Phoenix Independent School, Stoke-on-Trent
Phoenix Independent School is an independent school for pupils aged 14 to 16 in Stoke-on-Trent. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2025. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Phoenix Independent School in detail
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Phoenix Independent School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Phoenix Independent School are The Registry (0.7 miles, Good); Excellence Girls Academy (0.9 miles, Good); Demetae Academy (1.4 miles); and Newcastle-under-Lyme School (1.5 miles).
The RegistryExcellence Girls AcademyDemetae AcademyNewcastle-under-Lyme School
Who goes there
In 2026, 30 pupils (93.8%) received SEN support and 2 (6.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stoke-on-Trent Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Clough Street bottom (adjacent), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Phoenix Independent School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 648 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Stoke-on-Trent (280), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 9 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Phoenix Independent School excels at creating a safe, well-supervised environment with strong pastoral care tailored to each pupil's needs. The leadership team demonstrates excellent knowledge of safeguarding and compliance requirements, and the newly refurbished premises provide a calm, well-designed space with specialist facilities. The school's ethos centres on therapeutic approaches and personalised learning to help pupils who have struggled in mainstream settings.
Key Strengths
- Strong safeguarding culture with clear systems, consistent practice and robust analysis of behaviour and welfare data
- Comprehensive health and safety arrangements with detailed risk assessments and regular compliance checks
- Effective leadership and management with clear understanding of statutory requirements and hands-on oversight
- Well-designed premises with specialist facilities including art room, medical room and enhanced outdoor spaces
- Careful supervision arrangements tailored to pupils' individual needs with strong pastoral focus
Areas for Improvement
- External storage area at rear of premises requires clearing and improved organisation with waste-removal systems to be completed within a set timeframe
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - leaders have established a strong safeguarding culture underpinned by clear systems, staff receive appropriate training, and pupils learn about healthy relationships, consent and online safety through the curriculum.
Extracurricular Activities
Access to external sports provision, outdoor learning activities, physical education
Phoenix Independent School is an independent day school for pupils aged 14-16 that caters to students with SEND, particularly those with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school is expanding from 32 to 45 pupils and moving to a newly refurbished building.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Keep up with Phoenix Independent School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 26
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Stoke-on-Trent is 12.5 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
71%
Available places
32 pupils
45 places
13 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stoke-on-Trent
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stoke-on-Trent
Across Stoke-on-Trent council
Places available
3,140
Applications
3,223
Got 1st preference
88.5%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Stoke-on-Trent council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
32
Total Pupils
17
Boys
15
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Phoenix Independent School
What are GCSE results like at Phoenix Independent School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Phoenix Independent School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Phoenix Independent School's Ofsted rating?
Phoenix Independent School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2025, it was rated Good.
Does Phoenix Independent School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in March 2025, Phoenix Independent School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Phoenix Independent School?
Phoenix Independent School has around 32 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Phoenix Independent School?
Phoenix Independent School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Phoenix Independent School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Stoke-on-Trent is 12.5 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Phoenix Independent School?
Phoenix Independent School is at Unit C, Metro Business Park, Clough Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 4AF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)