Babies to big kids meet the animals on Newton Abbot school farm https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/babies-big-kids-meet-animals-10680536

Young Explorers Get a Taste of Farm Life at Abbrook Farm   Children from HDC Nursery had an exciting opportunity to explore the outdoors and learn about farming this term during a series of visits to Abbrook Farm which belongs to Teign School, part of Education South West.  The initiative came about through a collaboration between the school, the nursery and Abbrook Farm. Over several weeks, children of all ages, from babies to preschoolers, had the chance to meet farm animals, explore the grounds, and learn about growing food. The farm hopes to involve Year 10 land-based studies students from Teign School in future visits, offering further opportunities for intergenerational learning and community engagement. HDC Nursery and Teign School hope that this partnership will continue to grow, offering regular visits that combine hands-on experiences with educational learning about nature, agriculture, and sustainability. Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign School, said: "Working closely with local organisations like Abbrook Farm is so valuable. They allow us to provide unique learning experiences while strengthening relationships between the school, families, and local businesses." Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: "Partnerships like this bring education to life. By connecting nurseries with local resources such as Abbrook Farm, we provide children with meaningful experiences that develop both knowledge and a love for learning outside the classroom."

We’re delighted to share this TES article featuring our Teign School running club. A huge thank you to Miss Irwin, without whom this club—and the opportunities it provides our students—would not exist.   https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/secondary/how-school-running-club-proved-success

Teign School Launches ‘The Nest’ to Help Students Overcome School Anxiety Teign School has opened a new on site support hub, The Nest, this term. The aim of The Nest is to support young people with emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) and get them attending school again.  EBSA is when a student feels significant emotional distress about attending school. Teign School understands how challenging this can be and has created The Nest to support students and families with re-engaging in school life. The British Medical Journal found EBSA resulted in missed schooling for an estimated 1%–5% of the school population across England. The Nest is bringing together compassionate staff, practical tools, and flexible approaches tailored to each student’s needs. Support available from The Nest includes flexible timetables and phased returns for students, school based wellbeing activities, parent meetings, home visits and liaison assistance with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and other service providers.  Termly community support sessions for families are also being arranged based on topics parents and carers have said they would find useful. The first session will be around inclusion and special needs education support at Teign, subsequent ones are being planned on strategies to support effective home learning, emotional regulation and the teenage brain, building resilience and managing anxiety and supporting friendship and social skills.  The school will be measuring the impact of The Nest by tracking the attendance of a particular group of students and seeing if their sense of school belonging is strengthened. At Teign School staff are dedicated to nurturing academically successful, aspirational, and resilient young adults.  Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign School, said: “At Teign School, we understand that emotional wellbeing is key to learning. The Nest provides a safe, flexible, and supportive environment to help students overcome barriers and re-engage with school life. “Our goal with The Nest is simple: no student should feel alone in facing the challenges that make school overwhelming. We are here to guide them back with compassion and practical support. The Nest represents our commitment to nurturing not just academic success, but resilient, confident young people who feel connected to their school community.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: “Education South West is proud to support initiatives like The Nest, which put student wellbeing at the heart of learning and help ensure every child can thrive academically and personally. “The Nest is an inspiring example of how schools can innovate to meet the needs of students facing emotional challenges, giving them the tools to succeed. Supporting young people through EBSA is vital, and Teign School is leading the way with tailored, compassionate interventions that make a real difference.”

Teign School Marks World Mental Health Day with Renewed Commitment to Wellbeing Teign School has marked world mental health day with a special assembly tutorial session this month. Staff also wore yellow for the day as a symbol of how adults in the school are committed to the wellbeing of students. World mental health day is held annually on the 10th of October. The objective of the day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health. It provides an opportunity for everyone working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. Teign School has recently released its updated mental health policy in line with the World Health Organisation’s definition of mental health as “a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and contribute to their community.”  The policy recognises that mental health is integral to overall health and is shaped by social, biological and environmental factors. Teign School is committed to a whole school approach that promotes wellbeing, prevents mental ill health and provides effective early intervention.  Teign staff aim to promote positive mental health across the entire school community, ensuring that all students have access to support when needed. The policy emphasises the importance of teaching about mental health and resilience, while providing ongoing support through school counsellors, wellbeing officers, safeguarding staff and the NHS-funded Mental Health Support Team. High quality training remains central to Teign School’s approach, with staff regularly receiving mental health and safeguarding training, ensuring that the school continues to create a safe, understanding and supportive environment for everyone.  Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign School, said: “At Teign School, we believe that good mental health underpins every aspect of learning and personal growth. Our mental health policy reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring every member of our community feels supported, understood and equipped to thrive.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: “Teign School’s focus on mental health and wellbeing highlights the core values we hold across Education South West, that learning and wellbeing go hand in hand. When schools prioritise mental health, they empower young people to reach their full potential both inside and outside the classroom.”    

It was fantastic to see so many students at the Sixth Form Welcome Event yesterday. Applications are NOW OPEN, please follow the QR to apply!

Teign Students Take Strides Toward Wellbeing with New Running Club Teign School is pleased to be partnering with Active Devon as part of the Devon RISE Up programme.  As part of the programme, Teign School has been able to design its own bespoke approach to boosting movement, inspired by Sport England's Patchwork Physical Literacy initiative. Despite an already diverse extracurricular offer at Teign, staff knew a group of students remained disengaged from physical activity. In response, they have launched a weekly running club to explicitly target student wellbeing and promote self-care through movement. What began as a small initiative has now become a thriving, year-round programme, featuring both onsite and offsite sessions, which are creatively designed to be fun and functional. Activities include team relays with upbeat music for motivation, tag-style running games to promote 'Play Wrapped in care' and bodyweight strength challenges. Offsite sessions involve minibus transport to local trails, cycle paths, and nature reserves. These sessions offer a more adventurous experience and are often differentiated by pace groups to ensure accessibility for all ability levels.  The running club has evolved into a supportive wellbeing community, providing a safe and inclusive space for students to connect and open up and opportunities to challenge physical and mental boundaries. The club also integrates accessible self-care strategies such as deep breathing practices, gratitude journaling and nutrition education.  The club’s success is bolstered by enthusiastic staff participation. Teachers from the PE department and beyond have regularly supported sessions, modelled active lifestyles and encouraged participation from students who might not traditionally engage with PE. Their presence has also reinforced the message that movement and wellbeing are for everyone and has helped normalise participation across the wider school community. On the school’s ‘Wellbeing Scale’ they have seen improvements of +47% with their biggest gains in students who take part in the club feeling optimistic about the future, feeling useful and feeling close to others. Their ‘School Wellbeing Scorecard’ also increased from 77% to 83% following the launch of the club.  Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign School, said: "Our Running Club has grown into much more than an after-school activity, it’s a community where students feel safe, supported, and excited to take part in physical activity while developing lifelong wellbeing skills." Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: "We are proud to see Teign School embracing innovative approaches to student wellbeing. The Running Club is a fantastic example of how schools can create inclusive, engaging opportunities that help students thrive both physically and mentally."    

Unlock your future—discover opportunities, meet employers, and ignite your ambition at this years whole school Careers Fair!

We are looking forward to welcoming you next month and supporting students in exploring their post-16 options at Teign Sixth Form College. 

2025-2026 Clubs lists