Blog

If you’d walked into the Pavilion hub last week, you’d have known immediately that something special was going on. Mad Hatters Tea Party at Phoenix Bay. And our students had been building towards it all week. Decorations made by hand. Cakes, scones and biscuits baked from scratch. The whole space transformed with Alice in Wonderland posters and fabric – students walking into something they’d genuinely helped create. Then the afternoon

On the opening day of the World Cup, we didn’t just watch. We celebrated.Each class at Phoenix Bay was allocated a country to support – and from there, the day took on a life of its own. Classrooms transformed into flags and colours. Students dug into the traditions, customs and heritage of their nation. And then came the PE – where every class proudly represented their country on the pitch.

We were featured on ITV News West Country this week – and we’re genuinely grateful for the attention it’s brought to SEND provision in Plymouth. Pounds House is coming back to life, and we couldn’t be more excited.This stunning Georgian building in the heart of the city has sat empty for fifteen years. And this September, we’re hoping to open it as a school for young people with SEND who

A handful of our students earned a much-anticipated rewards trip this month – a morning of outdoor laser tag, complete with strategy, sprinting and the occasional victory dance. And they absolutely deserved it. What struck us most wasn’t the laser battles (though those were very much taken seriously). It was watching young people who don’t always get to experience this kind of thing – earning it, planning for it, and

We were in the Plymouth Herald yesterday – page 3. And honestly, it still doesn’t feel quite real. Pounds House in Central Park in Plymouth. For those who don’t know the building – it’s a Grade II listed Victorian villa that’s been sitting empty for years, right in the heart of the city. And with planning permission now secured, it’s going to become ‘Phoenix Bay Park’ – a specialist SEND

Sunday 8th March was International Women’s Day, and I wanted to celebrate the incredible women who make Phoenix Bay School what it is. The impact of the women in our team is felt every single day – in classrooms, corridors, meetings, phone calls, quiet check-ins, and the thousand moments that never make a newsletter. From teaching and mentoring to pastoral support and everything that happens behind the scenes, your dedication,

Great to attend the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award England Network Event in Bristol last week with Ben Miller, our DofE Manager. It was a real boost to connect with colleagues from across the network, share experiences, and reflect on how we continue to strengthen the impact of the DofE programme for all young people. One of the most valuable parts of the day was the conversation around inclusion, especially

World Book Day at Phoenix Bay was exactly what it should be: joyful, a bit chaotic (in the best way), and full of stories. We went in with a Roald Dahl theme… and then, as always, a few staff went rogue with their costumes. Which honestly just added to the fun. Staff and students fully committed, and the whole site felt lighter because of it. The day wasn’t just dressing

Last week, myself and Laura Secker had the absolute privilege to hear Chris Lubbe speak. Chris grew up in Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape and became a public speaker because he refused to stay silent under apartheid. He later worked alongside leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. His story is one of resistance, imprisonment and survival, but the bit that stayed with me wasn’t just the

Say hello to the newest (and fluffiest) member of the Phoenix Bay team… and yes, they’ll be joining ‘Springer’, our other puppet. We’re genuinely excited to introduce our latest bespoke puppet, designed to support learning in a creative, engaging and deeply relational way. You’ll mostly spot them in reading sessions. Think a little bit of Sesame Street magic, but with a Phoenix Bay purpose: creating a safe, imaginative space where

A bowl of fruit doesn’t sound like the most exciting brief… until you ask young people to really look. This week at Phoenix Bay, our art sessions took inspiration from Michael Hunt’s still-life fruit bowls and the students created their own versions, focusing on realism, shading and the little details that make an image feel “alive.” What we loved most was the process: > They slowed down.> They noticed light

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 >