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Kellie Brick is the first learner to complete a Thrive apprenticeship, and she did so with distinction.
Kellie is Student Support Lead at The Stourport High School and Sixth Form, part of Severn Academies Educational Trust. Her role covers attendance, pastoral support and safeguarding, bringing her into close contact with young people who may need extra help to feel settled and ready to learn.
When the school began developing its own on-site alternative provision, Thrive felt like a natural fit. Kellie had seen the approach working well in other schools through a previous role and was keen to introduce it in her new setting.
“We wanted Thrive to feed into our alternative provision,” she said. “I’d seen it work before, so I was keen to bring that impact here.”
Investing in Kellie’s development
The Thrive Wellbeing Leadership Apprenticeship offered benefits for both Kellie and her school. The dual-award programme combines a nationally recognised Level 5 Operations Manager qualification with Thrive Licensed Practitioner training.
It enabled the school to build Thrive expertise to support its new provision, while helping Kellie develop her confidence and skills as a middle leader.
As a non-qualified teacher working in education, Kellie was also looking for a route that could support her future career development.
“Being a middle leader, it can be difficult to step up in education when you’re a non-qualified teacher,” she said. “I wanted something that would support any desire I may have in the future to step up to SLT.”
Bringing Thrive into alternative provision
The school’s alternative provision opened in September 2025 and supports young people with a range of needs, including SEND and social, emotional and mental health needs.
Some students attend as part of a reintegration plan. A young person experiencing emotionally based school avoidance, for example, may receive one-to-one support to build their confidence before returning to a particular lesson.
Kellie works with the provision manager to understand each young person’s needs and develop an appropriate plan, using Thrive action plans and behaviour support plans where needed.
“We find out what we know about that young person and, between us, come up with a plan to support them,” she said. “Thrive is absolutely feeding into that.”
Rather than delivering every intervention herself, Kellie oversees the work, supports planning and has trained teaching assistants and the SEND team to use Thrive across the school.
The school is now considering training another member of staff who works full time in the alternative provision as a Thrive Licensed Practitioner, increasing its capacity to deliver support day to day.
Giving staff the ‘why’
For Kellie, Thrive has not been about replacing what she was already doing. It has helped her reflect on her practice, understand the theory behind it and explain it more clearly to others.
“The programme helped me reflect on the things I was already doing and understand the science behind them more,” she said.
This has been particularly valuable when delivering staff training.
“I used to explain how we needed to respond to our young people. Thrive has given me the knowledge to explain why,” she said. “Having the Thrive qualification means I’m able to offer those answers.”
It has also influenced the way Kellie supports her team. During supervision, she now encourages staff to reflect more closely on their interactions with young people, including what felt difficult and what they could do differently next time.
Growing in confidence
One of the biggest changes for Kellie has been her confidence.
Before the apprenticeship, she sometimes held back during discussions about young people, even when she had valuable knowledge to contribute.
“I would think, ‘They know what they’re talking about.’ Well, actually, so do I,” she said
The programme has helped her recognise the value of her own expertise and feel more confident sharing it.
“When you come into a school as an unqualified teacher, there can be an element of imposter syndrome,” she said. “The apprenticeship has given me the confidence to know that what I’m saying is right and that I absolutely should contribute.”
It has also encouraged her to reflect on her leadership style and the kind of manager she wants to be.
Completing with distinction
Completing the apprenticeship alongside her school role took commitment, but Kellie found the experience rewarding and is proud of everything she achieved.
“I am really, really proud of what I achieved and what I learned,” she said. “I think it’s going to help me move forward in my career.”
For Stourport High School, Kellie’s apprenticeship has built Thrive knowledge at an important stage in the development of its alternative provision. For Kellie, it has strengthened her practice, supported her growth as a leader and given her greater confidence in the expertise she brings to her role.
As the first person to complete a Thrive apprenticeship, Kellie’s distinction is a milestone worth celebrating – and a strong example of the professional growth and wider impact an apprenticeship can support.
Looking to build leadership and wellbeing expertise in your school?
Kellie’s story shows how a Thrive apprenticeship can support both individual development and wider school priorities.
By building confidence, strengthening leadership skills and developing a deeper understanding of children and young people’s social and emotional needs, apprenticeships can help staff contribute more effectively to pastoral support, inclusion and alternative provision.
With the Operations Manager apprenticeship standard being withdrawn, the Autumn 2026 cohort represents the final opportunity for schools to access the Thrive Wellbeing Leadership pathway.
Thrive Wellbeing Leadership Level 5
Develop the confidence, leadership capability and strategic expertise needed to influence wellbeing, inclusion and school improvement across your organisation.
Thrive Wellbeing Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5
Build advanced knowledge and practical skills to support children’s social, emotional and mental health, helping them feel safe, understood and ready to learn.
We also offer specialist apprenticeships for early years professionals, including the Early Years Educator Level 3 and Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 pathways.
