Phoenix Bay School, Torquay
Phoenix Bay School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Torquay. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2024. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Phoenix Bay School in detail
Phoenix Bay School in its own words
In its own words: "Phoenix Bay School is a trauma-informed independent school providing therapeutic education to support students to develop increasingly independent lives, leading to them thrive in adulthood. The school provides a specialised, small, nurturing environment for traumatised students who have been unable to manage in larger class settings or mainstream education."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Phoenix Bay School are Fieldstone School (1.8 miles); The Greater Horseshoe School (2.2 miles); Glendinning Academy (3.2 miles, Good); and Beyond Creative Education (4.9 miles).
Fieldstone SchoolThe Greater Horseshoe SchoolGlendinning AcademyBeyond Creative Education
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Phoenix Bay School has an education, health and care plan (29 of 29 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Newton Abbot Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Phoenix Bay School excels at providing a safe, supportive environment for vulnerable pupils with special educational needs. The school demonstrates outstanding commitment to safeguarding through secure systems and well-trained staff who know each pupil individually. Recent expansions have created thoughtfully designed spaces that support pupils' sensory needs and include practical facilities like a hairdressing room to develop career skills.
Key Strengths
- Strong and embedded safeguarding culture with secure systems, clear policies, and regular staff training
- Well-managed health, safety and fire safety procedures with effective risk assessments
- Strategic staff recruitment with diverse expertise and commitment to maintaining high staff-to-pupil ratios
- Thoughtfully refurbished premises with separate teaching areas, practical skill facilities, and sensory-friendly design
- Clear leadership vision focused on providing high-quality education and pastoral care for vulnerable pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with a strong and embedded culture supported by secure systems, clear policies, regular staff training, and staff who know pupils well and confidently report concerns.
Phoenix Bay School is an independent special school for pupils aged 5-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school is likely to meet all relevant independent school standards following its request to expand from 24 to 50 pupils.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Latest from Phoenix Bay School
Sponsoring Watts Blake Bearne U16’s Division 2 Team
2 Oct 2026
Fred Thomas MP - Visit to Pounds House
23 Sep 2026
Pokemon - End of Year Staff Fun
29 Jul 2026
Celebration Evening - My favourite night of the year. ❤️
28 Jul 2026
Mad Hatters Tea Party at Phoenix Bay
6 Jul 2026
World Cup Day 2026
3 Jul 2026
From Phoenix Bay School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Phoenix Bay School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
58%
Available places
29 pupils
50 places
21 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Torquay
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Torquay
Across Devon council
Places available
7,788
Applications
7,251
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
29
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Phoenix Bay School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
29
Total Pupils
20
Boys
9
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Phoenix Bay School
What are GCSE results like at Phoenix Bay School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Phoenix Bay School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Phoenix Bay School's Ofsted rating?
Phoenix Bay School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2024, it was rated Good.
Does Phoenix Bay School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in April 2024, Phoenix Bay School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Phoenix Bay School?
Phoenix Bay School has around 29 pupils on roll.
Does Phoenix Bay School have specialist SEN provision?
Phoenix Bay School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Phoenix Bay School?
Phoenix Bay School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Phoenix Bay School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Phoenix Bay School?
Phoenix Bay School is at The Pavillion, 3 Seale Hayne, Torquay, TQ12 6NQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)