Our approach

At our sixth form, our focus is on preparing students for their transition into adulthood, employment and life after education. We have a variety of vocational areas where students will hone their skills alongside a robust careers programme as part of a broad curriculum.

Staff in our supportive adult learning environment have a high level of knowledge and skills in SEND.

We focus on employability skills within our safe business centre model, which enables students to try new skills and develop confidence before having to go out into the world of work. We are able to offer students time to explore different work environments through workplace trips and visits which can then lead on to work experience placements.

Our skills careers team work with employers to ensure that our students' needs are understood and supported to enable that student to add value to their business. Our intention is for all our students to find their place in the world of work and community to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Bridge School Malvern - Student working on heat press in textiles

Bridge School Malvern - Student learning mechanics

Bridge School Malvern - Student prepping food in kitchen

Sixth Form curriculum

We offer four core vocational areas to give our students real-life experience of work in a safe and supportive environment. In addition to this our curriculum includes: functional skills maths and english, ICT, art, preparation for adulthood, careers guidance, RSE/PSHE, physical education, counselling, mindfulness, mentoring, home cooking, business studies, work experience.

We offer City and Guilds qualifications up to Level 1 in Maths, English, Art, Catering, Business Administration, ICT and Employability Skills.

Bridge Sixth Form typical day

9.00am Arrival

Students put their bags and personal items into their lockers. Mobile phones, smartwatches and other devices are handed in.

A cooked meal is provided daily and we cater to dietary requirements as needed. And as at the high school site, there is no staffroom, so staff and students eat lunch together. Parents/Carers may choose to send a packed lunch, or students may wish to purchase food from Barnard’s Green in their second year, once they have permission to do so.

Work experience and careers support

Careers support is central to student’s curriculums, once they become settled with us. Students will meet weekly with a specialist careers coach and begin the process of exploring progression opportunities. They will have opportunities to visit colleges and workplaces and to go on work placements. They will have support looking for work, writing applications and cvs and attending interviews. Travel training and managing personal budgets are also covered.

Bridge School Malvern - Student on work experience

Micro businesses

Bridge Printworks

Working in our print room, students can create designs before printing those on various mediums - sublimation printing for fabrics or other items, mug pressing, card or poster making and printing coasters or mouse mats. This small business will take on individual projects or small orders from external customers, learning how to work to specifications, produce and dispatch quality items and provide quotations and invoicing.

View our Printwork flyer

Bridge School Malvern - Student learning print production

Micro businesses

Manufacturing

Our workshop provides students with the opportunity to engage in a wide range of practical and skilled tasks. From basic DIY to carpentry and mechanics, the students will learn to use tools and equipment safely, carry out small tasks or larger projects, make or build and repair items. We regularly service and repair bicycles in addition to the more traditional woodworking, DIY and mechanics elements of our workshop. There is also the opportunity to complete some practical City & Guilds units within this department.

Micro businesses

Retail and online business

Our small online business operates primarily out of Amazon and eBay. Students will get the chance to learn how to prepare items for sale, create adverts, carry out cost analysis, package sold goods and dispatch items. Alongside the practical running of the business, students will also learn a wide range of IT, business and life skills relating to employment and the workplace. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to gain a Level 1 City & Guilds qualification in Business & Administration within this department.

Bridge School Malvern - Sixth form student learning excel on computer

Bridge School Malvern - Happy Student in kitchen

Micro businesses

Catering

Working within a small, commercial kitchen set-up, students will engage in regular food preparation and cooking activities, preparing lunch daily for the centre. There will also be opportunity to complete a Level 1 City & Guilds qualification in hospitality as part of the catering department. Our links within the community can offer students with real-life experience of commercial catering and food service through work tasters and work experience which can lead to apprenticeships.

Bridge School Malvern - Student doing arts and crafts

Art

In addition to introducing art as a subject to support wellbeing and develop confidence, students have the opportunity to undertake a city and guilds Level 1 award in Creative Techniques. Our art delivery takes learning beyond the classroom with art trips, gallery visits and photography walks. Led by students' interests and at their own pace, students get the opportunity to work on their own individual projects producing pieces of work they feel proud of.

Bridge School Malvern - Sports kit and equipment

PE and sport

We are very proud of our quality offer of sports and PE. An integral part of preparation for adulthood is living a healthy lifestyle and accessing the community. As a small sixth form with limited space, we have forged fantastic links within the community to be able to offer a diverse PE curriculum. Making use of Malvern Splash gym - we have numerous sessions throughout the week , supporting students with personal fitness. We also have weekly PE sessions with themed terms covering different sports. These have included, touch rugby, cricket, basketball, squash, orienteering and quidditch. At the end of the school year we have a fun sports day and we also have a seasonal ‘Winter Olympics’ at Christmas.

Personal Development

At the sixth form, our key focus is on preparing our students for adulthood, employment and life after education. In addition to vocational training, we deliver a broad selection of additional sessions to support personal development. These include personal, social and health education, home cooking skills, mindfulness, counselling and travel training.

Trips and visits

Students greatly benefit from extracurricular activities, trips and visits. We endeavor to offer all of our students the opportunity to be involved in a variety of trips that take place throughout the school year, with all costs covered by the school.

Vocational trips give our students the chance to see real workplaces, meet local employers, compare different working environments, build confidence, communication and social skills. Our extra curricular trips support our students to develop team work skills, boost self esteem, try new things and find new interests.

As well as going out and about we have a number of visitors each year who put on workshops. Recently, these have included a resident Malvern artist, a glass artist, a drum workshop, local police, Worcestershire Apprenticeships, Mencap traineeships.

Some of the trips we have offered in the past include: Worcester Cathedral Christmas tree festival, Ninja Warriors, Skills Zone - Gloucester, Brooks Saddle Company, Croome Court, Boundless, Jobcentre, Life Beyond Schools events, Three Counties show, Mount Pleasant hotel, Worcester graffiti trail.

About the Sixth Form

Sixth Form curriculum

Micro businesses

Bridge Printworks

Micro businesses

Manufacturing

Micro businesses

Retail and online business

Micro businesses

Catering

Art

PE and sport

Personal Development

Employer Stories