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Purpose and structure of this report
Section 1: The Bridge Methodology
Section one provides an overview of Bridge with a focus on their holistic 360-degree approach to transforming education systems and raising pupil attainment levels. The approach they have successfully adopted in multiple settings is described and the unique attributes of the programme are highlighted. This section provides background context for each of the following sections of the report.
1.1 - Bridge International Academies
Established in 2007 as a global organisation, Bridge initially deployed their approach in Kenya with a single objective to try and solve the seemingly intractable problem of education access and attainment for millions of children in poorer communities with low infrastructure and limited access to schools that empower and inspire them. Uniquely, Bridge partners with governments and existing systems to dramatically improve primary and pre-primary education. Today they have demonstrated dramatic learning gains in Nigeria, China, India, Liberia, and East Africa, developing programmes that address the particular circumstances of communities and governments in low infrastructure economies. All of their work and the resulting outcomes are all underpinned by research, pedagogical practice, data and insight enabling the creation and dissemination of highquality training, coaching, content and feedback.
Figure 1.1 – Bridge operating countries
1.2 – The Bridge Ethos
The Bridge ethos begins with the premise that the potential to deliver significant learning gains well beyond the status quo already exists within the existing school system and with the right technology based up-skilling, scientifically proven pedagogical approaches and a 360-degree support system. They equally advocate that a child’s background should not be a determinant of their education outcomes and address this by enabling high quality classrooms, age and grade appropriate learning levels and remedial support to push up learning gains and close the attainment gap. The intervention substitutes existing provision and aims to drive improved productivity from existing budgets rather than duplicating provision which is often the approach adopted to delivery such system-wide transformation. Moreover, the approach of partnering with existing schools and teachers means delivery is extremely cost effective. The approach works on 4 levels – pupil level, classroom level, school level, and systems level.
1.3 – Unique and Proprietary Bridge Platform, Technology and Methodology
Bridge’s unique, proprietary platform is a technology-driven 360 Degree, turnkey solution for the schools that the government identifies for complete transformation built on 5 pillars summarised below. This data-driven, technology-based systems transformation approach is unique globally and specifically designed for the challenging constraints within emerging market public education systems.
Underpinning the core Pillars is Bridge’s holistic approach to teaching and learning, based on 8 key principles that we believe uniquely drive the efficacy of the programme and the scale and pace at which real improvements in educational attainment can be achieved.
Key principles of the Bridge approach
1. Evidence based,
analytically delivered
Our pedagogical approach combines what is known from the science of learning with big data and analytics from our delivery of teaching and learning
2. Curriculum aligned Our content covers and aligns to national curricula
3. Comprehensive
learning and CPD materials
4. Technology at the heart
of delivery
5. Accountability and
professionalism
Our materials together constitute a complete package, including student materials, lesson plans, teaching strategies and activities, and teacher development
Our individual portable devices empower students, teachers and supervisors with the convenience, efficiency, and transparency of digital content and the data we gather enables rigorous analysis and deep insight right across the system enabling a more responsive and agile approach to transformation
Our rigorous and transparent approach emphasizes and cultivates the values of accountability and professionalism among students, teachers and supervisors
6. Teacher development We empower and motivate teachers through high quality development materials, in-person preservice training, regular data driven coaching, and transparent progress analytics
7. Transparency and QA Our QA and support teams use big data to analyse every step of delivery and intervene proactively to address issues at every stage of delivery, from infrastructure to student progress
8. Partnership Our ways of working builds capacity and capability, strengthening the system from within at pace and supporting teachers and government to delver the step change in performance needed to radically improve education outcomes.
