Curriculum

At Broadoak, our curriculum is designed to be aspirational, broad, and to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to achieve to the very best of their ability. Lessons are designed to contain powerful subject and disciplinary knowledge, encourage formative assessment (to consistently check understanding), and to build knowledge and skill over time . Pupils are taught skills and strategies to help them become more effective, independent, resilient learners, which prepares them for the different stages of school life. In KS3, pupils will study 15 different subjects/disciplines.

As a part of The Dean Trust, Broadoak benefits from having a co-constructed KS3 curriculum at the heart of its teaching, working in partnership with our 6 other secondary schools. Subject networks help to ensure continuing professional development of all of our teaching staff, so that our pupils benefit from the very latest teaching methods and research.

Pupils learn about the career opportunities each subject brings, so they can make informed choices about their GCSE subjects and career paths of interest to them. They are given appropriate specialist advice and support in making the transition between Key Stages 3 and 4, preparing them fully for higher education opportunities and for embracing the world of work. The breadth of subjects offered ensures that our children maximise their social, moral, spiritual and cultural development. Pupils in sets 1X and 1Y will follow a pathway into KS4 which includes the study of GCSE Spanish. All other pupils have the option to also choose Spanish.

Pupils are placed into sets in Year 7 using a range of data such as; SATs, baseline data from Key Stage 2, teacher assessments, and early assessments start of their time at Broadoak. Sets are reviewed on a consistent basis and can vary between groups of subjects. Such arrangements ensure that teaching and learning meets the needs of the pupils in each set. The consistent use of ‘Reading Age Testing’ also supports accurate setting, as well as targeted reading intervention where needed.

At Key Stage 4 pupils remain in ability groups for English, mathematics and science, but are placed in mixed ability groups for all options subjects.

The timetable is based on a 30 period week with pupils being taught 6 lessons a day of 50 minutes each.

At the end of Year 9 pupils are required to opt for the subjects they will continue to GCSE and BTEC level. All pupils will choose either History or Geography to GCSE. As previously stated, sets 9X1 and 9Y1 will also continue with Spanish as a compulsory subject. This Ebacc pathway will give pupils greater flexibility in choosing their futures, taking subjects that have both the breadth and depth to prepare pupils to progress in further or higher education and for work. We pride ourselves on offering a wide array of option subjects, especially for a smaller-than-average school, with a number of vocational routes complementing the traditional GCSE subjects.

For more information on our curriculum please use your contact form or email office@broadoak.trafford.sch.uk.

In accordance with statutory requirements, parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education (RE) lessons. If you wish to exercise this right, please contact the school to discuss your request and any alternative arrangements that may be necessary.