▁the ▁state ▁sector , ▁with ▁Silver dale ▁School ▁in ▁She ff ield ▁being ▁the ▁highest . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁there ▁were ▁ 2 8 0 ▁in ▁the ▁sixth ▁form , ▁ 1 1 1 ▁of ▁whom ▁took ▁A - level s , ▁with ▁an ▁average ▁point ▁score ▁of ▁ 8 4 . 7 0 , ▁compared ▁with ▁the ▁average ▁of ▁ 7 9 . 9 ▁in ▁England ▁overall . ▁ ▁P up ils ▁ ▁The ▁pup ils , ▁aged ▁ 1 1 – 1 8 , ▁are ▁all ▁from ▁varying ▁ability ▁background s . ▁The ▁majority ▁of ▁the ▁pup ils ▁are ▁Roman ▁Catholic , ▁with ▁only ▁a ▁small ▁proportion ▁( a ▁qu ota ▁of ▁ 3 0 ▁per ▁year - group ) ▁being ▁of ▁other ▁faith s . ▁ ▁Un iform ▁The ▁traditional ▁white ▁sh irt ▁and ▁school ▁tie ▁has ▁fallen ▁out ▁of ▁favour ▁among ▁pup ils , ▁who ▁now ▁wear ▁a ▁green ▁pol o ▁sh irt ▁combined ▁with ▁the ▁comp uls ory ▁school ▁j um per ▁in ▁line ▁with ▁pup il ▁preference . ▁Stand ards ▁of ▁uniform ▁are ▁strict ▁with ▁tail ored ▁black ▁tr ous ers ▁and ▁black ▁le ather ▁sho es ▁comple ting ▁the ▁uniform . ▁R ules ▁on ▁j ew ell ery ▁are ▁particularly ▁strict , ▁with ▁pup ils ▁only ▁being ▁permitted ▁to ▁wear ▁stud ▁ear r ings ▁and ▁a ▁religious ▁neck lace . ▁ ▁H ouses ▁The ▁school ▁has ▁four ▁houses : ▁Pic ard y , ▁Com pi èg ne , ▁St ▁Jul ie ,