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Academy Contact Details
Academy Name
Bluecoat Beechdale Academy
Postal Address
Harvey Road, Bilborough, Nottingham, NG8 3GP (for Sat Nav purposes please use: NG8 3BB)
Telephone No.
0115 913 5211
Enquiries Contact Name
Miss C Lowe (Office Manager)
Name of Principal
Mrs R Frearson
Name of SENDCO
Mrs A Tuckett
For directions to Bluecoat Beechdale Academy please click here.
Admission Criteria
The Academy will consider all applications for places.
Students, who have a statement of special educational need or Education, Health and Care plan, naming Bluecoat Beechdale Academy, will be admitted first. This will reduce the number of places available for other applicants.
After the admission of applicants with statements of special educational need or Education, Health and Care Plan where the Academy is named on the statement or Plan, the criteria will be applied in the order in which they are set out below.
- Children in public care and previously looked after children;
- Places will then be offered to applicants who have a sibling who will be attending the Academy at the time of the applicant’s admission.
- Remaining places will then be allocated to other applicants who live the shortest distance from their residence to the main entrance of Bluecoat Beechdale Academy at the closing date for applications. Distance will be measured in a straight line from the main entrance door to the child’s home to the main reception entrance door to Bluecoat Beechdale Academy.
In the event that such a measure is identical to the nearest meter for two or more children and there are insufficient places available for both or all of them, the remaining place/s will be awarded by random allocation using lots drawn by a person independent of the Academy.
Ofsted October 2022
We are thrilled that, in October 2022, Ofsted recognised the high quality education that we provide at BBA for our students. In particular, Ofsted acknowledged the tremendous progress that has been made at the school since the last inspection in 2017. It is a great source of pride for everyone connected with Bluecoat Beechdale Academy that we have made huge strides to improve in all key areas and that our academy continues to be ‘Good’. The Ofsted inspection team made the following observations:
“This is a happy, caring school. Pupils feel safe. Staff are proud of their pupils and enjoy working with them. The school rewards pupils for being kind, curious, resilient and positive. That is ‘the BBA way’.”
“Expectations are high. Pupils know where they stand because expectations are very clear. Classrooms and corridors are calm and orderly. Most pupils behave well and want to learn. Bullying is rare and staff deal with it swiftly. If they need it, pupils get effective help to improve their behaviour.”
“The school wants every pupil to aim high in education and in life. The curriculum aims to bring the richness of the world into the classroom. Teachers support pupils to make ambitious choices for future work and study.”
“Leaders have brought about rapid improvements to the provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Teachers get the right information to support pupils.”
“Staff and pupils all contribute to a strong culture of safeguarding. Safeguarding leaders are knowledgeable and skilled. They know pupils and their families very well.”
Ofsted, October 2022
To read our latest report from our visit please click here:Ofsted Report October 2022
Click here to read the OFSTED report February 2017
Please click on the link below to access Parentview
Our Results
Bluecoat Beechdale Academy’s validated performance can be seen in the table that follows below for families to evaluate (parents are reminded that performance tables were not published for any school in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic).
We are proud of all of our students and staff at Bluecoat Beechdale Academy for everything they have achieved, and that our results have improved in all government headline measures since 2019. We continue to challenge ourselves and our students to ensure our progress continues, and this trajectory of improvement continues. You can access our Academy performance tables on the Department for Education website here.
Measure | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 |
Attainment 8 Score | 35.8 | 37.8 | 33.7 |
Progress 8 Score (Overall) | -0.59 | -0.48 | -0.65 |
Progress 8 Score (English) | -0.8 | -0.35 | -0.69 |
Progress 8 Score (Maths) | -0.66 | -0.62 | -0.77 |
Progress 8 Score (EBacc) | -0.59 | -0.48 | -0.56 |
Progress 8 Score (Open) | -0.41 | -0.48 | -0.71 |
Grade 5 (B) or above in English and Maths | 19% | 23% | 18 |
Grade 4 (C) or above in English and Maths | 31% | 48% | 38 |
Pupil destinations – pupils staying in education or going into employment | 83% | 83% | 87 |
Pupils achieving a standard pass in English (Grade 4+) | 43% | 66% | 51 |
Pupils achieving a strong pass in English (Grade 5+) | 33% | 47% | 36 |
Pupils achieving a standard pass in Maths (Grade 4+) | 41% | 52% | 43 |
Pupils achieving a strong pass in Maths (Grade 5+) | 19% | 22% | 21 |
Pupils entering the English Baccalaureate | 12% | 10% | 14 |
English Baccalaureate Average Points Score | 2.93% | 37.8% | 2.83 |
The Department for Education publishes school performance tables for all academies. These can be found for Bluecoat Beechdale Academy by following this link
https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/140369/bluecoat-beechdale-academy
Guidance for parents to help explain the new Progress 8 system can be found by watching this short video explanation from the DfE. https://youtu.be/4IAEgFMSGDY
At BBA we offer a broad and balanced curriculum that allows all pupils the opportunity to develop their own interests and expertise. Our curriculum allows all pupils to become:
- successful learners who enjoy studying and achieve the qualifications that will allow them to progress to the next stage in their education
- aware of topical issues that affect them and others within society
- tolerant and accepting of all members of their community and beyond including celebrating cultural diversity
- confident in working independently or as in a team with the ability to lead others
- responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society
- able to understand the importance of health and safety in each stage of their lives
We operate a one week timetable with 5 lessons that are 60 minutes in length except on Thursdays when there are 4 lessons. In addition there are enrichment opportunities after school each day ranging from academic support to broader interests like sport, the arts and the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.
The curriculum that we offer at Bluecoat Beechdale Academy reflects its learners; it is diverse, vibrant and driven by a desire for success. It equips our students with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed throughout their time at the Academy and excel in the next steps in their educational journey, be that at the Sixth Form, college, university, apprenticeship or employment.
At key stage 4, pupils get to choose from a variety of academic and vocational courses and all receive detailed individual advice and guidance to ensure that they choose the right options for them. Assessment in these courses takes place in a variety of forms including assignments during the course and public examinations at the end of Key Stage 4. All subjects and qualifications are carefully selected to provide the best possible range of opportunities for our students and provide a platform for continued study after they leave us.
Our RSHE program has a variety of strands which are delivered to every year group and these include: British Values and Citizenship, Sex and Relationships; Careers; Health and Wellbeing; Drugs Education; Learning to Learn. Further details and timings can be found on the RHSE webpage.
KS3
At KS3 the majority of pupils follow the same curriculum and are taught in mixed ability groups. We have a broad and balanced curriculum allowing pupils to study a wide range of subjects from the core to the humanities, the arts, design and sport. We believe that students should be fully prepared for their future studies so we ensure that Knowledge, Skills and Understanding are built upon from year 7.
KS4
Core Curriculum
The core curriculum consists of GCSEs in English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science (either double award or single sciences) and an Ebacc qualification (Geography, History or a Modern Foreign Language) as well as either a Sport qualification or GCSE Citizenship.
All students will initially study the same content for Science, which will lead to two GCSE qualifications. Those who have shown an aptitude for the subject will be study the subject in more depth and have the opportunity to take GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This means that, if successful, a pupil will leave with minimum of 7 GCSEs or equivalent qualifications just from the core curriculum and those with an aptitude for Science will leave with 8. In addition our most able pupils have the opportunity to study for a Further Maths qualification which is excellent preparation for the transition to A-level.
Options
All pupils study 3 options subjects in Key Stage 4, one of which has to be an Ebacc qualification – Geography, History or Spanish. They may of course choose more than one of these and those thinking of going to university are strongly advised to do so. Beyond this, we believe in giving students a free choice but with the following in mind; this is the first step on the road and it is important that all children choose subjects that will provide them with the best opportunities for their future. For some pupils it will be more suitable to study a vocational qualification, which can lead more directly to a career in that area.
The list below shows all of the subjects that we currently offer and the examination boards:
Course | Examination Board |
GCSE Spanish | AQA |
GCSE Geography | Edexcel |
GCSE History | AQA |
GCSE Citizenship | AQA |
GCSE Computer Science | OCR |
BTEC Art | Edexcel |
BTEC Business Studies | Edexcel |
BTEC Construction | WJEC |
GCSE Design and Technology | AQA |
BTEC Digital Information Technology | Edexcel |
Hospitality and Catering | WJEC |
VTCT Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy | VTCT |
BTEC Health and Social Care | Edexcel |
BTEC Performing Arts | Edexcel |
BTEC Sport, Activity and Fitness | Edexcel |
If you would like more information about the curriculum please email our Assistant Principal for Curriculum Mr A Freestone afreestone@bluecoatbeechdale.uk.com
Bluecoat Beechdale Academy is built around the three ideas of Belong, Believe and Achieve.
By deliberately helping students to embed this ethos in their character, we equip our students to take this mindset confidently into a successful future.
We encourage students to have self-belief so that they dare to set themselves ambitious goals for their education, career and life as a whole.
Through many things, such as our high standards in uniform, we demonstrate our pride at belonging to the Bluecoat Beechdale Academy community. Our students learn how to build positive relationships so that they will always have the interpersonal skills and confidence to feel comfortable wherever they choose to belong in their adult life. We acknowledge and reward our students for a whole range of achievements – from meeting learning goals, making progress in enrichment activities or demonstrating personal growth and development through improved attitudes to learning. By highlighting the successes our students earn, we believe we will make ‘achievement’ a lifelong habit for them to enjoy.
Our staff are role models of our ‘Belong, Believe, Achieve’ mantra. They live out our ethos every day through their unswerving commitment to our students and their determined approach to continue to learn and develop themselves as a team.
Having witnessed the rapid progress made at Beechdale, with the support of our Bluecoat sponsors, I have the utmost belief that Bluecoat Beechdale Academy is the ideal place for children to belong so that they may achieve their true potential.
Rachael Frearson
Principal,
Bluecoat Beechdale Academy
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To view our Governor Information please click here
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