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:

• Kenton Provision – An educational setting for pupils aged 11 – 16 for pupils who suffer from social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The Medical Pathway Team are based within this provision and provide education to pupils in the community who are unable to access the Kenton Provision for medical reasons
• Great North Children’s Hospital – pupils whose education is interrupted by regular stays, or a long term stay, in hospital are taught by a team of teachers in the different specialist paediatric wards
• Alnwood – provides medium secure inpatient assessment and treatment for young people up to 18 years, who have complex mental health needs, including those with a learning disability. Currently there are 14 beds available. There are plans for an imminent move to our Ferndene site in Prudhoe. There will be a reduction in the number of beds from 14 to 10
• Ferndene – based at the former Prudhoe hospital site and provides regional and national Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Services (CAMHS) for children and young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Tier 4 CAMHS are for patients with more complex needs usually requiring inpatient treatment. Ferndene has two wards, Redburn and Riding, providing a total of 20 beds
• 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
• Freeman Hospital – providing education to children and young people on the cardiothoracic ward

For more information please visit our website at

www.bridges.newcastle.sch.uk