Our Ethos & Values | The Bridge School Malvern

A personalised path to learning and growth

Bridge School Malvern exists for the benefit of children and young people who need a more personal approach to learning, or who may need help preparing for transitional life stages from secondary to employment or further education or training. Our aim is to meet young people’s learning and emotional needs, and to support them in improving their employment and life chances. The development of positive attitudes to learning and aspirational life goals are central to the support we provide.

Smiling young boy wearing a bright orange jacket with fur hood and black headphones indoors.

Our mission

The Bridge School exists for the benefit of children and young people who need an alternative approach to learning, or who need help preparing for transitional life stages such as secondary school to employment or further education or training.

Our aim is to meet young people’s learning and emotional needs, and to support them in improving their employment and life chances. The development of positive attitudes to learning and aspirational life goals are central to the support we provide.

Three black and white pigs eating pellets on the ground inside a pen.

Statement of faith

The founders of Bridge School Malvern set the school up as a response to their Christian faith and values. These Christian values are important to us, they underpin our approach in valuing every child and adult, inspiring us to strive our hardest for the best outcomes for each individual. These values underpin all we do at the school and provide an environment and culture where young people can grow in confidence and happiness.

We believe that all young people are unique and of value. We want to help them to recognise their gifts and talents and help support them to develop the character and skills which will enable them to develop their unique role in the world. We want our pupils to embrace the future with hope, faith, confidence and compassion.

We want young people to have the opportunity to be able to find out about Christianity within the context of finding out about other faiths and no faith beliefs; and to be free to explore their own position on these.

Two teenage boys cooking together in a kitchen, one wearing a black shirt and the other a striped apron, preparing food with bowls and utensils on the counter.

Our approach

We have a dedicated staff team, who work to ensure that all of our students have the right support. Our SENCos, Sarah Whitelaw and Muriel Fitzer, works to support all students to support their educational, health and social needs and to request appropriate additional support where necessary.

Bridge School staff work tirelessly to ensure that all of our students are provided with a safe, secure and supportive learning environment with full access to a quality academic, vocational and therapeutic curriculum. We work closely with parents in the support of pupils. We encourage an active partnership through an ongoing dialogue with parents and carers as we believe they have much to contribute to our support for pupils.

Four people smiling and posing with black and white cows inside a barn with farm buildings and a tractor in the background.

Pastoral support and wellbeing

Mental health and pastoral support

At the Bridge, looking after our student’s mental health is extremely important. We are proud to be a trauma-informed school.

The importance and understanding of mental health is an important aspect of our curriculum. Our pastoral support, PSHE curriculum, interventions programme and school assemblies, all help pupils to identify, and understand their mental health. Staff work with pupils to develop positive strategies to help them to manage challenging situations.

At Bridge School Malvern, and it’s Sixth Form, we put mental health at the forefront of our offer. Our trauma informed approach gives staff the skills to support students who may have mental health challenges and we work closely with other agencies to ensure a holistic approach. Mobile phones and other devices are handed in on arrival at the Bridge, promoting digital wellbeing. And at the sixth form, students have access to an independent counsellor.

Person in a burgundy jacket gently holding a spotted leopard gecko on their hand.

Bridge School Malvern - Student wearing safety gear in small holdings

Bridge School Health & Safety

At Bridge School Malvern we have a broad range of vocational areas, construction, horticulture, catering, art and animal care. To enable pupils to benefit from the therapeutic benefits as well as the vocational skills, pupils are required to wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) such as overalls, steel toe capped boots or wellies, disposable gloves etc to keep themselves and others safe in our vocational areas. This is not optional, it is to keep them safe as well as others.

Sixth Form Health & Safety

At Bridge Sixth Form, we have four micro-businesses offering a wide range of real-life work experience. As in real work situations, students are required to wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment). This is not optional, it is to keep them safe as well as help them experiences the demands and expectations of employers.

Within each micro business, students will develop confidence and independence in how to work safely, including risk assessment, safe working practice, organisation skills, teamwork and responsibility.

Person in purple sweatshirt and black gloves operating a blue heat press machine near a window.