The school was originally built to amalgamate Hartlepool boys technical school and Brierton Hill Technical High School for girls in 1973 after changes in the British schools system.
The previous building High Tunstall School consisted of five main blocks. Block A was used for cooking, block B was used for maths and science, block C was for citizenship, philosophy, ethics, history, geography and English. Block D was for arts and languages and block E was for world affairs. Block A was also used for administration. Two blocks are almost completely for teaching and another isolated block exists as a combination for the two. There is also one temporary block, which is used exclusively for teaching. The school also has a 20M x 5M swimming pool, a running track and several fields used mainly for Physical Education lessons. The new High Tunstall School is based in one main building made up of three floors. The bottom floor is where the dining hall and administration area is. The classes on the bottom floor teach food tech, D&T and art classes. The second floor has the independent learning hub which is a library for students to use in their free time to complete homework, this hub also teaches children who need extra support in main subjects. Classes on the second floor teach maths and English. The third floor teaches D&T, computer science, biology, chemistry, physics and psychology. Outside of the main build is a small yard with benches and the gate to the main fields, here is the food pod where students can get other types of food. D block are still in use. D block houses lessons such as geography, CPE, history, music and drama.
According to 2017/2018 government statistics, High Tunstall School has 1,055 students at the school in the 2017/2018 academic year. Of these, 1.6% are pupils with a statement of special educational needs or education, health and care plan, with a further 9.8% possessing a record without statements. This is less than the national average of 4.4% and 10.4% respectively.
Of the students attending the school in 2004, 231 started the school year at the age of 15, meaning that they started the year as part of Year 11. 38 of the 231 possessed some form of special needs, 6 with statements. Out of the year group a solid 55% obtained a 5+ A*-C attainment level at the start of the school year, with 96% holding a 5+ A*-G attainment level, and 98% managing at least an entry level qualification. This start of year achievement would leave High Tunstall above average for both the Hartlepool LEA and England.
