2015
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Two Bridges School
“OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE JUST AS MANY EDUCATION CHOICES AS ALL STUDENTS” SUE BEAUCHAMP HEAD TEACHER
It’s been a busy year for Two Bridges... Back in September 2014 when I took over as Head Teacher of the West Kent AC PRU I knew there was an exciting journey ahead, but had no idea it would feel this amazing just 10 months later. The 2014-15 students have climbed a mountain and some in terms of the changes they have taken on, the boundaries they have pushed against and accepted and the overwhelming efforts they have applied to prepare themselves for GCSEs and transition to
FOOD TECH KS4
colleges or apprenticeships. Mid year the amalgamation with the KS3 Student Support Centre took place and already the school feels like one place of learning where students share resources and facilities across the Keystages and benefit from working alongside each other. Student voice told us they wanted to be a school and Two Bridges School was soon chosen as the new name, our inclusive logo came along quickly after that, followed
VOCATIONAL
by our own minibus and of course our website www.twobridgesschool.com Our curriculum has grown too and now includes GCSE History, Food Technology, Carpentry, Child Care, ASDAN and Painting and decorating along with the core subjects as always. Given these are just the first steps on our journey supporting students across West Kent and their mainstream schools then the future really is bright and very very exciting.
SCIENCE KS3
Let’s hear a few words of wisdom from our new leadership team... Every young person referred to Two Bridges Keystage 3 is unique and has their own progression path; the key to achieving that is “breaking the cycle” of poor behaviours that brought them to us in the first place. Two Bridges offers personalised behaviour and emotional support alongside quality teaching and learning. Our aim is to support young people to recognise and manage their challenging behaviours safely and effectively; developing their coping strategies and skills of resilience. A vital part of this process is working closely with parents and carers and all agencies TWO BRIDGES OFFERS PERSONALISED BEHAVIOUR AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ALONGSIDE QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING
to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to step positively towards success and achieving their full potential. We are excited to embark on this journey alongside them. June Turner Head KS3.
At Keystage 4 we had barely folded the leavers lunch tablecloth and put it back in it’s box for next year before the new
year groups were arriving at the door bursting with enthusiasm to show us their skills and discover what our school is all about. I am very pleased to say this year we have expanded the choice of option subjects and whilst it may be causing some headaches for students and staff in deciding which courses are best for which students, it is great that the headache is caused by this breadth of choice. Students can challenge their athletic abilities in BTEC Sport, prepare for their spot on Masterchef in Food Tech, dabble in the archives in GCSE History, venture into the world of evolution and development through Childcare, join Banksy in Art (preferably not drawing on the walls!) or take on the many and varied challenges of the ASDAN course.
THE TEAM
JO G AL E HEAD OF K S4
Jo Gale Head KS4
Our vocational courses are delivered in partnership with Skills for Employment where we offer industry standard courses alongside professional Work Experience programs.
JUNE TURNER HEAD OF K S3
Tracey Vinton Acting Head KS4 Voc
PAUL A L EE HEAD O F TEACHING AND LEARNING
TRAC EY VINTON ACTING HEAD KS4 VOC ATIONAL
KEYSTAGE 4 GALLERY
A SPECIAL MENTION MUST BE MADE OF OUR FIRST WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENT. JACK HAS BEEN ON HIS OWN UNIQUE JOURNEY LEARNING TO MANAGE HIS BEHAVIOURS. HIS SUCCESS IN THIS AREA GIVES HIM A VERY SPECIFIC INSIGHT INTO THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY SOME OF THE STUDENTS WHO COME TO US FOR RESPITE SUPPORT. JACK IS DOING BRILLIANT WORK HELPING THEM DEVELOP THE STRATEGIES THEY NEED TO RETURN SUCCESSFULLY TO THEIR MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS
KEYSTAGE 3 GALLERY
SCHOOL OFFERS ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND TWO BRIDGES IS NO EXCEPTION. STUDENTS THIS YEAR HAVE WORKED HARD IN CLASS, LEARNED TO DEAL WITH SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, DEVELOPED MATURE APPROPRIATE ATTITUDES TOWARDS PEERS AND STAFF, VISITED CHESSINGTON, BEEN TO THE DRIVING RANGE AND CREATED SOME AMAZING EXAMINATION PIECES...THAT’S THE POWER OF WORKING TOGETHER.
Feature Job of the Term... Pastoral Manager When you were at school who did you go to for help and support? I had a learning mentor, he stopped me being excluded and saved my education more than once...we still keep in contact
GEMMA MARSH GEMMA JOINED THE TWO BRIDGES TEAM IN APRIL 2015 AS A PASTORAL MANAGER WORKING WITH KEYSTAGE 4. SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING JUST AHEAD OF THE EXAM SEASON FOR OUR YEAR 11S AND HAS NOT STOPPED FOR A BREATH BETWEEN THEM LEAVING AND GETTING TO KNOW ALL OF OUR NEW YEAR 9 AND 10 STUDENTS...
now. Is it true you used to work in a Safari Park? I did used to work in the kids play area of a Wildlife Park, it was hard work especially when it was cold and wet all day in winter.
S TAT S A N D S T U F F
What is most challenging about being a Pastoral Manager? The hardest part of being a PM is fitting everything in...you want to fit loads of things in but its about managing your time appropriately to make sure you give every student the best support you can. What makes you laugh at work? Everything makes me laugh at work...the staff are brilliant and the students all have such individual characters, the best thing about working in a smaller school is you get to build really solid relationships with all the people you work with. Has Ms gale ever threatened to sack you? Nope haven't been offered my P45 yet...but theres still time.!! If Miss Beauchamp gave you £10,000 to spend on the school what would you do with it? I’d probably use it to fund a music program or equipment. Music is and has been a huge part of my life and helped me through so much I think it would work the same for some students and would love to develop something that works to support more students through Music. What is your favourite moment so far in the job? My favourite moment so far has been the Year 11 leavers lunch. it was brilliant seeing so many students enjoy their end of school with such care and respect for each other.
FOR ALL YOU NUMBER JUNKIES OUT THERE...THIS YEAR OUR YEAR 11 STUDENTS HAVE REALLY PUT IN THE EFFORT. IN TOTAL THEY SPENT 189.25 HOURS SITTING ENGLISH PAPERS, 112 HOURS OF MATHS EXAMS AND WHEN YOU INCLUDE SCIENCE AND ALL THE OTHER SUBJECTS A MASSIVE 441.25 HOURS WERE COLLECTIVELY SPENT HEAD SCRATCHING OVER THE QUESTIONS POSED THIS YEAR BY THE EXAMS. WE NOW EAGERLY AWAIT THE RESULTS DAY ON THUR 20TH AUGUST FINGERS CROSSED ALL THAT HARD WORK AND PREPARATION PAYS OFF.
H O L D T H E B AC K PAG E . . . Sports News: Summer arrived with a challenge for us from the PRU in North West Kent. “Let’s play an InterPRU softball match” was the only line needed to have Ms Beauchamp holding trials for first base fielders in the lunch hour! Never one to refuse an adventure the stage was set at Margaret Macmillan House, Wrotham who loaned us a large piece of their field which happens to be midway between the two schools. Despite the heat , the game got off to a good start with the students joining together to challenge staff. The students fielded first and soon picked up that ge=ng staff out was easier than they had thought and so with great an?cipa?on they came into bat.
NS..? WHO THE DICKE
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Bailey Hook was notable for his home-‐runs which helped the students eventually defeat the staff and take the inaugural ?tle of champions. The students showed great sportsmanship and responsibility when playing and were great ambassadors for Two Bridges School. Well done all.
Head Space: Being Hide and Seek Champion aint easy..!
This year has provided all of the adventures I had anticipated and some. One thing I had not banked on was how difficult it is to split myself between sites to catch a glimpse of all that is going on each day. Partly I put this down to the students being so busy I would defy anyone to keep up with it all but I must try harder for sure as every time I arrive at any of our sites I am met with the comments from student “WHERE’VE YOU BEEN? WE that they haven’t seen me for days. I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU FOR DAYS.!” am immensely proud of how far Two Bridges School has travelled on it’s journey already and am excited about the future developments being planned for next year. Huge thanks to all the students, parents, staff and partners we have worked with this year for helping build Two Bridges School. (Sue Beauchamp Head Teacher)
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