@@ -534,7 +547,7 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
                 </div>
                 <div className={styles.heroStatValue}>
                   {formatPercentage(latestResults.english_maths_standard_pass_pct)}
-                  {secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct != null && (
+                  {!suppressComparison && secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct != null && (
                     <DeltaChip
                       value={latestResults.english_maths_standard_pass_pct}
                       baseline={secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct}
@@ -543,15 +556,17 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
                     />
                   )}
                 </div>
-                {secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct != null && (
+                {!suppressComparison && secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct != null && (
                   <div className={styles.heroStatHint}>England avg: {secondaryAvg.english_maths_standard_pass_pct.toFixed(0)}%</div>
                 )}
               </div>
             )}
           </div>
 
-          {/* Attainment 8 visual bar (0–80 scale) */}
-          {latestResults.attainment_8_score != null && (
+          {/* Attainment 8 visual bar (0–80 scale). This viz is explicitly
+              "school vs national", so it's dropped for special schools where
+              that comparison isn't meaningful. */}
+          {!suppressComparison && latestResults.attainment_8_score != null && (
             <div className={styles.att8Viz}>
               <div className={styles.att8VizLabel}>Attainment 8 — school vs national</div>
               <div className={styles.att8VizTrack}>
@@ -743,8 +758,8 @@ export function SecondarySchoolDetailView({
                   data={yearlyData}
                   schoolName={schoolInfo.school_name}
                   isSecondary={true}
-                  nationalAtt8Avg={heroAtt8Nat}
-                  nationalByYear={nationalAvg?.by_year}
+                  nationalAtt8Avg={suppressComparison ? null : heroAtt8Nat}
+                  nationalByYear={suppressComparison ? undefined : nationalAvg?.by_year}
                 />
               </div>
             </>

nextjs-app/components/SecondarySchoolRow.tsx

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 'use client';
 
 import type { School } from '@/lib/types';
-import { buildOfstedListBadge, getPhaseStyle, schoolUrl, formatAgeRange, isProposedToClose } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { buildOfstedListBadge, getPhaseStyle, schoolUrl, formatAgeRange, isProposedToClose, isSpecialSchool } from '@/lib/utils';
 import styles from './SecondarySchoolRow.module.css';
 
 function detectAdmissionsTag(school: School): string | null {
@@ -55,8 +55,14 @@ export function SecondarySchoolRow({
   const ofstedBadge = buildOfstedListBadge(school);
   const phase = getPhaseStyle(school.phase);
   const att8 = school.attainment_8_score;
+  // The school's own Attainment 8 is a same-school figure — shown whenever it
+  // exists (special schools included; their type tag on line 2 gives context).
+  // Only the vs-LA-average delta, a benchmark comparison, is dropped for
+  // special schools / PRUs / AP, whose pupils aren't measured against it fairly.
   const laDelta =
-    att8 != null && laAvgAttainment8 != null ? att8 - laAvgAttainment8 : null;
+    att8 != null && !isSpecialSchool(school) && laAvgAttainment8 != null
+      ? att8 - laAvgAttainment8
+      : null;
 
   const admissionsTag = detectAdmissionsTag(school);
   const sixthForm = hasSixthForm(school);

nextjs-app/components/SpecialSchoolNote.module.css

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/* Special-school / PRU / AP context note: soft, informational (teal), not a
+   warning. Shared by both detail views so the styling can't drift. */
+.note {
+  background: var(--bg-secondary, #f3ede4);
+  border-left: 4px solid var(--accent-teal, #2d7d7d);
+  border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0;
+  padding: 0.7rem 1rem;
+  margin: 0 0 1rem;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  line-height: 1.5;
+  color: var(--text-secondary, #5c564d);
+  max-width: 72ch;
+}
+.note strong {
+  color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
+}

nextjs-app/components/SpecialSchoolNote.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/**
+ * SpecialSchoolNote — the context note shown on special-school / PRU / AP
+ * detail pages explaining why the mainstream England-average comparison is
+ * dropped. Renders nothing for mainstream schools.
+ *
+ * The copy is type-aware: only genuine special schools have pupils with special
+ * educational needs. Pupil referral units and alternative provision teach
+ * pupils educated outside a mainstream setting (e.g. after exclusion, or for
+ * medical reasons) who are not necessarily SEND — so their note says so rather
+ * than mischaracterising them. Suppressing the England comparison is reasonable
+ * for all three.
+ */
+
+import { isSpecialSchool } from '@/lib/utils';
+import styles from './SpecialSchoolNote.module.css';
+
+type SpecialKind = 'special' | 'pru' | 'ap';
+
+function specialKind(schoolType: string | null | undefined): SpecialKind {
+  const t = (schoolType ?? '').toLowerCase();
+  if (/pupil referral/.test(t)) return 'pru';
+  if (/alternative provision/.test(t)) return 'ap';
+  return 'special';
+}
+
+export function SpecialSchoolNote({ school }: { school: { school_type?: string | null } }) {
+  if (!isSpecialSchool(school)) return null;
+  const kind = specialKind(school.school_type);
+
+  return (
+    <div className={styles.note} role="note">
+      {kind === 'special' && (
+        <>
+          <strong>This is a special school.</strong> Its pupils have special educational needs and
+          work towards individual targets. They sit the same national assessments, but very few
+          reach the mainstream &ldquo;expected standard&rdquo; these measures report — so a
+          comparison with the England average isn&rsquo;t a meaningful guide to the school.
+        </>
+      )}
+      {kind === 'pru' && (
+        <>
+          <strong>This is a pupil referral unit.</strong> It teaches pupils educated outside a
+          mainstream school — for example after exclusion, or for medical or behavioural reasons.
+          The mainstream &ldquo;expected standard&rdquo; and the England-average comparison
+          aren&rsquo;t a meaningful guide to the school.
+        </>
+      )}
+      {kind === 'ap' && (
+        <>
+          <strong>This is an alternative provision setting.</strong> It teaches pupils educated
+          outside a mainstream school. The mainstream &ldquo;expected standard&rdquo; and the
+          England-average comparison aren&rsquo;t a meaningful guide to the school.
+        </>
+      )}{' '}
+      Where available, the progress its pupils make is a fairer measure.
+    </div>
+  );
+}

nextjs-app/components/compare/CompareAcademics.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 'use client';
 
 import { latestValues, verdict } from '@/lib/compareLogic';
+import { isSpecialSchool } from '@/lib/utils';
 import type { Benchmarks, ComparisonData, NationalAverages, School } from '@/lib/types';
 import { DotStrip } from '@/components/DotStrip';
 import { Cell, Chip, RowLabel, Section, SectionGrid, sectionStyles as s } from './sectionShared';
@@ -90,15 +91,19 @@ function Strip({
   urns,
   schoolNames,
   national,
+  special,
 }: {
   spec: StripSpec;
   data: Record<string, ComparisonData>;
   urns: number[];
   schoolNames: string[];
   national: Record<string, number> | undefined;
+  /** Per-school special-school flag; special schools' mainstream attainment is
+   * not a fair comparison, so it's dropped from the strip (no dot). */
+  special: boolean[];
 }) {
-  const values = latestValues(data, urns, spec.metric).map((v) =>
-    v != null ? Math.round(v) : null,
+  const values = latestValues(data, urns, spec.metric).map((v, i) =>
+    v != null && !special[i] ? Math.round(v) : null,
   );
   const anchorValue = spec.anchorKey ? national?.[spec.anchorKey] : undefined;
   const anchor =
@@ -135,12 +140,19 @@ export function CompareAcademics({
 }) {
   const urns = schools.map((school) => school.urn);
   const schoolNames = schools.map((school) => school.school_name);
+  // Special schools / PRUs / AP: their pupils sit the same assessments but very
+  // few reach the mainstream standard, so their attainment isn't a fair
+  // like-for-like comparison — drop it (progress banding, which IS meaningful,
+  // is kept).
+  const specialFlags = schools.map((school) => isSpecialSchool(school));
+  const dropSpecial = (vals: Array<number | null>) =>
+    vals.map((v, i) => (specialFlags[i] ? null : v));
   const isSecondary = propIsSecondary !== undefined ? propIsSecondary : schools.some(
     (school) => data[String(school.urn)]?.school_info?.attainment_8_score != null,
   );
 
   if (isSecondary) {
-    const att8 = latestValues(data, urns, 'attainment_8_score');
+    const att8 = dropSpecial(latestValues(data, urns, 'attainment_8_score'));
     const banding = urns.map((urn) => {
       const rows = data[String(urn)]?.yearly_data ?? [];
       for (let i = rows.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
@@ -159,8 +171,8 @@ export function CompareAcademics({
       const y = rows.length ? Math.trunc(rows[rows.length - 1].year) : 0;
       return y >= 202425;
     });
-    const grade5 = latestValues(data, urns, 'english_maths_strong_pass_pct');
-    const ebacc = latestValues(data, urns, 'ebacc_entry_pct');
+    const grade5 = dropSpecial(latestValues(data, urns, 'english_maths_strong_pass_pct'));
+    const ebacc = dropSpecial(latestValues(data, urns, 'ebacc_entry_pct'));
     const att8Anchor = nationalAverages?.secondary?.attainment_8_score;
     const grade5Anchor = nationalAverages?.secondary?.english_maths_strong_pass_pct;
     const ebaccAnchor = nationalAverages?.secondary?.ebacc_entry_pct;
@@ -272,7 +284,7 @@ export function CompareAcademics({
   }
 
   const national = nationalAverages?.primary;
-  const disadvantaged = latestValues(data, urns, 'rwm_expected_disadvantaged_pct');
+  const disadvantaged = dropSpecial(latestValues(data, urns, 'rwm_expected_disadvantaged_pct'));
   const disadvantagedAnchor = benchmarks?.primary?.disadvantaged_rwm_expected_pct ?? null;
   // Cohort size behind the disadvantaged figure (spec §8.5): these are small
   // groups where single pupils move the percentage — show roughly how many
@@ -307,6 +319,7 @@ export function CompareAcademics({
             urns={urns}
             schoolNames={schoolNames}
             national={national}
+            special={specialFlags}
           />
         ))}
 
@@ -320,6 +333,7 @@ export function CompareAcademics({
               urns={urns}
               schoolNames={schoolNames}
               national={national}
+              special={specialFlags}
             />
           ))}
           <p className={styles.stripNote}>

nextjs-app/lib/utils.ts

@@ -795,3 +795,24 @@ export const PROPOSED_TO_CLOSE_STATUS = 'Open, but proposed to close';
 export function isProposedToClose(school: { status?: string | null }): boolean {
   return school.status === PROPOSED_TO_CLOSE_STATUS;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Special schools, pupil referral units and alternative provision teach pupils
+ * with SEND or outside mainstream settings. Their pupils sit the same KS2/KS4
+ * assessments but very few reach the mainstream "expected standard", so the
+ * headline attainment measures — and any comparison to the England average —
+ * are not a fair judgement of the school. Callers use this to drop the
+ * mainstream-benchmark framing (deltas, "below England", national markers)
+ * rather than portray these schools as failing.
+ *
+ * Detection is by establishment type: every DfE special-school type contains
+ * "special" (e.g. "Community special school", "Academy special converter/sponsor
+ * led", "Foundation special school", "Non-maintained special school", "Free
+ * schools special", "Other independent special school"); PRUs and alternative
+ * provision are matched by name. Special schools carry a mainstream `phase`
+ * (Primary/Secondary/All-through), so `phase` alone can't identify them.
+ */
+export function isSpecialSchool(school: { school_type?: string | null }): boolean {
+  const t = (school.school_type ?? '').toLowerCase();
+  return /\bspecial\b/.test(t) || /pupil referral/.test(t) || /alternative provision/.test(t);
+}