Broadoak originally opened as Weston-super-Mare Grammar School for Boys in 1922. Notable former pupils of the grammar school include Hugh Dykes, now Lord Dykes a Liberal Democrat peer; Paul Collard, co-founder of electronics company US Robotics; Nigel Hess, a composer best known for his television, theatre and film soundtracks; Richard Hearsey, a TV producer, writer and director best known for Game For A Laugh, You Bet and It's A Knockout; and Brian Rose, former Somerset County Cricket Club and England cricketer. The grammar became a comprehensive school in 1971, when it also admitted girls and changed its name to Broadoak. At the same time, the nearby Uphill Secondary Modern School in Oldmixon became the sixth form centre for Broadoak. Following a decline in student numbers, the sixth form was taken over by Weston College in 1998. The old grammar school buildings were demolished and replaced by a new school building in 1999. The former sixth form centre was demolished by Weston College in 2006. It was replaced by a new university and sixth form campus, which included the Jill Dando Centre, named after Broadoak sixth form student and head girl Jill Dando. In the 2002–2003 academic year the headteacher of The Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar was seconded to the school by the local education authority, after the school's governors lost control of their budget in March 2002, when they reached a £250,000 deficit. Broadoak became a specialist schoolin September 2005 and changed its name to Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College.
Academic achievement
In 2011, 54% of pupils achieved five GCSEs or equivalent qualifications at grade A* to C including Mathematics and English, compared with 40% in 2010, and 39% in 2009. In 2003, the school was rated as "satisfactory" by Ofsted and achievement standards were described as "well below average", although the report did note that the school was improving and praised the leadership of the newly appointed headteacher. in June 2008, when the school received a rating of "good". In May 2011, the school received a grade of satisfactory from Ofsted on a four-point scale of outstanding, good, satisfactory, and inadequate. In 2017 Ofsted rated the school as "requiring improvement". In 2007, the school was given the Artsmark award by the Arts Council England.
