The initiative received government backing from the deputy DfES and Equalities Minister Jacqui Smith, although some sections of the press argued against its political correctness, and pointed out that the sexuality of some historical figures is more a matter of speculation than fact.
In September 2001 the school was awarded specialist school status as a Technology College, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
As part of the New Relationship with Schools, Ofsted and DfES are streamlining data analysis in schools by merging PANDA with PAT to produce new online product called RAISEOnline.