Alternative Provision in Torbay & Devon | Trauma-Informed, Student-Led and Quality-Assured
🚧 Please Note: This site is currently undergoing a makeover to showcase our impact, partnerships, and the full range of options available. However, here’s a sneak peek at who we are, how we work and what we can offer.
Welcome to I Am More
I Am More Academy helps young people aged 11–25 feel seen, understood and equipped to thrive. We provide safe, flexible and relational support that restores trust and builds futures. Relationships come first: we meet every young person where they are, listen to their story, and shape sessions around their strengths, interests and identity. Our approach is student-led, with young people’s voices guiding the direction of their sessions. This isn’t about filling time — it’s about building resilience, self-belief and the confidence to believe in what’s possible.
Support That Adapts to Every Young Person
We offer scaffolding and tailored support to young people who may: - Experience high anxiety, sensory differences or developmental trauma - Need a flexible EOTAS package tailored to their needs - Be struggling to attend or engage in school - Have SEND or SEMH needs requiring consistent, relational support - Benefit from mentoring as they prepare for adulthood and post-16 pathways Whatever the starting point, we meet young people where they are and help them take the next step forward
Our Approach
Every young person’s journey looks different, which is why we use a three tier model of support: - Early Intervention: gentle re-engagement before issues escalate - Short Term Placements: bridging gaps and creating pathways back into education - Longer Term Therapeutic Provision: consistent, relationship-led support for those with more complex or ongoing needs
Commissioned & Quality Assured Alternative Provision
We are commissioned by Torbay Council and Devon County Council and proud to be a new provider within the local EOTAS Therapeutic Framework. As a quality-assured provision, we also work with mainstream schools, independent alternative provisions, Torbay Virtual School, the Careers and Enterprise Company and are regularly booked for PSHE drop-down days with whole year groups. Over the years, we have built a reputation not just for high quality delivery but for flexible, relational support that meets young people where they are right now. Because we know strong foundations lead to lasting impact.
AWARD WINNER
We’re proud to have received multiple awards and nominations recognising our commitment to coaching and mentoring. But the real triumphs happen in quiet moments — when a young person shares their story, grows in confidence, or begins to believe in their future. Those are the victories that inspire us every day.
The STRENGTH to fight on
The strength to fight on, no matter what life throws at us. The strength to push through barriers and know it will be ok. Not just physically but mentally. To work on ourselves to support our minds.
To RESPECT yourself
To respect yourself, to know your boundaries and to respect others. Not just people you know, respect with no boundaries. To show empathy, consideration and willingness to help.
The TENACITY to go all the way
The tenacity to go all the way, to use your mental or moral strength to continue with sheer determination. To maintain persistent in our goals and aspirations. ‘Winners find a way’
INTEGRITY to honour your word
To live in accordance with your deepest values, to honour your word and be true to yourself and others. Remain gracious, honest, hardworking, trustworthy and patient.
ACCEPTANCE and COMPASSION to all
Using self-awareness to observe our thoughts, practice empathy, be accepting and to show compassion to all. We do not know what others are going through. Be kind.
Founder and CEO of I am More Academy
Exciting News & Recent Highlights:
I Am More Academy continues to go from strength to strength, with no age barrier to who we can support.
We are proud to share that we have:
✅ Been awarded a major contract with Torbay Council as one of their Therapeutic Framework Alternative Provision providers for children and young people on EOTAS packages.
✅ Secured a contract with Devon County Council to support a group of young people through Year 11 and into their Post-16 transitions.
✅ Been commissioned by Torbay Virtual School to deliver Preparing for Adulthood training days.
✅ Won another award in 2025 recognising our innovative, trauma-informed approach.
✅ Received a letter from His Majesty the King, acknowledging our contribution to young people and communities.
✅ Pitched directly to multi-millionaire entrepreneurs Steven Bartlett and Simon Squibb, who have both recorded exclusive inspirational videos for the young people we work with.
✅ Delivered coaching across Cornwall, supporting start-up businesses to build confidence and skills.
Thank you to everyone who continues to believe in our mission.
Youth and Families Manager
We are profoundly grateful for the exceptional mentorship provided by Keely to one of our students. From the moment they began working together, it was evident that she was not just a teacher but a beacon of guidance and support for Laila's educational journey. Keely's dedication to Laila's growth, both academically and personally has exceeded all expectations.
Keely has an incredible knack for identifying Laila's unique strengths and weaknesses, tailoring their approach to ensure maximum growth and development.
Beyond academics, Keely serves as a mentor and role model, imparting invaluable life lessons and instilling important values such as perseverance, integrity and self confidence.
In a world where exceptional mentors are rare to find, Keely stands out as a shining example of dedication, passion and excellence. Her influence on her mentees life is immeasurable, and as a youth charity, we are deeply grateful for the positive impact she continues to have.
Assistant Head of School
The students who have attended the sessions have had more hope about the future and more confidence about the next steps of the educational journey. The students who engaged most in the process grew in confidence. One student in particular engaged with Keely really well – this is extraordinary because this is the first adult outside of education and one of only a very small number of adults (full stop) who this student has interacted with and stayed with to engage in a process. This has been simply life changing for that student and their family.
Dartmouth Academy
Great energy, flexible and adaptive to the needs of the audience.
Medical Alternative Provision
The sessions I sat in on with Keely were great with the students. She was very friendly, approachable, interested in their stories, and their aspirations for the future.
I never thought I would be able to get L into school, but she did it for Keely’s group, which is a huge achievement for L, who has had a negative experience in her old mainstream school. It has shown L that she can go back into an educational setting, and it is okay and safe.
I feel Keely was friendly, calm, happy, and fun. She was very knowledgeable and supportive, and she was also flexible with the students.
I have seen a huge change in L over the last six months. She has grown in confidence, and she is happy to attend Keely’s sessions without me needing to be there now.
L didn’t come into our centre for her lessons—she was an online student—but she came into the centre for Keely’s sessions, which is huge, based on her experiences from her previous mainstream school.
St Cuthbert Mayne School
You are a very relatable and inspiring speaker. The session is very beneficial to students, very up to date information and really interesting to hear about your life. There were nice opportunities for students to reflect and think deeply about themselves. Thank You!
Teignmouth Community School
I thought you were wonderful! You had a great presence with the students.
Watching the students think about what they want to do when they leave school and then have a moment when they realised it was okay to be different.
Thank You!
Teign School
The session was was easy to follow for the year 9 students, they listened and interacted with Keely well. I personally learnt about myself and was pleased to see my career was aligned to my values. It would be good to have longer to allow for further exploration for the students.
Teignmouth Community School
I thought Keely was fantastic, her story and session was really interesting and it allowed me to remind the current year 7's about working hard at school to help achieve your dreams and goals in life.
Small Business Owner
You're like the missing jigsaw piece! The Ant to his Dec, you ask questions which gives me space to explore rather than talking at me telling me what i should be doing. You help me understand how i can achieve it with a plan in place, and i know you do this because you know i know it! Youve created a way of how to make me realise it. I want to add that i have worked with coaches over the last 7 years and spent thousands and thousands of pounds and nobody came close to what ive achieved with you, despite all the effort and work id put in. Im now living life on my terms.
I hope you realise how amazing you are and how powerful your message is. I bloody love you Keely Pierce, keep smashing it. Thank you x
Plymouth Discovery College
LOVED my mentoring programme! it helped me with a variety of things including my self confidence. I feel more confident when applying for jobs as well as talking to people. At first i struggled with making decisions as well as maturity but now i know how to deal with situations. My mentor helped me to get the job i wanted as well as feel more confident. I felt confident to be open and honest with her.
"We are profoundly grateful for the exceptional mentorship provided by Keely to one of
our students. From the moment they began working together, it was evident that she
was not just a teacher but a beacon of guidance and support in their educational
journey. Keely’s dedication to the student's growth, both academically and personally, has
exceeded all expectations."
Sarah - YMCA
"Our young people thoroughly enjoyed their day with Keely and reported on her session being the BEST session on our course so far. Keely tailored the workshop to our young people's needs and ensured the workshop was led by the young people. Her wealth of knowledge, warmth and engaging personality enabled our young people to ask questions and find out more to develop themselves. It was an unforgettable day. Our young people gained so much from Keely's workshop and have used her session content to help them plan their futures. I would highly recommend working with Keely."
Tori - Princes Trust
"The work that Keely and colleagues have already been responsible for via ‘I Am More’ Academy is outstanding. Her knowledge of the sector, her understanding of need and her drive to support young people is admirable."
Jo - Strategic Lead
