Priory School

About Priory School

Priory is a larger than average mixed community comprehensive school serving the county town of Lewes but also drawing from surrounding villages and towns, as well as the eastern fringe of Brighton and Hove. The school's academic record over many years has gained it a high reputation, so that many parents from outside the catchment area are encouraged to ask for entry for their children. Priory is the only state secondary school in the town and is thus fully comprehensive for this area. Many disadvantaged families also send children to the school from within and outside the catchment area. Although Lewes is a largely affluent area, relative deprivation is increasing with around a fifth of the school now designated Pupil Premium. The range of concern and educational expertise which needs to be exercised by the staff is as wide as in any school, but the overall ability profile on entry is above average: the majority of our students come to us with average prior attainment (c.50%), with a larger proportion of students with high (c.30%) than low (c.20%) prior attainment. We have slightly more boys (54%) and fewer girls (46%) than average, although this is not unusual for a school of this type.

Priory was first designated a Performing Arts Specialist School in 2002 and this status was re-assessed and renewed. In 2006 the award of Language Specialist School and subsequently Specialist School Status in Science and Mathematics in 2007 increased the specialist focus. Funding and recognition of specialisms was ceased in 2011 but the specialisms still influence the school ethos.

In 2017 the school was designated as a Teaching School, and although this designation no longer applies, we have a number of staff who have been designated as Specialist Leaders of Education (SLE), and we continue to provide a clear development programme for our ECTs and trainee teachers which supports the development of their knowledge and skills, provides high quality mentoring and ensures access to high quality training under the ECF, through Ambition Institute.

Priory School provides a renaissance style of education in which arts and sciences go hand in hand, and creativity, performing and public speaking flourish. Our broad and balanced curriculum is powerful because it embraces the distinctive value of individual subject disciplines, enrichment and enhancement which challenges students beyond their previous experiences, and deep and rich knowledge, which empowers all students as future citizens.

School Vision

Priory School, Lewes is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive school. We are proud of the highly successful rounded education we provide. At Priory, we have a long-standing history of academic excellence within a culture of strong pastoral care.

Priory is a school where students are expected to work hard and as a result make excellent progress. We believe in balancing the pursuit of academic excellence with the wellbeing of our community. Our broad and balanced curriculum reflects the community we serve. Priory School is well regarded and is consistently oversubscribed.

Our aim is for Priory to be the leading inclusive and creative state secondary school in the region, a school in which all students acquire powerful knowledge, feel a strong sense of social connection and belonging, and become ethically-aware citizens who are ready to confidently take their place in the world. Our school also aims to reflect the uniqueness of Lewes, historically and socially.

Based on the principles of educational philosopher Professor Gert Biesta, education at Priory School is centred around three domains: ‘knowing, ‘belonging and ‘becoming.’ Biesta (2009) writes about the purposes of education being:

• Qualification (Knowing) – preparing students for the future, whether that be work, citizenship or further study.
• Socialisation (Belonging) – through education, students become part of society or culture by learning knowledge, values and norms that make up that society.
• Subjectification (Becoming) – students develop their sense of individuality through learning knowledge, so that they can make sense of themselves, others, and their place in the world.

Ofsted report

‘Priory School continues to be a good school’

Ofsted last inspected Priory School on 7 and 8 November 2023. Following the inspection, the inspection team concluded that the school continues to be a good school.

Extracts from the inspection report:

• Pupils enjoy a broad, interesting, and engaging curriculum, which is demonstrative of the school’s aim to be ‘inclusive and creative’. The school is ambitious, and staff strive to deliver high quality education for all. Most pupils achieve well, and the majority go on to successful further education, employment or training. Pupils in the specially resourced provisions for those with complex special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive excellent support from well-trained staff.
• Pupils feel safe. They are confident they can share concerns with an adult, and about how any worries are dealt with by staff. They understand and respect each other’s differences and are accepting of different beliefs. Most pupils behave well and follow clear school rules. Learning is rarely disrupted.
• Pupils have many opportunities to develop their talents and interests. They take part in a wide range of extra-curricular clubs. Many pupils also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Pupils can contribute to the life of the school by taking on responsibilities like being anti-bullying ambassadors or sitting on the student council.

The inspection report also recognises the school’s ‘insightful’ leadership, the strategic work of the governing board and the support for the school from parents, who ‘commend the approachable, knowledgeable and encouraging staff, and appreciate the many opportunities that their children receive.’

Headteacher

Jon Curtis-Brignell