Blog

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

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