CHILDREN in Year 6 at the Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe will not be moving on to secondary school in a year's time - they are already there.

The Bridge is one of England's first all-through education centres, providing schooling from the age of three through to adulthood.

The campus is a relocation of three schools – the former Teyfant primary, Hartcliffe secondary and New Fosseway special – with college and other educational provision in new buildings on the same site.

But chief executive Mark Davies is clear it must be much more than that.

He said: "We are starting to deliver what we have promised all along; 'stage not age' teaching and learning. This maximises the all-through opportunities that the buildings' architecture provides. The traditional primary/secondary transition is blurred."

The switch means that Year 6, or top primary, pupils are now being taught alongside Year 7 and Year 8 pupils.

Groups are taught according to ability levels, using classrooms in the primary and secondary school sections of the building. Teachers also work in both areas.

It means the Year 6 children can have lessons with subject specialists rather than all with one teacher, as in traditional primary schools.

But the all-important Sats tests are not being ignored. The Bridge got record Year 6 results in 2009 and weekly sessions are being held to help this year's group achieve highly.

The Bridge's Year 6 children are placed with others from Years 7 to 11 in "vertical tutor groups" within a house system. Each group is in the care of two adults. The idea is to strengthen pastoral support and overcome potential bullying.

The campus has also put in place strong procedures to integrate pupils from other primary schools when they arrive in Year 7 at the Bridge.

Mr Davies and his team personally follow up all applications and ensure they address parental concerns.

He has made a Youtube video and held meetings to help reassure them.

He said: "Some parents have been worried but there are so many things we need to do. We have tried to take the bull by the horns. It is transformational stuff but whatever structures and systems you have, it still comes back to the quality of what goes on in the classrooms. If we get that right, much of the rest will follow."

In the new set-up, children aged five to ten (Years 2 to 5) are in phase one, those aged ten to 13 in phase two and 13 to 16-year-olds in phase three.

Mr Davies said this arrangement allows more flexibility to personalise learning for each individual child.

"Children in Years 2 to 5 stay with a 'home teacher'. We have Year 2 and Year 3 children taught together, blurring the transition from Key Stage 1 to 2. Small village schools have always done this," he said.

At the other end of the age range, the Government's decision to scrap tests in Year 9 at the end of Key Stage 3 has allowed the Bridge to have a three-year upper secondary phase. It means children can pursue courses across one, two or three years to best meet their needs.

"Some Year 9 students might do a GCSE in a year while others might need three years to get through a course," Mr Davies said.

The Bridge had Hartcliffe's best GCSE results in 2009, with the percentage of pupils achieving five grades A* to C, including English and maths, rising to 36 per cent from 21 per cent.

The arrival of primary and secondary pupils from New Fosseway this month completes the Bridge's student population.

The range of facilities on site will also enable personalised learning provision for these students. The campus, which is run by a trust comprising City of Bristol College, the University of the West of England and Bristol City Council, is to be officially launched next month by Princess Anne, who will spend an hour touring the facilities before unveiling a plaque.

Mr Davies said: "We are absolutely thrilled that the Princess Royal is helping us to mark our official launch. The campus is flourishing and everyone is so positive about the future and what we are going to do here for our children and our community. We are all looking forward to welcoming the Princess and the contribution she will be making to what we all believe is a very special place."