Type of service: Day schools, Schools

Website: http://www.broadfield.lancs.sch.uk

Broadfield Specialist School is a secondary day school for SEND which caters for pupils with generic learning difficulties. All our pupils have an EHCP. Our age-range is from 11 to 19 and we have capacity for 210 students in school. We were previously based in Oswaldtwistle but in September 2022 expanded and relocated to a new site in Burnley, Lancashire. This allowed our students to access outstanding facilities to further enhance our curriculum delivery.

Approximately 55% of our pupils have a diagnosis of ASD. At Broadfield School, we recognise that Autism is a spectrum condition. Our pupils range across the whole spectrum and although they share certain difficulties, their autism affects them in different ways. Therefore, all of our students have access to specialist teaching & learning strategies/ approaches/ environments, as and when required.

Our staff team are skilled and dedicated. The school is led by an experienced Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and three Assistant Headteachers. Several staff have specialist qualifications in SEND, including Qualified Teachers for Autism and Visual Impairment. We have specialist co-ordinators for Speech, Language & Communication, Well-being &Mental Health, Behaviour, Sensory needs, Outdoor Education, Moving & Handling, Parental Liaison, and Safeguarding. We have many qualified and experienced Teaching Assistants, a variety of trained therapists, and extensive admin support. 

The school is organised into three departments – Key Stages 3, 4 & 5. Pupils in Key Stages 3 & 4 follow the National Curriculum, just as young people in any secondary school. Most class groups are taught by subject specialist teachers within specialist classrooms. Pupils in the post -16 College/ Key Stage 5 follow a destination led Curriculum. Pupils also have their individual learning needs addressed through creative curriculum approaches and all learning is highly differentiated to meet individual needs. Some groups follow a sensory curriculum. We have a nurture group and can undertake Boxall Profile and Sensory Profiles. We have excellent inclusion links for our pupils with local mainstream secondary schools so that our pupils can have the opportunity to experience mainstream education. We also have links with local colleges and training providers. We have a choir and a band who play drums, keyboard, guitars and samba.

Through the EHCP Annual Review process, we work with parents to establish individual learning plans for all our pupils. The school works closely with other professionals, such as Speech Therapist, Psychologists, Special School Nurse, and an Independent Careers Adviser through a multi-disciplinary approach. 

Our school Mission Statement is "We belong, we believe, we enjoy and achieve" – an ideal to which we are all committed.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection (Nov 2018) defined our School as OUTSTANDING! The Ofsted Report says "Students are very proud of their school and of their achievements. A typical comment was, ‘This school teaches us to recognise our own talents and to use those talents to succeed. It has made a difference to us. We are taught to celebrate how different we all are.’ Overall, students agree that the school is helping them significantly to improve their academic achievement, behaviour and social well-being."   

We have received Awards in recognition of the work we do towards being a Healthy school, Eco-School, Autism Accreditation, Wellbeing, and Leading Parental Partnership.

Broadfield Specialist School is a forward thinking school with a vibrant and exciting future!

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child , Young person

Gender: All genders

Specialisms: Generic

Level: NAS Autism Accreditation - Accredited

Year: 2018