Broadlands Academy Review 2026: A small-school feel in Keynsham, with clear expectations and a practical focus

In Keynsham, Broadlands Academy presents itself as a school that wants students to be known as individuals, while still holding firm lines on behaviour and classroom routines. The current Principal, Ms Laura Stone, is a visible part of the school’s public messaging, with a values-led emphasis on bravery, kindness and effort as the language that underpins expectations.

The latest inspection judgement is Good (April 2023), with Good grades across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

On outcomes, the published GCSE metrics point to performance that sits below England average overall. The school’s Progress 8 score is negative, and the FindMySchool GCSE ranking places it in the lower-performing band nationally. This does not mean students do not succeed here, but it does suggest that families should look closely at support, curriculum choices, and the fit between the school’s routines and their child’s learning needs.

Broadlands describes itself as a “small school” where students are “known and nurtured”, and the public-facing messaging leans heavily on relationships and belonging rather than grand claims. That small-school framing matters because it shapes how the school positions its assemblies, enrichment, and pastoral touchpoints, as shared experiences rather than something reserved for a subset of students.

The school’s values are presented plainly and repeatedly: bravery, kindness, effort. The strongest version of this, from a parent’s perspective, is a coherent language that staff and students can return to when behaviour slips or confidence dips. The risk, in any values-led approach, is that it becomes poster-deep. At Broadlands, the values are paired with explicit expectations about punctuality, uniform, equipment, and focused lesson conduct, which makes the culture more legible for students who benefit from clarity.

Leadership has also been in motion. Ms Laura Stone is the named Principal on the official school site and on the government establishment record. Public reporting indicates she took up the role at the start of the 2024 to 2025 academic year, following an appointment announced in mid 2024.

Broadlands is ranked 3,086th in England and 43rd in Bristol for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places the school below England average, within the lower-performing 40% of schools on this measure.

The headline GCSE measures available show:

• Attainment 8 score: 40.7

• Progress 8 score: -0.21

• EBacc average point score: 3.46

For families, Progress 8 is the most informative of these because it indicates how much progress students make, on average, compared with other pupils nationally who had similar starting points. A negative score suggests that, overall, progress is below the national benchmark. That does not define every child’s experience, but it does raise the bar for parents to ask detailed questions about intervention, literacy and numeracy catch-up, and how the school supports students who are either behind or highly capable.

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view Broadlands alongside nearby schools on the same measures, rather than relying on anecdotes.

Broadlands frames its teaching approach as structured, research-informed, and focused on clear explanations and practice. The school explicitly references cognitive science as an influence on its approach to learning, and positions classroom routines as part of ensuring students can think deeply rather than merely comply.

The practical implication is that this should suit students who prefer lessons that feel organised and predictable. Where it can be more challenging is for students who are easily discouraged and need careful scaffolding to persist. Broadlands’ stated approach includes “the right level of support when it is needed”, which is the reassuring part, but parents should still probe how this works in real terms: how quickly misconceptions are spotted, what small-group intervention looks like, and how feedback loops operate across subjects.

Beyond daily teaching, the school also positions enrichment and leadership as part of its learning model, including dedicated reading or enrichment time within the weekly timetable.

Broadlands is an 11 to 16 school, so the key transition point is post-16. The school states that students progress to a range of post-16 courses. Because this is not a sixth form provider within the 11 to 16 age range, families should treat careers guidance and local sixth form and college pathways as a central part of the decision.

On careers education, the school references the Gatsby Benchmarks and describes a programme that includes assemblies, speakers, mentoring, enterprise activity, and work experience. The value for students is breadth of exposure, particularly for those who are unsure what they want to do after GCSEs. Parents should still ask about the practicalities: which year groups complete work experience, whether employer encounters are universal or targeted, and how the school supports applications to competitive routes such as higher-level apprenticeships.

Year 7 applications are made through your home local authority using the coordinated admissions process. Broadlands states that the Year 7 admissions round opens in September each year, with a statutory national closing date of 31 October.

The school also signals that its main open event for prospective families typically takes place in early October, with the option of alternative tours if families cannot attend.

For families considering admission, the practical step is to combine two checks. First, read the school’s published admissions arrangements so you understand oversubscription criteria and how places are allocated. Second, use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand how your address relates to likely demand patterns, even when a formal “catchment” is not the only factor in play.

In-year admissions are handled differently. Broadlands states that in-year requests are made directly to the school via an in-year admissions form, and it sets expectations around attendance, punctuality, and adherence to uniform and behaviour policies as part of joining mid-stream.

Broadlands links wellbeing strongly to routines, calm classrooms, and predictable boundaries. Its behaviour messaging is explicit: students have a right to learn without disruption, and sanctions are paired with support where students fall short. For many families, that clarity is a positive, particularly if a child has struggled in less structured settings.

SEND information is also presented in a way that is designed to be accessible to parents. The school describes support across the four broad areas of need used nationally (communication and interaction; cognition and learning; social, mental and emotional health; sensory and/or physical needs). It also outlines how medical needs are supported through care plans and staff training.

A sensible parent line of enquiry is to ask how support is delivered in lessons, not only through withdrawal. Ask what typical classroom adjustments look like, how teaching assistants are deployed, and how the school measures whether interventions are working.

Broadlands presents extracurricular life as a mix of sport, creativity, and structured opportunities for students to represent the school or develop interests. On sport, the school references competitive fixtures across football, rugby, cross country, netball, indoor cricket, rounders, and athletics. It also highlights partnerships with Somerset Cricket and Bath Rugby, which can be meaningful if they translate into coaching, development days, and sustained participation rather than one-off visits.

For students who are motivated by contemporary competitive formats, the E-Sports Club is a genuinely distinctive offer. The school states that students compete against other schools nationally in Rocket League and League of Legends as part of the British Esports Championships. That combination of teamwork, strategy, and structured competition can be a powerful engagement route for students who are less energised by traditional clubs.

There is also a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, which is often a strong indicator of the school’s willingness to run longer-horizon programmes that develop independence and responsibility. For some students, this becomes a key confidence-builder, especially when academic motivation is still developing.

The formal start to the school day is 8.25am, and the school is open to students from 8.00am. The published timetable sets out lesson periods, breaks, and lunchtime, with an earlier finish on Tuesdays.

A breakfast service is available in the morning, and the school also publishes information about breakfast club style provision and after-school club wraparound. However, timing and pricing details for after-school sessions are not clearly published in a school-specific way, so families who need consistent childcare should verify the current offer directly with the school.

On transport, the school publishes information about local bus services and signposts local authority passenger transport arrangements for eligible students.

• Below-benchmark progress measures. A negative Progress 8 score indicates that, overall, student progress is below the national benchmark. Families should ask detailed questions about intervention, literacy and numeracy support, and how the school stretches high-attaining students.

• Behaviour systems are central. The school’s approach relies on clear routines and firm expectations. This suits many students, but those who struggle with compliance-led systems may need additional support to settle well.

• Post-16 planning matters. With education running to age 16, the quality of careers guidance and local post-16 pathways should be treated as a core part of your evaluation, not an afterthought.

Broadlands Academy is best understood as a values-led, routines-driven secondary in Keynsham, with a stated focus on calm classrooms, personal development, and practical preparation for life after GCSEs. The inspection outcome is securely Good, and the school’s enrichment offer includes some distinctive strands, including competitive esports and Duke of Edinburgh.

Who it suits: students who benefit from clear boundaries, structured lessons, and a school culture that repeatedly reinforces expectations. The main watch-out is that published progress measures sit below the national benchmark, so parents should probe the detail of academic support and stretch before committing.