Blog

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 >

Christmas at Phoenix Bay School has been full of the stuff that actually matters: connection, creativity, and plenty of moments to feel proud of. We came together as a whole school for a proper Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, then ended the day with Christmas karaoke. The kind where you see confidence build in real time, with lots of laughter along the way. Across the week, students have also

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Phoenix Bay. There are snowmen on tables, Santas in windows, and students knee-deep in tinsel and glue sticks. The energy is joyful, creative, a little chaotic, just how it should be. But we also know that for some young people, this time of year brings something else. > Not every child is excited about school finishing. > Not every home feels

In November, three of our team have been letting the facial fuzz flourish, all for a seriously good cause. Ben (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Henry (Teacher), and Nathan (Interventions Manager) have been taking part in Movember, the annual movement to grow awareness (and a moustache) in support of men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. But this is more than just a bit of fun with facial hair.

At Phoenix Bay, learning isn’t just something that happens in classrooms, it happens through hands-on, confidence-building, real-life experiences. Our students have been working towards their AQA Hair, Beauty and Nail Unit Awards, and the salon vibes have been strong. From basic hairstyling and skincare routines to makeup application and professional-level nail treatments, they’re gaining the kind of experience that sticks. But this course is about more than polish and products.

Children in Need, the Phoenix Bay way – wasn’t just about pyjamas. It was about play. Purpose. And Pudsey Staff and students came together for a school-wide Challenge 25, all in aid of Children in Need. Across classrooms, corridors, and our calm spaces, we saw: – 25 unique drawings – 25 fierce games of UNO – 25 belly-laugh-worthy jokes – 25 press-ups (some slightly wobbly!) – One 25-line Phoenix Bay