A LOOK at one of our local schools.

SCHOOL REPORT: Everyone is committed to our mission: Working together to build better lives. Broadfield caters for pupils with learning difficulties. We have primary and secondary departments and pupils attend from a wide area.

ABOUT THE PUPILS: The school is organised into primary and secondary departments and a separate leavers' unit for year 10 and 11 students. Nursery nurses and support assistants work with classes right through the school. Pupils are taught in their own class base for most lessons, but do certain subjects in specialist rooms.

HOW THEY LEARN: Pupils follow the National Curriculum. However, our experienced staff work hard to make it accessible for all our pupils. A lot of time is given to English and maths and we place great importance on the development of essential life and social skills. We work very closely with other professionals who can provide specialist support and advice such as the speech therapist who works throughout the school.

Year 10 and 11 students are working to gain externally accredited courses, which are recognised by colleges, employers and training agencies. In 2001 our students achieved 100 per cent pass rate. Some of our students also benefit from excellent links we have with local secondary schools, and have the opportunity to study some GCSEs..

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF: In September 2001 our brand-new unit for young children with autism opened. Stone Hey provides outstanding specialist resources and facilities for the whole school as well as the 12 children who are based there. We offer our pupils with autism a specialist curriculum alongside a broad balanced curriculum. We provide specialist approaches to teaching pupils with autism.

OUT OF SCHOOL: Extra-curricular activities are a regular feature of school life as we feel our pupils benefit educationally and socially from the opportunity to learn in the wider community. Visits to local shops, sports centres, libraries and careers offices can easily be arranged as we have our own mini-bus.

All our secondary students have the opportunity to take part in a range of different kinds of residential visits, including self-catering/life-skills, outdoor education, language/culture awareness and careers education. We have a very successful youth club for year 10 and 11 students which is very popular. The club makes good use of social community facilities and activities include bowling, swimming, visits to the cinema and other youth clubs.