Senior Leadership Team (ID 1078)

• Mr Mike Smith
  Head Teacher
  Mr Mike Smith

  Mr Mike Smith BSc. PGCE, NPQH, MCCT, CPhys, MInstP

  Mr Mike Smith is the proud Headteacher at The Phoenix Collegiate having joined in September 2007. He studied Physics with Medical Physics at Swansea University and went on to complete his PGCE, and later his NPQH.

  He started his teaching career in 1995 in Bridgend, South Wales and since then has worked across a range of schools in Bournemouth and Birmingham to gain essential leadership experience and teach across a range of contexts. Prior to becoming Headteacher at the school Mr Smith was Pastoral Deputy, and Associate Headteacher.

  Mr Smith is committed to ensuring that Phoenix is the ‘school of choice in the area' and is passionate about its vision ‘to look, feel and behave like the best school in the country so that our students get a better deal here at Phoenix than they would at any other school'. He subscribes to the school tagline ‘Aspire, Believe, Succeed' and takes pride in watching students develop alongside staff in mastering the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to achieve their goals and dreams.

• Mr. David Mitchell
  Associate Head Teacher
  Mr. David Mitchell

  Mr Mitchell MSc, BSc Hons, PGCE, ELE

  Mr Mitchell is the Associate Head teacher at Phoenix Collegiate, having joined the school in January 2018. He has a passion for developing and supporting rich learning experiences for all Phoenix students. To do so, Mr. Mitchell values opportunities to work collaboratively with all stakeholders at the school - and with selected 'learning partners' beyond the school.

  Mr Mitchell focuses on the quality of education delivered at Phoenix. He believes leaders and all teachers must support each other to develop and embed excellent practice in order to provide for all learners the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to succeed in life.

• Mr. Sunny Kumar
  Deputy Head Teacher
  Mr. Sunny Kumar

  Mr Kumar BSc Hons PGCE NPQSL

  Mr Kumar is the Deputy Head teacher at Phoenix having joined Phoenix Collegiate in September 2015 leading the science department. He is a graduate from the local area studying in Walsall and Wolverhampton completing a degree in Biological Science before working in several schools in the local area.

  Since joining the core senior leadership team in 2018, Mr Kumar has focused on the quality of education delivered at Phoenix with a focus on curriculum development, assessment and quality of teaching and learning. He is often supporting Year 11 cohort through their crucial GCSE year to ensure all students achieve their potential.

  Mr Kumar has spent his working career in secondary schools with various leadership roles in Education and continues that journey as part of a leadership team committed to serve the community and ensure all students achieve their very best.

• Mrs. Jennie Howes
  Deputy Head Teacher
  Mrs. Jennie Howes

  Mrs Jennie Howes, BA Hons, GTP QTS, NPQSL, NELMH

  Mrs Jennie Howes is the Deputy Headteacher at Phoenix Collegiate, having joined the school in January 2025.

  Mrs Howes is driven by ensuring that opportunity, high quality education and character development is available to all students and believes that excellent pastoral provision, nurture and challenge; relationships; a relentless focus on success, high aspirations and a drive to understand and remove barriers lie at the heart of this. She is passionate about enabling young people to exceed their dreams and expectations

  Mrs Howes grew up in Sutton Coldfield and moved to North Yorkshire to study a degree in French and Education, a course which included time studying in La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. After a period working for international businesses, she travelled to South Korea where she taught English. On return to the UK, Mrs Howes trained to teach with the University of Cambridge, before returning to the West Midlands as a Newly Qualified Teacher.

  Having spent a significant number of years working in a large inner-city comprehensive school in Birmingham, with a particular focus on inclusion, safeguarding, well being and mental health, Mrs Howes joined Phoenix Collegiate to lead the delivery of excellent pastoral care, with a strong belief in the PHOENIX values and ethos.

• Mrs. Kathryn Barnes
  Director of Business and Finance
  Mrs. Kathryn Barnes

  Mrs. K Barnes ACIB, CSBM

  Mrs. Barnes joined Phoenix Collegiate (when it was Menzies High School) in 2006 after a 16-year career in Barclays Bank Plc, covering many roles including operational risk management, business support management, internal audit / inspection team and people leadership and management, latterly with responsibility for a team of 30 + staff support staff in a large, centralised processing centre . All of these experiences gave her the skill set and knowledge to perform the role of Business Director within a large secondary school, such as Phoenix.

  Her day to day focus is to ensure all of the support (non-teaching) functions of the school run efficiently and effectively including financial, administrative, human resources, facilities and contracted-out services such as the food and cleaning functions. It is critical that these support functions run seamlessly in the background, otherwise the teaching team are not able to do their jobs effectively i.e. delivering excellent teaching and guidance to the young people in the school's care.

  Mrs. Barnes is proud to be part of the Phoenix team that continually looks for ways to improve the academic and social experiences of the students during their secondary school years with us. We strive to create a culture of success for both staff and students alike and to be a place we all want to learn and work

• Mr. Andy Etheridge
  Assistant Head Teacher
  Mr. Andy Etheridge

  Mr Etheridge BAHons PGCE NPQSL

  Mr Etheridge is the Assistant Head teacher of Teaching and learning at Phoenix Collegiate. He graduated from Sheffield Hallam University where he studied Historical Studies. Mr Etheridge completed his PGCE in his hometown at Birmingham University.

  Mr Etheridge has been in education from 2006 where he joined Menzies High School. He developed his career to becoming Leader of the History department which was a post he held during the transition to The Phoenix Collegiate. He joined the Senior Leadership Team in 2017 working within the Teaching and Learning Team to push the academic success of the students.

  Mr Etheridge has worked at the school for a number of years and is devoted to improving the lives and outcomes for the students from the local community. He is passionate about challenging students, supporting them to exceed their own expectations and providing the best opportunities for students to achieve.

• Mrs. Ella Barnfield
  Assistant Head Teacher
  Mrs. Ella Barnfield

  Mrs. E Barnfield BSc Hons, PGCE, MEd, NPQSL Â

  Mrs. Barnfield is the Assistant Head teacher at Phoenix having joined the school in January 2016. She is a graduate of the University of Birmingham having studied Biological Sciences, PGCE and a Masters in Education. She started her career in Sutton Coldfield in teaching science and PSHE. Here, she became an accredited Advanced Skills teacher and an Associate SLT member in leading Teaching and Learning. She has supported teachers of all experiences, both within the secondary and primary sector. Mrs. Barnfield's passion for research and evidence informed practice supports the school's value of excellence in everything we do, by striving to always do her best for our students.

  As a former student at the school, Mrs. Barnfield jumped at the opportunity to re-join Phoenix. She is keen to play her own part in making a positive and significant difference for Phoenix students, especially those that have particular barriers to learning and find academic studies more challenging. She is dedicated to ensure all students receive the very best lessons and during interventions to support students in being able to overcome their barriers and make progress in learning new skills or knowledge.

• Mrs. Kirsty Northwood
  Assistant Head Teacher
  Mrs. Kirsty Northwood

  Mrs. K Northwood BA (Hons) NPQSL

  Mrs. Northwood is Assistant Head teacher having worked at Phoenix since its inception in 2010. She is a graduate in Media and Communication from a local university. Prior to the creation of Phoenix, Mrs. Northwood worked at Manor Foundation and has undertaken various leadership roles within the English department.

  Since joining the extended leadership team in 2016, Mrs. Northwood has focused on the development of the English curriculum and is part of the team driving improvement in students' literacy at Phoenix.

  Having spent all of her teaching career working in the local area, Mrs. Northwood is passionate about ensuring Phoenix students achieve their very best and leave school with all the skills and qualities they need to become successful and well-rounded individuals.

• Mrs. Kirti Bagri
  Assistant Head Teacher
  Mrs. Kirti Bagri

  Mrs. K Bagri BSc Hons PGCE

  Mrs. Bagri is an Assistant Head teacher here at Phoenix, having joined the school in September 2013. She is a graduate of the University of Wolverhampton, where she studied Biomedical Science and then a PGCE in Secondary Science.

  She started her teaching career in 2006 at a school in Sutton Coldfield, where she was an assistant Head of House and a mentor to trainee teachers. Since joining the senior leadership team Mrs. Bagri has focused on improving the communication between parents, students and staff. She firmly believes in building positive relationships with all involved to help develop and build the culture at Phoenix Collegiate

• Mrs. Steph Robinson
  Assistant Head Teacher (English)
  Mrs. Steph Robinson

  Mrs. S Robinson - BA Hons, MEd, PGCE, NPQML

  Mrs. Robinson is an Assistant Head Teacher at Phoenix and also the Leader of the English Department. She completed a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Birmingham and specialised with a Masters Degree in Education: the focus of which was raising the attainment of underachieving students.

  She has been with Phoenix since its inception in 2010, having previously worked at Manor Foundation. During her career, she has held many leadership roles within English and is dedicated to ensuring all students at Phoenix achieve outcomes of which they can feel proud.

  As the Leader of English, Mrs. Robinson and the English team recognise the importance of the subject in developing essential life-long skills in communication, reading and writing, all of which are integral to our students' successes as adults; therefore, they strive not only for academic outcomes for all students, but are passionately committed to developing them as individuals, equipped with transferable skills they can use to achieve future successes in their lives beyond Phoenix.

• Mr. Iain Eglinton
  Assistant Head Teacher (Maths)
  Mr. Iain Eglinton

  Mr Eglinton BSc Hons, PGCE, SENCO NA

  Mr Eglinton is the Assistant Head teacher at Phoenix who leads the Mathematics Department.

  He is a graduate of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, having completed a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science before going on to do a PGCE at the University of Birmingham.

  Since taking over the leadership of the Maths department several years ago, Mr Eglinton has focused on the quality of Teaching and Learning in the department and introducing the principles of a Mastery Curriculum.

  Mr Eglinton has spent his career in a variety of different settings, including working abroad and in the Alternative Provision sector, gaining experience in a wealth of different senior leadership roles.

  The Maths department at Phoenix are a wonderful team and Mr Eglinton is dedicated in ensuring that the students achieve the best Mathematical education possible.

• Mrs. Sarah Haines
  Assistant Head Teacher (Science)
  Mrs. Sarah Haines

  Mrs. S Haines - BSc Hons, PGCE

  Mrs Haines is the Assistant Head teacher at Phoenix that leads the Science Department. She graduated from Birmingham University, where she studied Biological Science as well as a PGCE in Secondary Science. She also studied SASP at Keele University in Chemistry.

  She started her career at Menzies High School in June 2008 prior to the inception of Phoenix in 2010. During her career she has held many leadership roles within Science.

  Mrs Haines is dedicated to encouraging a love of Science within Phoenix students, as well as promoting an understanding of the world around them.

• Mr. Luke Stevens
  Leader of Sixth Form
  Mr. Luke Stevens

  Mr. Stevens - Bsc Hons, PGCE, NPQSL

  Mr. Stevens is the Head of Sixth Form at Phoenix, having joined The Phoenix Collegiate in 2005 as the Director of Vocational Education. He is a graduate from the Black Country area, studying in Pensnett, Dudley and Wolverhampton, where he completed a degree in Psychology. Prior to becoming a teacher, he worked in a range of roles at universities and local authorities across the West Midlands, where he led on a range of projects related to raising the aspirations of young people and developing employability skills. The Phoenix Collegiate is the only teaching school he has worked in and he has taught a range of subjects including Sociology, Criminology and Psychology.

  Since moving from Vocational Education to the Sixth Form in 2015, Mr. Stevens has focused on the development of Sixth Form learners, aiding them in making the next steps into adult life. His role encompasses a range of areas from teaching and learning to support and monitoring, as well as the design of a programme that equips students with the skills required for employability and higher education. Mr. Stevens is committed to serving the students of Phoenix and ensuring that they achieve their very best.

• Mrs. Amrita Sangha
  Director of Reading & Literacy
  Mrs. Amrita Sangha

  Mrs. A Sangha - BA Hons, PGCE

  Mrs. Sangha is an Associate member of SLT, leading on whole school reading and communication initiatives. She is a graduate of Drama and English and completed her PGCE at Warwick University. Mrs. Sangha joined Phoenix in 2019, having previously worked at a south Birmingham school for 10 years, supporting teaching and learning as a Lead Practitioner.

  As a passionate teacher of Drama and English, Mrs. Sangha strives for excellence in supporting her students to fulfil their potential. Having worked as a Lead Practitioner for many years, she is also dedicated to developing the practice of her colleagues, so that both staff and students at Phoenix are inspired to be the best version of themselves.

  Reading and communication is an integral aspect of life at Phoenix and Mrs. Sangha is committed to ensuring that students are supported and encouraged to fully engage with opportunities to develop their reading and oracy skills; skills that are essential for success in the wider world.

• Mr. Aron Rowe
  Associate SLT Member
  Mr. Aron Rowe

  Mr Rowe is an Associate Member of SLT, he joined the History department at Phoenix in 2016 as an NQT and has been here ever since. Alongside being an Associate Member of SLT, Mr Rowe is also the Head of History at Phoenix. He is passionate about bringing History to life, ensuring that all students understand the world around them. Mr Rowe strives for excellence for all students at Phoenix, devoting himself to supporting students to achieve their best.

• Miss. Michelle Roper
  Associate SLT Member
  Miss. Michelle Roper

  Miss Michelle Roper (BA Honours English and German Studies) joined Phoenix Collegiate in 2011, having worked previously at Manor High School, which merged with the former Menzies site.

  Starting her career as an English classroom teacher, Michelle then progressed into the role of whole-school Literacy Co-ordinator, before qualifying as an Advanced Skills Teacher in 2011. Working as an Advanced Skills Teacher for English for several years, Michelle then became a whole-school Lead Practitioner, supporting the development of colleagues via the delivery of whole-school Teaching and Learning CPD, alongside her own classroom teaching responsibilities.

  Between 2020 and 2023, Michelle also helped lead the Reading and Communication team within school. Joining the Senior Leadership Team in an Associate capacity in January 2025, Michelle now oversees the High Prior Attainment cohort of pupils, whilst also working in an academically-supportive role to Year 11 pupils in the run-up to their GCSE exams. Michelle is also a core member of the Metacognition and Self-Regulation project implementation team at Phoenix.

• Sqn Ldr (CCF) Luke Horobin MCGI NPQSL
  Associate SLT Member
  Sqn Ldr (CCF) Luke Horobin MCGI NPQSL

  Sqn Ldr (CCF) Luke Horobin MCGI NPQSL

  Sqn Ldr Luke Horobin is a dedicated and dynamic Associate Senior Leader at Phoenix Collegiate with a rich background in both military and educational settings, he brings a wealth of experience in discipline, teamwork, and personal growth to our young people.

  He joined Phoenix in 2017 and prior to that, was a former member of the prestigious Royal Marines Band Service. During service his passion for developing young people led to serve as an Adult Instructor in the Cadet Forces, directing on various camps and courses through a variety of adventure training, music, and leadership.

  Sqn Ldr Horobin leads the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) programme, managing over 150 cadets. He also leads the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme, offering Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels to students, ensuring they develop resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills.

  In addition, Sqn Ldr Horobin plays a key role as the School's Events and Visits Coordinator, facilitating enriching experiences for students. He also champions student leadership driving our school ethos, empowering young people to take responsibility and develop essential skills. Sqn Ldr Horobin continues to shape the future of young leaders, ensuring they leave Phoenix Collegiate with confidence, ambition, and the skills to succeed.