fix: don't portray special schools as failing the mainstream benchmark

Special schools, PRUs and alternative provision teach pupils with SEND who
sit the same KS2/KS4 assessments but very few reach the mainstream "expected
standard". Their headline attainment is therefore ~0% (or a very low
Attainment 8), and the site was comparing that to the England average and
painting it red — e.g. Greenmead School (a community special school) rendered
as "0.0% — −62 pts below England average" with three 0% red SATs bars. That
portrays a special school as catastrophically failing against a benchmark
that doesn't fit it.

Add a shared `isSpecialSchool()` helper (detects every DfE special-school
establishment type — all contain "special" — plus PRUs / alternative
provision) and drop the mainstream England comparison + "below" framing for
these schools across every surface:

- Detail (primary + secondary): a plain-English context note explaining the
  school is special and why the comparison isn't shown; England-average delta
  chips, "England avg" hints, the SATs national markers, the Attainment-8
  "vs national" bar and the trend chart's England overlay are all suppressed.
  An all-zero placeholder SATs row hides the (empty) subject bar chart and the
  "why is combined lower" bridge.
- Rankings / search rows (primary + secondary): the mainstream RWM / Attainment
  8 stat shows "—" with no "vs national" delta, instead of "0% · −62 vs
  national".
- Compare: special schools' attainment values are dropped (no misleading dot
  at 0% / no "Below England average" chip); progress banding, which IS a fair
  measure for special schools, is kept.

Belt-and-braces zero-guard: a whole-row zero attainment (special or a
suppressed cohort) is also treated as not-comparable, while a legitimate
single 0 (e.g. 0% exceeding at a mainstream school) stays comparable.

Tests: new isSpecialSchool unit tests (every DfE special type matched, no
mainstream false positives); an e2e journey asserts Greenmead shows the
special-school note and no England-average comparison. tsc clean; 108/108 unit.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_0146VHeLAWjDVE2B5uU67jCB

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__/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.module.css

@@ -1558,3 +1558,21 @@
 .closingStrip strong {
   color: #8a6200;
 }
+
+/* Special-school context note: soft, informational (teal), not a warning. It
+   explains why the mainstream attainment measures and England comparison are
+   dropped for special schools / PRUs / AP. */
+.specialNote {
+  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;
+}
+.specialNote strong {
+  color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
+}

nextjs-app/components/SchoolDetailView.tsx

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ 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 { summariseAdmissions } from '@/lib/compareLogic';
@@ -233,6 +233,24 @@ 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: a whole-row zero attainment (special or suppressed cohort)
+  // is a placeholder, not a real mainstream result — suppress its comparison
+  // too. A single 0 (e.g. 0% exceeding at a normal school) stays comparable.
+  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;
+  const ks4Placeholder = latestResults != null && latestResults.attainment_8_score === 0;
+  // Whether to drop the England-average deltas / national markers / "below"
+  // framing on the attainment measures.
+  const suppressKs2Comparison = isSpecial || ks2Placeholder;
+  const suppressKs4Comparison = isSpecial || ks4Placeholder;
+
   // 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 +642,32 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
             {isAllThrough ? 'SATs & GCSE Results' : isSecondary ? 'GCSE Results' : 'SATs Results'} ({formatAcademicYear(latestResults.year)})
           </h2>
           <p className={styles.sectionSubtitle}>
-            {isAllThrough
+            {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>
 
+          {/* Special schools sit the same national assessments but teach pupils
+              with SEND, so very few reach the mainstream "expected standard".
+              Explain that up front and drop the England comparison below, so a
+              0% headline never reads as a failing grade against a benchmark
+              that doesn't fit the school. */}
+          {isSpecial && (
+            <div className={styles.specialNote} role="note">
+              <strong>This is a special school.</strong> Its pupils have special educational
+              needs and work towards individual targets. They sit the same national tests, 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. Where available, the progress pupils make (below) is a fairer measure.
+            </div>
+          )}
+
           {/* ── Primary / KS2 content ── */}
           {hasKS2Results && (
             <>
@@ -646,7 +683,7 @@ 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 +692,7 @@ 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 +705,7 @@ 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 +714,15 @@ 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 +746,34 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
                   </div>
                 )}
 
+              {/* 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: primaryAvg.reading_expected_pct,
+                      nationalExpectedPct: suppressKs2Comparison ? null : primaryAvg.reading_expected_pct,
                     },
                     {
                       name: 'Writing',
                       expectedPct: latestResults.writing_expected_pct,
                       exceedingPct: latestResults.writing_high_pct,
-                    nationalExpectedPct: primaryAvg.writing_expected_pct,
+                      nationalExpectedPct: suppressKs2Comparison ? null : primaryAvg.writing_expected_pct,
                     },
                     {
                       name: 'Maths',
                       expectedPct: latestResults.maths_expected_pct,
                       exceedingPct: latestResults.maths_high_pct,
-                    nationalExpectedPct: primaryAvg.maths_expected_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 +830,7 @@ 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 +854,7 @@ 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 +866,7 @@ 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>
@@ -1076,8 +1120,8 @@ 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>
                 </>
@@ -1090,8 +1134,8 @@ 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>
                 </>
@@ -1103,9 +1147,9 @@ 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 +38,19 @@ export function SchoolRow({
     school.religious_denomination &&
     school.religious_denomination !== 'Does not apply';
 
+  // Special schools / PRUs / AP: the mainstream RWM measure and its England
+  // comparison aren't a fair judgement (their pupils have SEND), so a "0% ·
+  // −62 vs national" row misrepresents them. Treat the mainstream stat as not
+  // comparable — same for a placeholder all-zero value.
+  const rwmComparable =
+    school.rwm_expected_pct != null &&
+    school.rwm_expected_pct !== 0 &&
+    !isSpecialSchool(school);
+
   // vs-national delta
   const rwmDelta =
-    school.rwm_expected_pct != null && nationalAvgRwm != null
-      ? Math.round(school.rwm_expected_pct - nationalAvgRwm)
+    rwmComparable && nationalAvgRwm != null
+      ? Math.round((school.rwm_expected_pct as number) - nationalAvgRwm)
       : null;
 
   const handleCompareClick = () => {
@@ -87,9 +96,9 @@ 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) : '—'}
+              {rwmComparable ? formatPercentage(school.rwm_expected_pct, 0) : '—'}
             </strong>
-            {school.prev_rwm_expected_pct != null && (
+            {rwmComparable && 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.module.css

@@ -395,6 +395,22 @@
     line-height: 1.5;
 }
 
+/* Special-school context note: soft, informational (teal), not a warning. */
+.specialNote {
+    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;
+}
+.specialNote strong {
+    color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
+}
+
 /* ── Metrics Grid & Cards ────────────────────────────── */
 .metricsGrid {
     display: grid;

nextjs-app/components/SecondarySchoolDetailView.tsx

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ 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 { track, getNavigationSource } from '@/lib/analytics';
 import styles from './SecondarySchoolDetailView.module.css';
@@ -107,6 +107,14 @@ 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. (Also guards a
+  // placeholder all-zero Attainment 8.)
+  const isSpecial = isSpecialSchool(schoolInfo);
+  const suppressComparison = isSpecial || (latestResults != null && latestResults.attainment_8_score === 0);
+
   const admissionsTag = (() => {
     const policy = schoolInfo.admissions_policy?.toLowerCase() ?? '';
     if (policy.includes('selective')) return 'Selective';
@@ -452,9 +460,18 @@ 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>
 
+          {isSpecial && (
+            <div className={styles.specialNote} role="note">
+              <strong>This is a special school.</strong> Its pupils have special educational
+              needs and work towards individual targets. They sit the same GCSEs, but their
+              headline attainment is far below the mainstream average by design, so a comparison
+              with the England average isn&rsquo;t a meaningful guide to the school.
+            </div>
+          )}
+
           {p8Suspended && (
             <div className={styles.p8Banner}>
               Progress 8 isn&apos;t published for 2024/25: this GCSE year group sat no KS2 tests
@@ -472,7 +489,7 @@ 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 +498,7 @@ 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 +529,7 @@ 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 +538,7 @@ 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 +551,7 @@ 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 +560,17 @@ 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 +762,8 @@ 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 +55,12 @@ export function SecondarySchoolRow({
   const ofstedBadge = buildOfstedListBadge(school);
   const phase = getPhaseStyle(school.phase);
   const att8 = school.attainment_8_score;
+  // Special schools / PRUs / AP: Attainment 8 vs the LA average isn't a fair
+  // comparison (their pupils have SEND), so drop the delta and the number
+  // rather than show them trailing "the average" by design.
+  const att8Comparable = att8 != null && att8 !== 0 && !isSpecialSchool(school);
   const laDelta =
-    att8 != null && laAvgAttainment8 != null ? att8 - laAvgAttainment8 : null;
+    att8Comparable && laAvgAttainment8 != null ? (att8 as number) - laAvgAttainment8 : null;
 
   const admissionsTag = detectAdmissionsTag(school);
   const sixthForm = hasSixthForm(school);
@@ -106,7 +110,7 @@ export function SecondarySchoolRow({
         <div className={styles.line3}>
           <span className={styles.stat}>
             <strong className={styles.statValueLarge}>
-              {att8 != null ? att8.toFixed(1) : '—'}
+              {att8Comparable ? (att8 as number).toFixed(1) : '—'}
             </strong>
             <span className={styles.statLabel}>Attainment 8</span>
           </span>

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);
+}