- Pupils are assigned to one of six houses — Bridges, Carew, Mandeville, Radcliffe, Ruskin and Woodcote — that bring together year groups and encourage healthy competition, including sports, music and drama.
- The school motto is Per ardua ad summa (“Through difficulties to the heights”) and its core values are commitment, compassion, courage and creativity.
- There are more than 70 clubs and societies, offering support for curriculum studies as well as more personal interests — ranging from card games to world cinema and doodling to Star Wars.
- Sporting facilities include a cricket square and nets and two rugby pitches with a scrum machine.
- In 2024 the school became one of 34 under the Greenshaw Learning Trust umbrella.
- Former pupils, known as Old Walcountians, range from the former HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston and John Cameron, the composer of the Top of the Pops theme tune, to Sir Christopher Woodhead, the former HM chief inspector of schools, and the TV presenter Nick Ross.
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