Newcastle Bridges School

Newcastle Bridges School provides education to children and young people from 4 -19 who are hospitalised or are not able to fully access mainstream education due to medical or mental health reasons. They may be referred via the Local Authority or home schools can directly commission places. Pupils may be singularly or dual registered depending on their circumstances.

Newcastle Bridges School seeks to support each pupil’s access to a full-time, broad and balanced education appropriate to their potential and their educational needs and encourage reintegration into mainstream whenever relevant.

The school is made up of a diverse range of provisions some of which are within NHS settings. These provisions are widely recognised for the expertise they provide both regionally and nationally. Education staff from Newcastle Bridges School work in partnership with staff from the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust within these settings.

The Departments of Newcastle Bridges School:

• Newcastle Bridges School, Kenton offers education to pupils aged 11-16 years old who are unable to access mainstream school due to medical and mental health needs.  It offers a smaller and more nurturing environment than most mainstream secondary settings. A secondary curriculum is followed and pupils sit external exams. 

  The Medical Pathway Team of specialist teachers are based within this provision and provide education to pupils who are unable to access their home school or the Kenton Provision for medical reasons in the home or community settings. Pupils are supported either back to their home school or an education setting appropriate to the individual learner.  The team will also support students who have been out of formal education for an extended period to access the Kenton Provision.

• The Great North Children’s Hospital/Freeman Hospital (Paediatric Hospital Wards) caters for pupils whose education is interrupted by regular stays, or a long term stay in hospital. Pupils are taught by a team of teachers in the different specialist paediatric wards or in the hospital classroom. 

• Ferndene Hospital at Prudhoe (Mental Health) is a purpose built inpatient centre which provides assessment and treatment for 12 to 18 year olds with complex health, behavioural and emotional needs including those with a learning disability. 

  The Stephenson ward at Ferndene is a forensic mental health setting for 12-18 year olds with mental health needs or an additional learning disability. 

• Complex Neuro-Developmental Disorder Service – is a specialist second opinion service for nursery or primary school aged children who may have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other complex communication/mental health/neuro-developmental problems based at Walkergate Park

For more information please visit our website at

www.bridges.newcastle.sch.uk