Blog

As part of their The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award journey, Phoenix Bay students have gone above and beyond – not just for themselves but for their community. 🥫 They gathered and delivered food to local food banks 🌱 Grew their own vegetables from seed to harvest 🏖 Took part in beach cleanups to help protect our coastline These aren’t just tasks – they’re values in action. Compassion, responsibility, and environmental

We’re thrilled to share that the Watts Blake Bearne Football Club official U14s – the local team we proudly sponsor – have won their league and received the ‘Fair Play Award’ and ‘Most Respect Points’ in their age category at the Greatest Game Festival at Devon FA! These accolades don’t just reflect great football – they reflect character, teamwork, and respect. These are exactly the kind of values we champion

At Phoenix Bay, mental health isn’t a one-week conversation – it’s built into our daily practice. But for Mental Health Awareness Week, we took it a step further with a special celebration on Wear Green Day. > We began the day with calming Tai Chi sessions, helping students ground themselves in movement and breath. > Then we headed outdoors for some creative exploration – designing nature-inspired artwork that combined mindfulness

At Phoenix Bay, we know that education isn’t confined to a classroom. For Mental Health Foundation Health Awareness Week, we took our entire school to Stover Country Park – a stunning 114-acre nature reserve just a short drive from our site. This wasn’t just a day out. It was a chance to reconnect with nature, pause, breathe, and explore mental well-being in a hands-on, reflective way. Mindfulness Scavenger Hunt:Students explored

We were thrilled to welcome the brilliant Hannah Avent to Phoenix Bay for a deeply engaging sensory awareness training session with our staff. The session was packed with interactive learning and practical tips, helping our team better understand how sensory processing shapes the behaviours and experiences of the young people we work with. Why does this matter to us? At Phoenix Bay, we know that behaviour is communication. Many of

On the last day of term, we stepped away from the usual timetable and embraced a carousel of exciting, enriching activities for students and staff alike. Highlights included: > An unforgettable circus skills workshop led by the incredible Phil Blackmore (yes, from Britain’s Got Talent Series 1!) where students balanced feathers, spun plates, tackled the tightrope, and marvelled at a fantastic live performance. > A peaceful visit to Buckfast Abbey,

Say hello to the newest (and fuzziest) member of the Phoenix Bay team! We’re beyond excited to introduce our very own bespoke puppet – designed to support learning in a creative, engaging, and relational way. He’ll be joining us especially for reading sessions (think a little bit Sesame Street magic), and will help create safe, imaginative spaces where students can read, talk, and explore their emotions. No name yet… BUT

This Red Nose Day, our students and staff came together for a day filled with creativity, colour and community spirit! We had: 🎯 Fun, red-themed activities 🍪 Red Nose Day biscuits (delicious!) 🧠 A special assessment activities 🎨 And a brilliant poster design by William, one of our newest students who already has his sights set on becoming a designer! It’s always a joy to see our students express themselves,

Join us for our Phoenix Bay Open Evening! Are you curious about what makes Phoenix Bay such a unique and supportive learning environment? This is your chance to find out! Date: Wednesday, 26th March 2025 Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Tours: 3:30 PM & 4:30 PM Our Open Evening is the perfect opportunity to: Meet our dedicated team and learn about our trauma-informed, relational approach to education. Tour our

On World Book Day last week our school transformed into a world of stories, with students arriving dressed as their favourite book characters and staff fully committed to Where’s Wally costumes! We kicked off the day with an inspiring assembly, celebrating the magic of books and the importance of fostering a alifelong love of reading. But the real adventure began outside… Orienteering challenges had students searching for hidden letters and

We wrapped up the half-term with an inset day focused on something at the heart of Phoenix Bay – trauma-informed practice. And yes, we also happened to spend Valentine’s Day doing what we love – learning how to support our students even better. The day’s training took a deep dive into: 🧠 The neuroscience of trauma:Understanding how past experiences shape behaviour and learning. 🤝 Relational trauma:Identifying protective factors and strengthening

I had the absolute pleasure of hosting the Plymouth Magic Circle’s Close-Up Competition, an event that brought together some of the most talented magicians in the region. From mind-blowing mind reading to jaw-dropping escapology and expert sleight of hand, the night was filled with pure wonder and excitement. With eight incredible acts competing, the energy in the room was electric. The judges – including the esteemed Malcolm Norton AIMC (Associate