feat(admissions): surface easy-to-miss deadlines as callout boxes

The selective-school registration and faith-school SIF warnings were
added as prose in the criteria steps, where they read as ordinary
sentences and were easy to skim past. Pulled them into structured
callout boxes with an amber "note" treatment (using the page's own
gold accent tokens), a warning glyph, and a bold lead-in — so the two
deadlines parents most often miss actually stand out.

- Added a `callouts` field to Step; render as a callout group between
  the body and the tool link (both primary and secondary timelines).
- Reverted the warning text back out of the step bodies so it isn't
  duplicated.

Verified with tsc --noEmit and next build.

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 }) => {
@@ -416,6 +438,18 @@ test('compare chart on mobile shows school chips with tap-to-focus', async ({ pa
   await expect(chips.first()).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false');
 });
 
+test('admissions guide renders its key milestones', async ({ page }) => {
+  // Static content page — assert the guide loads and the load-bearing
+  // milestones parents rely on are present (dates are statutory, so these
+  // strings are stable invariants, not data-refresh-sensitive).
+  await page.goto('/admissions');
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /School Admissions Guide/i })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /Primary school admissions/i })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /Secondary school admissions/i })).toBeVisible();
+  // National Offer Day is the milestone the whole guide builds toward.
+  await expect(page.getByText(/National Offer Day/i).first()).toBeVisible();
+});
+
 test('rankings page loads a populated table', async ({ page }) => {
   await page.goto('/rankings');
   await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /rankings/i }).first()).toBeVisible();

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/AdmissionsView.module.css

@@ -442,6 +442,58 @@
   line-height: 1;
 }
 
+/* ─── Easy-to-miss callouts ──────────────────────────── */
+
+.calloutGroup {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  margin-top: 0.7rem;
+}
+
+.callout {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 0.55rem;
+  padding: 0.6rem 0.75rem;
+  background: var(--accent-gold-bg, rgba(201, 162, 39, 0.12));
+  border: 1px solid rgba(201, 162, 39, 0.28);
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--accent-gold, #c9a227);
+  border-radius: 8px;
+}
+
+.calloutIcon {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  width: 1.05rem;
+  height: 1.05rem;
+  margin-top: 0.1rem;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--accent-gold, #c9a227);
+  color: #fff;
+  font-size: 0.72rem;
+  font-weight: 800;
+  line-height: 1.05rem;
+  text-align: center;
+}
+
+.calloutText {
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.calloutTitle {
+  font-size: 0.82rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  color: var(--accent-gold-text, #7a6800);
+  line-height: 1.3;
+  margin-bottom: 0.15rem;
+}
+
+.calloutBody {
+  font-size: 0.82rem;
+  color: var(--text-secondary, #5c564d);
+  line-height: 1.5;
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
 /* ─── Tips ───────────────────────────────────────────── */
 
 .tips {

nextjs-app/components/AdmissionsView.tsx

@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ interface Step {
   title: string;
   body: string;
   highlight?: 'deadline' | 'offer';
+  /* Easy-to-miss, deadline-sensitive warnings surfaced as callout boxes
+     rather than buried in the body prose. */
+  callouts?: { title: string; body: string }[];
   /* How SchoolCompare helps at this stage of the journey */
   tool?: { label: string; href: string };
 }
@@ -62,6 +65,16 @@ const SECONDARY_STEPS: Step[] = [
   {
     title: 'Check entry criteria',
     body: 'Look at each school\'s admissions policy — catchment areas, faith criteria, sibling priority, and aptitude tests vary widely.',
+    callouts: [
+      {
+        title: 'Selective schools register earlier',
+        body: 'Grammar and other selective schools need separate entrance-test registration months earlier — often by September, well before the 31 October deadline.',
+      },
+      {
+        title: 'Faith schools may need an extra form',
+        body: 'Many faith schools require a supplementary information form (SIF) sent directly to the school, on top of the council application.',
+      },
+    ],
     tool: { label: 'Find schools & view their admissions history', href: '/' },
   },
   {
@@ -73,14 +86,14 @@ const SECONDARY_STEPS: Step[] = [
   {
     date: '31 October',
     title: 'Application deadline',
-    body: 'Submit your ranked list of up to six schools. Councils treat all preferences equally — list schools in the genuine order you want them, not strategically.',
+    body: 'Submit your ranked list of schools — most councils allow three to six preferences (London boroughs typically six). Councils treat all preferences equally, so list schools in the genuine order you want them, not strategically.',
     highlight: 'deadline',
     tool: { label: 'Compare performance to order your preferences', href: '/rankings' },
   },
   {
     date: '1 March',
     title: 'National Offer Day',
-    body: 'Results are published online, usually from 12:01 am. You\'ll receive an email or letter with your allocated school.',
+    body: 'Your allocated school appears on the council\'s online admissions portal and is sent by email. Release times are set by each council — often from late afternoon, though some publish overnight — so check your council\'s page rather than refreshing at midnight.',
     highlight: 'offer',
     tool: { label: 'Look up your allocated school', href: '/' },
   },
@@ -101,6 +114,12 @@ const PRIMARY_STEPS: Step[] = [
   {
     title: 'Research entry criteria',
     body: 'Faith schools, language units, and distance-based catchments differ by school. Start by reading each school\'s admissions policy on their website or the council\'s website.',
+    callouts: [
+      {
+        title: 'Faith schools may need an extra form',
+        body: 'Many faith schools require a supplementary information form (SIF) sent directly to the school, in addition to the council application.',
+      },
+    ],
     tool: { label: 'Find schools & view their admissions history', href: '/' },
   },
   {
@@ -144,7 +163,7 @@ interface Tip {
 const TIPS: Tip[] = [
   {
     heading: 'Equal preference rule',
-    body: 'Councils rank offers by your eligibility for each school, not by the order you listed them. You cannot game the system — put schools in the order you actually want them.',
+    body: 'Councils consider every school you list before making any offer, then give you the highest-ranked one you qualify for. Your order only decides which qualifying school you get — you can\'t game it, so list schools in the order you genuinely want them.',
   },
   {
     heading: 'Late applications go to the back',
@@ -307,6 +326,19 @@ export function AdmissionsView() {
                 {step.date && <div className={styles.stepDate}>{step.date}</div>}
                 <div className={styles.stepTitle}>{step.title}</div>
                 <p className={styles.stepBody}>{step.body}</p>
+                {step.callouts && step.callouts.length > 0 && (
+                  <div className={styles.calloutGroup}>
+                    {step.callouts.map((c) => (
+                      <div key={c.title} className={styles.callout}>
+                        <span className={styles.calloutIcon} aria-hidden="true">!</span>
+                        <div className={styles.calloutText}>
+                          <div className={styles.calloutTitle}>{c.title}</div>
+                          <p className={styles.calloutBody}>{c.body}</p>
+                        </div>
+                      </div>
+                    ))}
+                  </div>
+                )}
                 {step.tool && (
                   <a
                     href={step.tool.href}
@@ -355,6 +387,19 @@ export function AdmissionsView() {
                 {step.date && <div className={styles.stepDate}>{step.date}</div>}
                 <div className={styles.stepTitle}>{step.title}</div>
                 <p className={styles.stepBody}>{step.body}</p>
+                {step.callouts && step.callouts.length > 0 && (
+                  <div className={styles.calloutGroup}>
+                    {step.callouts.map((c) => (
+                      <div key={c.title} className={styles.callout}>
+                        <span className={styles.calloutIcon} aria-hidden="true">!</span>
+                        <div className={styles.calloutText}>
+                          <div className={styles.calloutTitle}>{c.title}</div>
+                          <p className={styles.calloutBody}>{c.body}</p>
+                        </div>
+                      </div>
+                    ))}
+                  </div>
+                )}
                 {step.tool && (
                   <a
                     href={step.tool.href}

nextjs-app/components/EditorialSection.tsx

@@ -13,17 +13,17 @@ export function EditorialSection({ totalSchools, localAuthorityCount }: Editoria
       <div className={styles.editorialGrid}>
         <div className={styles.editorialText}>
           <div className={styles.editorialKicker}>About school data</div>
-          <h2 className={styles.editorialHeading}>Making UK school performance data actually readable</h2>
+          <h2 className={styles.editorialHeading}>Making England&apos;s school performance data actually readable</h2>
           <p>
-            School performance data in England is rich but fragmented. The Department for Education publishes
-            Key Stage 2 SATs, GCSE attainment, Ofsted outcomes, progress scores, admissions figures and
-            demographics — each in its own table, each with its own jargon.
+            School performance data in England is rich but fragmented. The Department for Education and Ofsted
+            publish Key Stage 2 SATs, GCSE attainment, inspection outcomes, progress scores, admissions figures
+            and demographics — each in its own table, each with its own jargon.
           </p>
           <p>
             SchoolCompare brings it all into one place. Every school page shows performance against the national
             average, explains what the numbers mean, and lets you shortlist schools side by side. Built for
             parents, governors, journalists, and anyone who wants to understand a school without reading a
-            40-page inspection report.
+            full inspection report.
           </p>
         </div>
         <div className={styles.factbox}>

nextjs-app/components/HomeView.module.css

@@ -720,10 +720,13 @@
 .miniRowHead {
   display: flex;
   justify-content: space-between;
-  font-size: 0.48rem;
+  align-items: baseline;
+  gap: 0.2rem;
+  font-size: 0.44rem;
   color: var(--text-muted, #6d685f);
   text-transform: uppercase;
-  letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+  letter-spacing: 0.01em;
+  white-space: nowrap;
 }
 
 .miniRowHead strong {
@@ -869,28 +872,77 @@
   color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
 }
 
-.ofstedBadge {
+.ofstedFramework {
   align-self: flex-start;
-  padding: 0.2rem 0.55rem;
+  padding: 0.15rem 0.5rem;
   border-radius: 4px;
-  background: rgba(45, 125, 125, 0.12);
-  color: var(--accent-teal, #2d7d7d);
-  font-size: 0.55rem;
+  background: rgba(90, 58, 110, 0.12);
+  color: #5a3a6e;
+  font-size: 0.5rem;
   font-weight: 700;
   letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
-.ofstedVerdict {
-  font-family: var(--font-playfair), 'Playfair Display', serif;
-  font-size: 1.05rem;
+.rcList {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.3rem;
+}
+
+.rcRow {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.rcArea {
+  font-size: 0.62rem;
+  color: var(--text-secondary, #4a453d);
+}
+
+.rcChip {
+  padding: 0.1rem 0.4rem;
+  border-radius: 3px;
+  font-size: 0.52rem;
   font-weight: 700;
-  line-height: 1.2;
-  color: var(--text-primary, #1a1612);
+  letter-spacing: 0.03em;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
 }
 
-.ofstedVerdict em {
+.rcChipGood {
+  background: rgba(45, 125, 125, 0.12);
   color: var(--accent-teal, #2d7d7d);
-  font-style: normal;
+}
+
+.rcChipNeutral {
+  background: var(--accent-gold-bg, rgba(180, 150, 40, 0.12));
+  color: var(--accent-gold-text, #7a6800);
+}
+
+/* Safeguarding is a separate binary met/not-met judgement, not a graded area,
+   so it sits below the five-point list behind a divider with its own chip. */
+.rcSafeguarding {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  margin-top: 0.05rem;
+  padding-top: 0.35rem;
+  border-top: 1px dashed var(--border-color, #e5dfd5);
+}
+
+.rcSep {
+  color: var(--text-muted, #8a847a);
+  font-style: italic;
+}
+
+.rcChipMet {
+  background: transparent;
+  color: var(--accent-teal, #2d7d7d);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(45, 125, 125, 0.4);
 }
 
 .ofstedMeta {

nextjs-app/components/HomeView.tsx

@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ export function HomeView({ initialSchools, filters, totalSchools, howItWorks, ed
         <div className={styles.heroSection}>
           <span className={styles.heroEyebrow}>
             <span className={styles.heroEyebrowDot} aria-hidden="true" />
-            Updated with 2026/2027 admissions results
+            Updated for the 2026/27 admissions round
           </span>
           <h1 className={styles.heroTitle}>
             Every school in England, <em className={styles.heroEmph}>compared.</em>

nextjs-app/components/HowItWorksSection.tsx

@@ -5,15 +5,26 @@
 import styles from './HomeView.module.css';
 
 export function HowItWorksSection() {
+  // "exc" is the school's above-expected result. DfE names this differently
+  // by subject: "higher standard" for the reading and maths tests, "greater
+  // depth" for teacher-assessed writing. "nat" is the national expected %.
   const miniCascade = [
-    { subj: 'Reading', exp: 96, exc: 73, nat: 75 },
-    { subj: 'Writing', exp: 81, exc: 15, nat: 72 },
-    { subj: 'Maths', exp: 85, exc: 47, nat: 74 },
+    { subj: 'Reading', exp: 96, exc: 44, nat: 75, excLabel: 'Higher std' },
+    { subj: 'Writing', exp: 81, exc: 26, nat: 72, excLabel: 'Greater depth' },
+    { subj: 'Maths', exp: 85, exc: 41, nat: 74, excLabel: 'Higher std' },
   ];
   const compareRows = [
     { label: 'Reading, Writing & Maths', a: '70%', b: '64%', aHi: true },
+    { label: 'Higher standard (RWM)', a: '13%', b: '6%', aHi: true },
     { label: 'Ofsted', a: 'Outstanding', b: 'Good', aHi: true },
-    { label: 'Reading progress', a: '+2.1', b: '+0.4', aHi: true },
+  ];
+  // Report card (Ofsted's framework from Nov 2025): one rating per area of
+  // school life on a five-point scale. Safeguarding is judged separately, as a
+  // binary met/not-met outcome — kept out of this list and shown on its own.
+  const reportCard: Array<{ area: string; grade: string; good: boolean }> = [
+    { area: 'Achievement', grade: 'Strong', good: true },
+    { area: 'Curriculum & teaching', grade: 'Expected standard', good: false },
+    { area: 'Attendance & behaviour', grade: 'Strong', good: true },
   ];
 
   return (
@@ -29,7 +40,7 @@ export function HowItWorksSection() {
             <div className={styles.hiwPhaseBlock}>
               <div className={styles.hiwPhaseLabel}>Primary · Year 6 · <strong>Key Stage 2 SATs</strong></div>
               <div className={styles.miniCascade}>
-                {miniCascade.map(({ subj, exp, exc, nat }) => (
+                {miniCascade.map(({ subj, exp, exc, nat, excLabel }) => (
                   <div key={subj} className={styles.miniCascadeCol}>
                     <div className={styles.miniSubj}>{subj}</div>
                     <div className={styles.miniRowHead}><span>Expected</span><strong>{exp}%</strong></div>
@@ -37,7 +48,7 @@ export function HowItWorksSection() {
                       <div className={styles.miniNatPill} style={{ left: `${nat}%` }}>{nat}%</div>
                       <div className={styles.miniBarExp} style={{ width: `${exp}%` }} />
                     </div>
-                    <div className={styles.miniRowHead}><span>Exceeding</span><strong>{exc}%</strong></div>
+                    <div className={styles.miniRowHead}><span>{excLabel}</span><strong>{exc}%</strong></div>
                     <div className={styles.miniTrack}>
                       <div className={styles.miniBarExc} style={{ width: `${exc}%` }} />
                     </div>
@@ -49,15 +60,15 @@ export function HowItWorksSection() {
               <div className={styles.hiwPhaseLabel}>Secondary · Year 11 · <strong>GCSE Attainment 8</strong></div>
               <div className={styles.att8Row}>
                 <div className={styles.att8BarWrap}>
-                  <div className={styles.att8BarHead}><span>This school</span><span>National avg 50.2</span></div>
+                  <div className={styles.att8BarHead}><span>This school</span><span>National avg 45.9</span></div>
                   <div className={styles.att8Track}>
-                    <div className={styles.att8Fill} style={{ width: '62%' }} />
-                    <div className={styles.att8NatLine} style={{ left: '50%' }} />
+                    <div className={styles.att8Fill} style={{ width: '54.8%' }} />
+                    <div className={styles.att8NatLine} style={{ left: '45.9%' }} />
                   </div>
                 </div>
                 <div className={styles.att8Score}>
-                  <div className={styles.att8Value}>62.4</div>
-                  <div className={styles.att8Delta}>+12.2 vs national</div>
+                  <div className={styles.att8Value}>54.8</div>
+                  <div className={styles.att8Delta}>+8.9 vs national</div>
                 </div>
               </div>
             </div>
@@ -77,15 +88,26 @@ export function HowItWorksSection() {
                 <span className={styles.ofstedBullet} />
                 <span className={styles.ofstedTitle}>Latest Ofsted inspection</span>
               </div>
-              <span className={styles.ofstedBadge}>OUTSTANDING</span>
-              <div className={styles.ofstedVerdict}>Rated <em>Outstanding</em> at last inspection.</div>
-              <div className={styles.ofstedMeta}>Full inspection · March 2024</div>
+              <span className={styles.ofstedFramework}>Report card · five-point scale</span>
+              <div className={styles.rcList}>
+                {reportCard.map(({ area, grade, good }) => (
+                  <div key={area} className={styles.rcRow}>
+                    <span className={styles.rcArea}>{area}</span>
+                    <span className={`${styles.rcChip} ${good ? styles.rcChipGood : styles.rcChipNeutral}`}>{grade}</span>
+                  </div>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+              <div className={styles.rcSafeguarding}>
+                <span className={styles.rcArea}>Safeguarding <span className={styles.rcSep}>· separate check</span></span>
+                <span className={`${styles.rcChip} ${styles.rcChipMet}`}>Met</span>
+              </div>
+              <div className={styles.ofstedMeta}>Full inspection · March 2026</div>
             </div>
           </div>
           <div className={styles.hiwCardBody}>
             <div className={styles.hiwStep}>Judgement</div>
             <div className={styles.hiwTitle}>Ofsted at a glance</div>
-            <p className={styles.hiwDesc}>Current grade, inspection date, and a plain-English headline — without opening a 40-page report.</p>
+            <p className={styles.hiwDesc}>Since November 2025, Ofsted rates each area of school life on a five-point scale rather than one overall word. We show every area and the inspection date — and, for schools not yet reinspected, the older overall grade they still carry.</p>
           </div>
         </div>
 

nextjs-app/components/RankingsView.tsx

@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ export function RankingsView({
       <header className={styles.header}>
         <h1>School Rankings</h1>
         <p className={styles.subtitle}>
-          Top-performing schools by {metricLabel.toLowerCase()}
+          Schools ranked by {metricLabel.toLowerCase()}
           {!selectedArea && rankings.length > 0 && <span className={styles.limitNote}> — showing top {rankings.length}</span>}
         </p>
       </header>
@@ -143,7 +143,10 @@ export function RankingsView({
         <p className={styles.metricDescription}>{currentMetricDef.description}</p>
       )}
       {isProgressScore && (
-        <p className={styles.progressHint}>Progress scores: 0 = national average. Positive = above average.</p>
+        <p className={styles.progressHint}>
+          Progress scores: 0 = national average. Positive = above average.
+          {isPrimary && ' KS2 progress isn’t published for 2023/24 or 2024/25 (there’s no key stage 1 baseline) — pick an earlier year to rank by it.'}
+        </p>
       )}
 
       {/* Filters */}
@@ -218,7 +221,11 @@ export function RankingsView({
         {rankings.length === 0 ? (
           <EmptyState
             title="No rankings found"
-            message="Try selecting a different metric, area, or year."
+            message={
+              isPrimary && isProgressScore
+                ? 'KS2 progress scores aren’t published for the most recent years (2023/24 and 2024/25) because there’s no key stage 1 baseline. Select an earlier year to see progress rankings.'
+                : 'Try selecting a different metric, area, or year.'
+            }
             action={{
               label: 'Clear filters',
               onClick: () => router.push(`${pathname}?phase=${selectedPhase}`),

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>
@@ -887,6 +925,15 @@ export function SchoolDetailView({
               </div>
             )}
           </div>
+          {/* All-through admissions data covers a single entry point (usually the
+              Year 7 secondary intake), not reception — say so, or a parent could
+              read these as the whole-school figures. */}
+          {isAllThrough && admissions.school_phase && (
+            <p className={styles.sectionSubtitle}>
+              These figures are for {admissions.school_phase.toLowerCase()} entry
+              {/secondary/i.test(admissions.school_phase) ? ' (Year 7)' : /primary/i.test(admissions.school_phase) ? ' (Reception)' : ''}.
+            </p>
+          )}
 
           <div className={styles.admissionsViewport}>
             {/* This-year Q&A */}
@@ -1076,8 +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>
                 </>
@@ -1090,8 +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>
                 </>
@@ -1103,9 +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 +1,15 @@
+/* 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);
+}
+.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);
+}