Stories | Life at The Bridge School Malvern

Bridge School Malvern - Happy Student in kitchen

What pupils say

"The Bridge is just an excellent environment to be in. Everybody is so friendly, caring and helpful. I have learnt that messing around in school/college is just not worth it, and that if you want to be successful in life you have to work for it and put all your time into making yourself the person you want to be. The Bridge was one of the only places I have been that I could finally learn a lot of things and feel comfortable where I am. I would recommend to anyone that the Bridge is by far the best school I have been too, I am now self-employed in the I.T business and I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for everyone there."

What parents say

"We are immensely proud about how well he's handled, such a big change. My husband tells me B is so chatty when he comes home from school, and we've not had this in such a long time. It's a little emotional for us! We hope he'll continue to progress with you and once again, many thanks for caring about our boy. I'm still getting used to the fact he no longer cowers in the corner begging me not to send him to school in the mornings! He's up, dressed, and waiting for the taxi every morning without hassle"

"This is such a positive report for M and makes me so happy he's achieving and enjoying school now with the right help and support. I thank you all so much. M did mention cooking his cake yesterday and I got all excited and then he said he didn't bring it home as it was for school - I was so disappointed haha. I'm so proud of him. He really does try hard and seems so much happier and content."

Person wearing blue holding and gently petting a gray and white lop-eared rabbit.

Teacher and student working together on a laptop with clay art materials on the table.

"I’m so proud of him and how he is settling in. He really has calmed down and is starting to engage which is amazing. He often speaks about you at home and says you are very kind, you don’t shout and you speak to him like a grown-up"

"I was very impressed when I viewed the Sixth Form Centre, all of the staff were supporting young people and it was a calm, well-run, supportive space."

"Thank you all so much for the past year. The support and kindness that you show is just amazing and we are very grateful to you all and proud to be part of the Bridge."

"H said he wanted the weekend to go faster so he could go back to school on Monday. He has never said anything like this before! So I just want to acknowledge that whatever to are doing is working, and thank you."

Governor's statement

It has been a joy to serve on the Governing Body at the Bridge. We have made some significant developments in the past two to three years, building on the great work done by previous supporters. We are serviced by a brilliant clerk, Di Hancock, and have a strong working relationship with our amazing Head and CEO. Our Chair, Sarah Slater, is conscientious and committed to the school, providing excellent leadership and support.

Governing Bodies need to be constantly improving to give best value to schools and ours is committed to becoming more effective. We were especially encouraged by the 2023 judgement by Ofsted:

"Governors bring a range of professional expertise to the governing body. They constantly review their processes to ensure that they fulfil their roles. They ensure that the school complies with the Equality Act 2010 and statutory guidance for relationships education. They are fully committed to the school’s inclusive ethos.”

We know what we have to do to improve in every area. It is a privilege to serve a school that is making such a positive impact on the lives of young people.

I know a family whose son recently joined the Bridge and they told me he has never been so happy in school since joining, and that he looks forward to going every day; something he has never experienced before. That means he is so much more likely to learn.

What a great testimony to the effectiveness of the school.

GV Govenor

2021-2025

Bridge School Malvern - Student and teacher in print room

Teacher stories

"All the staff are completely committed to providing the best level of support for children, no matter what their challenges are. Staff are supported daily to develop their understanding of a wide array of learning difficulties. It is a committed and dynamic team and it is a privilege to be part of it. I haven't seen this level of care anywhere else I have worked."

Governor's statements

"I have been a governor here for about three years now and I chair the safeguarding sub-committee. I am very proud of the transparency and honesty that the staff have about both safeguarding issues and wider governance, and the deep thinking that often comes with this. What is abundantly clear to me is how deeply the staff care, and this shows in their dedication and values to the children and young people. We are a Board that can sometimes ask difficult questions and that can challenge some of the decisions made about the school and its processes, but these are always met with courageous debate and considered reflection."

Julie Taylor

Desktop globe and an open atlas with maps on a wooden table in a classroom setting.

Orange and pink flowers blooming in a sunlit garden with a wooden fence and metal hoops in the background.

"I have recently joined the board as a Governor here, and the most striking part of joining the team is the strong organisation, transparent communication, and considerate approach for the students, provided by all staff linked to the school. It feels like a cohesive, positive place, for students and staff, and it is wonderful to see the great progress being made by the students, guided by the passionate, and caring teachers and staff within the school."

Nathan Smith

Every story starts with the Bridge

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The Bridge story

2007 - The Bridge Education Centre (BEC) was established as a charity and alternative provision.
2009 - BEC moved to it’s current site in Hanley. We changed our name to the Bridge Training and Development (BTD), which better described the work we did with young people.
2015 - As our reputation and our curriculum grew, we began the process of becoming an independent school.
2016 - We were formally recognised as an independent school by the Department of Education, and remain as a charitable organisation.

Person holding a hand-painted card with a smiling monkey drawing next to a stuffed monkey toy on a yellow polka dot tablecloth.

Bridge School Malvern - Student picking tomatoes from greenhouse

2017 - In recognition of the hard work and commitment of the staff team, we were graded as outstanding in all areas in our first Ofsted inspection.
2018 - We opened the sixth form; an innovative provision based on young people receiving a sheltered work experience with one of the four in-house micro businesses
2019 - BTD was recognised in the 2019 Parliamentary Review as a ‘best practice representative’, and we changed our name to Bridge School Malvern (BSM).
2024 - BSM’s Headteacher was awarded an MBE for her work supporting disadvantaged young people.