Cann Bridge School (formerly known as Downham School) is a special school for learners aged 3-19 who have severe learning difficulties. The school was re-purpose built and relocated in September 2012 to the Tor Bridge Partnership site. It is one of four individual schools which include Tor Bridge High, Tor Bridge Primary and Plym Bridge Nursery School.
Being in a partnership means we share and have access to spaces some special schools would not generally have including a theatre, sports facilities including a gym, large conferencing/event spaces, restaurant, a large community library, large outdoor sports and playing spaces. Learners have the opportunity to use dance studios and performance spaces further enriching the curriculum we are able to deliver. From Key Stage 3, learners have the opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge in the food technology rooms and computing suites.
At Cann Bridge School, each classroom has its own kitchen space and all have additional smaller breakout rooms attached to them to support learners needs. Every classroom has its own dedicated outdoor area leading directly from it. These spaces are used to support learning in an age appropriate way for example, in the lower school classes may have outdoor play equipment and sensory opportunities while in the upper school, the areas may provide opportunities to develop gardening and other life skills. We have a central foyer area in which we hold whole school events and assemblies, a shared gym/hall with Tor Bridge Primary, and also an adventure playground located on the Tor Bridge Primary site which learners in lower school have access to.
Post Bridge College is our Key Stage 5 provision for students aged 16-19. While it is on the same site as Cann Bridge School, it was a later addition and purpose built (2017) to provide a more age and stage appropriate environment as students prepare to transition to adult life. While Post Bridge College students are part of the same school, their learning spaces have a different “feel”. Within this space students have access to a common room area and also a cafe space in which students make their own lunch and develop their work related learning skills by running various cafes throughout the week.
We also have a staffroom which has multi-purpose uses including hosting Breakfast Club and Friends of Cann Bridge meetings. We also have a physiotherapy/meeting room, intervention room, dedicated meeting room, and four offices (SLT, Nurses, Administration and Headteacher).
