 Since September 1990, the school has also lost its popularity with children living in the Tipton Green area of the town, with a significant percentage of children in this area selecting Dormston School or High Arcal School in Sedgley as their destination for secondary school following the reduction in the Dudley borough's secondary transfer age from 12 to 11, bringing it into line with Sandwell and the rest of the region.A new sixth form centre was built in 1995 and the early 1980s extensions were demolished in 2011 to make way for new classrooms.The school converted to academy status on 1 March 2013, and was reopened by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex as The ACE Academy.