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WOW! What a year at Phoenix Bay. When people ask what makes a trauma-informed, relational school different, it is rarely one big initiative. It is hundreds of moments that add up to safety, belonging, and young people starting to believe in themselves again. Here are a few of the moments we will carry with us from the last 12 months. Community, joy, and the kind of memories that stick >

Christmas at Phoenix Bay School has been full of the stuff that actually matters: connection, creativity, and plenty of moments to feel proud of. We came together as a whole school for a proper Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, then ended the day with Christmas karaoke. The kind where you see confidence build in real time, with lots of laughter along the way. Across the week, students have also

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Phoenix Bay. There are snowmen on tables, Santas in windows, and students knee-deep in tinsel and glue sticks. The energy is joyful, creative, a little chaotic, just how it should be. But we also know that for some young people, this time of year brings something else. > Not every child is excited about school finishing. > Not every home feels

In November, three of our team have been letting the facial fuzz flourish, all for a seriously good cause. Ben (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Henry (Teacher), and Nathan (Interventions Manager) have been taking part in Movember, the annual movement to grow awareness (and a moustache) in support of men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. But this is more than just a bit of fun with facial hair.

At Phoenix Bay, learning isn’t just something that happens in classrooms, it happens through hands-on, confidence-building, real-life experiences. Our students have been working towards their AQA Hair, Beauty and Nail Unit Awards, and the salon vibes have been strong. From basic hairstyling and skincare routines to makeup application and professional-level nail treatments, they’re gaining the kind of experience that sticks. But this course is about more than polish and products.

Children in Need, the Phoenix Bay way – wasn’t just about pyjamas. It was about play. Purpose. And Pudsey Staff and students came together for a school-wide Challenge 25, all in aid of Children in Need. Across classrooms, corridors, and our calm spaces, we saw: – 25 unique drawings – 25 fierce games of UNO – 25 belly-laugh-worthy jokes – 25 press-ups (some slightly wobbly!) – One 25-line Phoenix Bay

Ghostbusters, costumes, pumpkins and a reminder that fun matters! Halloween at Phoenix Bay wasn’t about scaring anyone. It was about connection. Trust. And the kind of laughter that builds real relationships. Our students stepped into Ghostbuster Training Day – armed with UV torches, team missions, and a whole lot of balloon modelling! > A pitch-black clue hunt in the gym hall to uncover mystery words> A ghost-catching challenge with hoops

Last Friday was World Mental Health Day, a reminder that mental and emotional wellbeing deserve more than occasional attention. This year’s theme is “Access to Services, Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.” In times of crisis, whether global or personal, access to mental health support often breaks down. The consequences can be devastating. At Phoenix Bay, we believe: • Wellbeing can’t be an afterthought, it must weave through every classroom,

Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Keeley Zmaczynska, Esme Vine and Jeremy Donaldson from Torbay Council Social Care team. Three inspiring AYSE social workers, for a full day immersed in what it means to be a truly trauma-informed, relational school. From classroom observations and curriculum discussions to hands-on wellbeing and safeguarding sessions, the day was about more than theory. It was about connection, reflection, and real practice. Together,

On 4th October 2025, Phoenix Bay officially turned four years old! Four years of new beginnings.Four years of relationships, resilience, and remarkable growth.Four years of proving that education can heal, not just assess. What began as a small school with a big idea, has grown into a thriving community of learning, belonging, and belief. Over those four years, we’ve: > Welcomed hundreds of students who once felt education had no

Last Friday, our staff and students came together once again to host a Macmillan Coffee Morning. We baked. We donated. We bought cakes. We shared space, time, and conversation together. Also a big, big thank you to our Interventions Lead, Jayne, who created a showstopping cake that was auctioned via silent bid for £25. In total, we raised £120 for Macmillan. Thank you to everyone who joined in. What’s behind

Every year, we end the term not with a quiet goodbye, but with a celebration! This week, we hosted our annual end-of-year evening at the Livermead Hotel, Torquay. Students and staff arrived in their finest: tuxedos, dresses, proud smiles. Families joined us to reflect on the year with video montages, heartfelt speeches, and awards that recognised every success, not just the academic ones. Then we danced. Because for many of