Author name: Ross Banks

If you’d walked into the Pavilion hub last week, you’d have known immediately that something special was going on. Mad Hatters Tea Party at Phoenix Bay. And our students had been building towards it all week. Decorations made by hand. Cakes, scones and biscuits baked from scratch. The whole space transformed with Alice in Wonderland […]

On the opening day of the World Cup, we didn’t just watch. We celebrated.Each class at Phoenix Bay was allocated a country to support – and from there, the day took on a life of its own. Classrooms transformed into flags and colours. Students dug into the traditions, customs and heritage of their nation. And

We were featured on ITV News West Country this week – and we’re genuinely grateful for the attention it’s brought to SEND provision in Plymouth. Pounds House is coming back to life, and we couldn’t be more excited.This stunning Georgian building in the heart of the city has sat empty for fifteen years. And this

A handful of our students earned a much-anticipated rewards trip this month – a morning of outdoor laser tag, complete with strategy, sprinting and the occasional victory dance. And they absolutely deserved it. What struck us most wasn’t the laser battles (though those were very much taken seriously). It was watching young people who don’t

We were in the Plymouth Herald yesterday – page 3. And honestly, it still doesn’t feel quite real. Pounds House in Central Park in Plymouth. For those who don’t know the building – it’s a Grade II listed Victorian villa that’s been sitting empty for years, right in the heart of the city. And with

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

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