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 need somewhere local, beautiful, and built around them.
The need is real and it’s urgent. Right now, around 100 young people are on our waiting list with no places. Around 80% of the students we support at Seale Hayne travel from Plymouth – journeys that are simply too much for many of them.
Bringing Phoenix Bay School to Plymouth means those young people get to learn somewhere closer to home, in one of the most remarkable settings we’ve ever seen.
We’d just love to add a little context on the parking concerns raised in the piece.
Pounds House could currently be converted into offices, a day centre, a restaurant, or a gym without any planning permission – all of which would bring far more traffic than a school of up to 40 children, many of whom arrive by taxi. We have more than sufficient parking allocated and are fully committed to being good neighbours in Peverell.
We welcome the planning committee process and genuinely look forward to working with the local community.
Because for young people who’ve struggled in mainstream settings, the chance to learn in a building like this is something really special. It’s been a long time coming.
We can’t wait.
