Breckenbrough has a Secondary School academic timetable, consisting of a 38 period week, with 8, 40 minute periods a day (6 on a Friday).

Boys are grouped where applicable chronologically in academic year groups. There is one group for the youngest classes which operates as an Induction class for years 5, 6 and 7. No group has more than 7 pupils (the majority are less).

The minimum expectation is that all pupils attend all lessons, arrive punctually and settle to task. Whilst teachers will tolerate acting out in class to a certain degree, acceptable classroom behaviour is expected. This expectation of attendance and a reasonable level of bahaviour emphasises the importance attached to success (at whatever level) in the classroom and is in general met with a positive response.

The Curriculum is designed to meet the educational, emotional and behavioural needs of pupils within the framework of the National Curriculum. Recognition is made of the pupils inherent dislike of the conventional classroom by balancing the timetable between classroom based subjects and those outside.

All pupils have a fragmented education and therefore it is policy for all pupils to experience as broad a formal curriculum as possible for as long as possible. In Key Stage 4 they are allowed to opt out of subjects but are encouraged to maintain an interest even if the pupil does not want to take the subject at G.C.S.E. Thus the majority of boys in Key Satge 4 will be studying two Humanities subjects as well as Art and D&T.

Pupils tend to gain great esteem from success in National examinations. Key Stage 2 and 3 SATS are taken by pupils of the relevant age and G.C.S.E. in Year 11. Younger pupils take AEB Basic Tests. Investigations are being made into the appropriateness of City and Guilds, the new NPRA and GNVQ Qualifications. NPRA units have been started in RE, French, Graphics and Outdoor Education.

An important part of the education provision is to exploit the potential of the pupils. In some Curriculum areas boys are encouraged to enter G.C.S.E. examinations early. For example in Maths where the tiered lavels are used as building blocks for achievement in year 9, 10 and 11. In other subjects where assessment shows that they have the ability to achieve a Grade D or better pupils are entered. When a pupil does take a GCSE before Year 11, he is then expected to retake the subject to improve on his Grade (where appropriate), take the subject to a higher level or to study an alternative subject. There is a wide choice available of alternative subjects including PE, Business Studies, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Sociology and Law.

The IT provision is cross curricular within a rolling development and resourcing programme. The aim is to have a PC in every classroom compatible with the curriculum area, and build a resource center with six networked computers.

IT is taught to Key Stage 3 pupils on a peripatetic basis. Year 7 is an induction class with one teacher for English, Maths, Geography and RE and here there is a more thematic approach to the curriculum.

The school is divided into two for PE. The Lower School has formal PE lessons and the Upper School has a wide range of options. Peripatetic Music is offered two days a week for individual keyboard tuition.

All lower school pupils are given didactic and cognitive tests to assess their educational potential and their progress. Provision is made for specific educational needs in particular additional support for basic literacy and numeracy skills. In the lower school this programme is co-ordinated with Unit Workers who supervise additional learning time in the evenings on the Unit (see Homework Policy). In Key Stage 3 and 4 some educational needs demand specific literacy programmes and individual teaching of basic reading and numeracy. In the upper school those pupils whose handwriting handicaps their academic work have access to portable word processors.

Reports are written termly to parents and local authorities which include achievable targets, subject teachers discuss with all pupils their expectations for progress and development, both educational and behavioural for the following term. The Deputy Head meets with all teachers individually every half term. In these meetings the teacher discusses the half terms work in each group and the performance of individual pupils. The meeting then plans strategies to allow the following half terms curriculum to be delivered more effectively. Parents are also invited to meet teachers at the end of each term coinciding with end of term events, a Christmas Play, a Words and Music evening at Easter and Sports Day in Summer. This is in addition to the statutory termly IEP's. All pupils have a nominated tutor who is a teacher who has a good working relationship with this boy, who discusses the general targets with the pupil and keyworker. Parents are encouraged to attend the annual case review and teachers are more than willing to discuss the pupils progress if parents wish.

It is essential that the Breckenbrough curriculum does not lose sight of the emotional and behavioural needs of the pupils. There has been a long and successful tradition of personal and outdoor education and it is believed that it is important to maintain this aspect of the curriculum. The Outdoor Education Programme is linked to the National Curriculum, where applicable but its emphasis is on giving the pupils opportunities to address their emotional and behavioural problems whether they be educational, social or psychological. The programme allows education to be conducted outside the classroom and the school environment, widening the pupils educational experiences leading to confidence building, teamwork, self help and awareness and appreciation of the environment. The programme includes extended trips such as Youth Hostelling, C2C cycling trip and skiing. An extension of this programme is for formal PSE lessons which also include the RE provision once a week. In year 11 the programme is orientated towards preparation for life outside Breckenbrough. Outdoor Education element is greatly reduced, the programme includes a formal careers lesson a week with the Headteacher and is linked with the North Yorkshire Careers PLC.

The wider curriculum is provided through a wide range of activities during the week where boys are encouraged to explore and develop their own areas of interest. The Art, CDT romms and Science Labs are opened on two evenings a week. Cookery is offered to Year 11 and to other students in the evening. Boys are encouraged to follow and extend their interests, particularly out of school where they are allowed to join clubs and societies. There are regular visits to the Cinema and to the Theatre. In the Summer every opportunity is made to use the local environment with visits to the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors.