Our Aims
Gesher School offers all-through education for students aged 4 to 16 with a range of mild to moderate needs including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and Down’s syndrome. The cohort also includes children who present with a range of genetic conditions, sensory processing needs, social-communication difficulties, and developmental delays.
Gesher students are unique and often learn in a way that diverges from traditional education methods. They may benefit from being taught differently regarding their communication and social interaction styles, with the environment being tailored and adapted to their own learning needs. Significant use of structure, routine and scaffolding helps with this, and students are encouraged to be as independent as possible in all aspects of their education.
The class sizes are small with a maximum of eight students in the primary classes and a maximum of ten students in the secondary classes, with high adult-to-student ratios throughout. From September 2025 our secondary cohort will be full going up to year 11.
Whilst Gesher is an understanding and nurturing environment, it is not a school for students whose primary needs fall into the category of social, emotional and mental health or severe learning needs. Students need to be able to demonstrate the capacity to communicate and learn independently within the school provision, and not require 1:1 support for the majority of their learning.
Our Vision
Our Ethos and Values
The Jewish value of ‘Ve’ahavta Le-re’acha Kamocha: Love Thy Neighbour Like Yourself’, underpins all aspects of both religious and secular learning at Gesher. The values of respect, kindness, love and acceptance permeate Gesher school life and are woven into the fabric of the school.
Recognising the richly diverse world we live in, our students understand the importance of showing compassion and consideration for others and our world. They explore and develop the different aspects of their identity so that they establish a place within the Gesher community and in their wider communities.
Inspired by our core Jewish values, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions through our REACH goals.
Equality Objectives
At Gesher School, we are firmly dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals involved with the school. With this in mind, we have established the following objectives as part of our Equality and Diversity Policy:
- To improve outcomes for all students, including those with protected characteristics, so that they progress at least in line with expectations based on their prior attainment and ability.
- To enable all students, including those in groups with protected characteristics, to positively contribute to school life.
- To promote mental health and well-being so that all school community members are valued and supported, regardless of special educational needs and any other protected characteristics.
- To progress through the Stonewall levels from Bronze through to Gold so that we continue to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for our LGBTQ+ students and be equipped to support individual students.
- To develop processes around all transition points for all students, including those in groups with protected characteristics, to ensure that appropriate advice, guidance and support are in place to ensure a successful transition to the next steps (i.e. moving between primary and secondary education phases).
- To promote equal working conditions for all staff regardless of disability, race, ethnicity, sex, religion, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation or gender reassignment.
- To ensure clear and positive discussion and representation of different races and faiths across the school.
- To ensure all female students and staff members feel safe and empowered and that allies of other genders can be advocates for women’s rights.
- To ensure our school community is educated and empowered to challenge stereotypes.
