Author name: Ross Banks

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. […]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ghostbusters, costumes, pumpkins and a reminder that fun matters! Halloween at Phoenix Bay wasn’t about scaring anyone. It was about connection. Trust. And the kind of laughter that builds real relationships. Our students stepped into Ghostbuster Training Day – armed with UV torches, team missions, and a whole lot of balloon modelling! > A pitch-black