Beyond the classroom: Artsmark's impact on inclusive careers for SEND students
“New Bridge School in Oldham is part of the New Bridge Group, affiliated with the New Bridge Academy Trust, which serves as a comprehensive special school for pupils from primary age through to 19.
Our school is rated outstanding from Ofsted and we’re a proud Artsmark Platinum school. We cater to a diverse range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Condition, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties, and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. We have 681 pupils on roll, all of whom have an Education, Health, and Care Plan.
The Artsmark programme aligns really well with our school’s vision of empowering children and young people and giving them authentic experiences through arts, culture and creativity. The futures of all our young people are paramount and our recent Artsmark journey has played an intrinsic part in this. We’re particularly proud of our employment opportunities, work placements, volunteering, and community involvement for students.
In Key Stage 3, each student undergoes a comprehensive arts curriculum covering music, dance, drama, and art. A specialised arts pathway named “Lumenus” has been developed for individuals aged 14-19 with a keen interest in the arts, offering an arts-rich curriculum for 30 young people with diverse disabilities. Acknowledged by the Department for Education, the Lumenus pathway empowers students to advocate for both the arts and the New Bridge Group on a broad scale, fostering disability awareness and inclusion. The arts are also utilised for therapeutic purposes, supporting student well-being and mental health through movement, art, and music therapies.
A range of external accreditations at entry level, GCSE, Arts Award, BTEC Level 1 and 2 ensure progression in the arts, and we also collaborate with industry professionals and organisations to offer students a range of volunteering and work experience opportunities. Our partnerships with organisations including Manchester International Festival, Contact Theatre Oldham Theatre Workshop, The Palace Theatre, Royal Exchange, and BBC actors offer Lumenus students’ opportunities and work experience in the theatre. Students can also participate in end-of-term shows, whether that’s performing, filming, or creating sets and props.
Lumenus Pathway students recently produced docudrama-style films addressing aspirations and future employment challenges faced by students with disabilities. This collaborative effort involved professionals from Oldham Theatre Workshop, with students actively contributing to the storytelling and enactment. The films, presented by our leadership team to the Department for Education, showcased the project’s quality. Take a look…
We also hosted an event Oldham Library’s Performance Space showcasing the films to employers, local youth workers and local dignitaries. Stalls representing various Pathways at the College offered information and activities, while a Human Library provided a platform for attendees to engage with students sharing their life stories.
We also have a programme called Bridging the Gap: a one-year course in which students are introduced to different working environments. These varied roles enable learners to build real life work skills, knowledge and experience. Students are supported by job coaches from The Royal Oldham Hospital and Manchester Metropolitan University. Our arts-rich curriculum empowers our pupils with the transferable skills and communication that are so vital in preparing them for future careers, fostering confidence and purpose.
To assess the impact of our Artsmark journey, we used the Gatsby Benchmark compass tracker by the Careers and Enterprise Company with regular self-evaluations. Looking ahead to our next Artsmark journey, our school will continue to collaborate with arts professionals and organisations to create inspiring lessons and projects.
I am proud that the pathways we’ve developed with the support of Artsmark helps our students to tell their stories, gain valuable skills and change perspectives of future employers. We are at the heart of the developing Cultural Centre in Oldham and are included in the strategic plans for the new Oldham Theatre Workshop and Coliseum Theatre builds. These are very exciting time for all the community - watch this space!”
Follow New Bridge Group on X: @newbridgegroup
