About

Bradfields Academy is an innovative forward-thinking specialist SEND provision that supports students whose special educational needs have impacted on their learning.

Students are referred for consideration of a placement through the Medway SEN department and may have a comorbidity of learning needs, including speech and language, sensory, physical and autistic spectrum conditions. The academy aims to be a centre of excellence in the SEN sector where students can fully develop their cognitive, social and emotional skills in order to thrive in their community and in their next steps of education or employment. In achieving this, the academy seeks to develop global citizens that are strong ambassadors for students with disabilities.

The academy is an all through provision for students in Year R studying the EYFS curriculum, to Year 14 students in the Sixth Form.   The academy is arranged into a variety of communities dependent on students’ diagnoses and presenting abilities and needs.

The academy has seen a continued development in facilities and a growth in numbers since converting to an academy in 2014.

Places are constantly in demand from Medway and neighbouring local authorities. Through a rebuilding programme funded by Medway Local Authority we have been able to increase our roll year on year and we hope to reach our full capacity of 444 in September 2026.

In addition to strong student progress and achievement, staff at the academy make up the Fortis Trust Outreach Team, offering support packages to other schools, academies and trusts in the Medway and Kent area.

The academy is situated on a large campus consisting of 4 buildings. We are fortunate to currently be in the Department for Education’s Schools Rebuilding Programme and they are overseeing the replacement of certain blocks that have reached the end of life.

Bradfields offers a variety of progression routes for students and is proud of a track record where students achieve more than they are predicted to do on entry. This can be at a variety of levels from Unit Awards through Entry Level to Level 1 and 2 Awards, including GCSE and BTEC. Students in the Sixth Form are then able to expand on these achievements, taking them to Level 3 and equivalent.

In order to support this achievement, class sizes are kept as small as possible and additional support is deployed to support students in their learning. The adult-to-student ratio varies from 2:1 to 1:13 currently. As a result, staff can develop a curriculum that not only focusses on academic achievement but develops positive relationships, self-esteem, confidence and Character Strengths. All of these support students to take a meaningful place in society, be successful in further education, and take a successful role in the workplace.

Bradfields prides itself on the partnerships it makes with families. The Wider Pastoral Team supports both students and families with their journey through Bradfields. They recognise that with strong partnerships and support in the fields of:

• Medical 
• Parent Partnership 
• Speech and Language 
• Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy 
• Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) 
• Therapies 

students are able to spend more time in school engaged in their learning.

All of this has led to two consecutive OFSTED visits judging the academy as an Outstanding provision (2017 and 2022).