Prior Park College

Our View

Full school which suits parents looking for deeper values and an ethos which ‘enables rather than prescribes.’ Unusually successful at nurturing, encouraging and stimulating its pupils. Gentle Catholicism in the broadest sense within an inspiring setting and atmosphere.

Head

Since 2009, Mr James Murphy-O’Connor MA PGCE (early forties). Educated at St Benedict’s, Ealing before reading history at Greyfriars Hall, Oxford and then PGCE at Peterhouse, Cambridge. Began career at Stamford where he taught history, thence to Sherborne where he was a housemaster before appointment to headship of brand new Sherfield in Hampshire. Father, Jim, played rugby for Ireland and was eldest of five brothers who attended Prior – most illustrious of them being (Cardinal) Cormac. Previous career experience was commendably outside the Catholic fold. He is fourth ‘lay’ head since Christian Brothers left in early '80s. Early signs are encouraging. Married to Ali, they have four children (two at senior school and two at The Paragon). ‘Has worked really hard to get to know everyone,’ say parents who find him ‘extremely easy to communicate with’. Acknowledges pupils’ achievements in all areas (writes them personal, hand-written letters) and has won their respect. Parents like the way ‘he looks you in the eye’ and have been impressed by how quickly he has learnt names. Has not been slow to start making changes: building up the boarding side, going for a sports hall and moving the school forwards with IT. Makes no excuse for pushing sport, particularly rugby, but is also keen on the arts: fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Hardy plus Picasso’s 1920s’ art. Enjoys mountain climbing and surfing when able to get to family house at Mayo in Ireland. Intuitive understanding of Prior’s mission; loads of energy, a firm faith and refreshingly open-minded.

Academic Matters

Over 75 per cent of passes at A level are at grades A and B (a fifth of candidates gain 3 or more A grades). Mathematics, at A level, currently outshines sciences, philosophy is outstanding but humanities and modern languages more than hold their own. Strength in depth and wide choice of subjects on offer are healthy signs. Head keen to consider new sixth form curricula but disinclined to embrace IB. 40 per cent of pupils gained 10A* or A grades (most pupils sit 11 subjects) at GCSE and two pupils managed 11A* grades. We witnessed a lively A level philosophy session based on Nietzsche’s ideas on property. Theology is compulsory throughout. Well established PSE programme also reflects Catholic thinking and the resident school chaplain (‘he’s fab’ said one non Catholic mum) plays a central rôle.

Vast majority take separate sciences for GCSE. Smart boards commonplace and some innovative teaching: we also watched an interactive year 8 maths class (pupils all had separate white boards to work out their answers) with a teacher (ex-PWC accountant) who was more hip than his pupils with cool lines such as ‘I’m loving that answer – it’s beautiful’ to encourage even the most innumerate. D&T suite works well with lively staff: textiles area alongside well resourced workshop and classroom areas; maximum class size 20 in years 7 and 8; 24 in year 9. Staff to pupil ratio is 1:10 overall with a good balance between experienced long servers and high octane younger blood.

Highly experienced learning support team (one full-time and two part-time teachers) – heavily oversubscribed area (accounts for around seven per cent of 11+ entry each year). Applicants need psychological report; school now includes non verbal test in entrance exam; thorough screening of all entrants for SpLD. Learning support situated alongside library and sixth form centre (some seniors help with paired reading). Open door policy; main emphasis on dyslexia and supporting literacy but copes with range of specific learning difficulties including dyspraxia and mild Aspergers. Sixty-five pupils currently have individual learning plans. EAL is provided by two members of staff to overseas pupils - one of whom won last year’s English essay prize. Enough said.

Games, Options, the Arts

Sport, music and drama all impressive. Sport, though strong, doesn’t dominate and achievement in the arts is equally recognised. Younger pupils get plenty of exercise (timetabled PE and games) and there is a good tradition of seniors helping to coach juniors. Recent appointments include top rugby coach from head’s alma mater. More flexibility with sports options from year 10 upwards. Extensive playing fields plus Astroturf are all within jogging distance from the main school buildings. Strong fixture lists in all sports with plenty of local rivalry. Basketball players use military facility at Colerne. Lots of representative athletes from district to national level. Sports tours are affordable – rugby tour to Portugal latest venture. Major sports field ten teams weekly; host of ‘activity sports’ plus Ten Tors, ski trips and D of E activities. Dance (offered to GCSE) has been a great hit: popular annual show features both sexes. Traditional Fisher road relay involving staff and pupils winds up Lent term enthusiastically.

We discovered some keen sixth form artists (they enjoyed showing off their eye catching folders) in suitably bohemian, basement studios working on a variety of approaches under inspired direction. Not huge numbers for A level but plenty of passion and variety of work on display around the school.
Cracking music department fields three teachers with well established director, Roland Robertson whose reputation goes before him. Over half the pupils take instrumental lessons and standards vary from grade one to diploma level. Aim is to ‘take pupils musically where their interests (and talent) lead them’ – seems to bear fruit. Exquisite John Wood chapel provides venue for lots of concerts – we attended an informal (‘get up and have a go’) lunch-time one following on from a junior brass practice which belted out a recognisable James Bond theme inter alia. Music to suit all tastes: high level of participation with several choirs, bands and orchestras. Opera every other year, annual musicals and a choral society which includes staff and parents – recent performances include Handel’s Messiah and Verdi’s Requiem. Many pupils participate in Mid-Somerset Festival. We liked the whole ambience of the music department (once we had panted up seemingly endless flights of stairs to reach it) – recording studio, class and individual practice rooms plus split level area for music technology (limited numbers who take it seriously at AS and A level here) taught by a muso housemaster. African drumming group especially popular with international pupils. Over fifty per cent of chapel choir are day pupils – incredible given requirement to turn out every Sunday.

New sports hall would definitely plug a gap in sports provision though carpeted gym fulfils need meantime and recently completed Mackintosh dance studio is up to professional standards. Planners prevented extension of indoor pool from its present, quirky 19 metres to 25 but it provides a well used space. Old fives courts another area ripe for imaginative conversion (planners willing).

Julian Slade Theatre provides a small but cutting edge theatrical environment. Three drama teachers and one theatre technician all have a professional background and it shows: no end to the number of productions (well, twenty-three actually in current year) from musicals (head of science directs these) to Ibsen and Beckett. Recent production of ‘The Crucible’ got rave reviews. Parents ‘brilliantly supportive’ when it comes to meeting late night returns from theatre trips to Bristol etc.

Prior has gone overboard when it comes to activities: over sixty on offer each week with main slots on Saturday mornings (140 boarders and day pupils turn up for this) and Tuesday afternoons. Activities range from a Leith’s cookery course and Padi scuba diving. Prior Concern for those in sixth wishing to get involved in community service. We enjoyed seeing one sixth former going through a Tai Chi form as his alternative to the prescribed Tuesday choices – ‘quite acceptable here’ confided an assistant head. Majority join CCF at start of year 10 in either naval or army sections; well organised alternative programme caters for the non combatants. Compulsory residential course early in year 7 and team building day for year 8 pupils make for better relationships from the junior end upwards. Lots of educational visits including history trips, school exchanges with France and Germany plus study visits to Spain. Recent pupil exploits include participation on polar and Uganda expeditions and national youth choir member.

Background and Atmosphere

Founded in 1830 and run by the Christian Brothers until 1981, Prior Park is now the largest independent co-educational, catholic day and boarding school in the UK. This position owes much to the successes of the three previous headmasters who guided the school into the modern educational age. With about one third boarding and thirty per cent practising Catholics, PPC does not feel like yet another largely day school with token boarders or nominal religious affiliation. Seven senior houses (three mix day pupils and boarders and four have day pupils only). Unmistakably co-educational with fairly even numbers of boys and girls throughout. Magnificent Georgian architecture of the ‘mansion’ provides backdrop for an unsurpassed vista over the grounds (much of which are now National Trust property including the famous Palladian Bridge) and Bath beyond.

Imposing chapel accommodates whole school for weekly assemblies (impressive level of pupil and staff involvement). Mass for whole school roughly once each half term plus particular feast days. Compulsory mass on Sunday mornings for boarders.

New ICT centre and is networked throughout school; well organised library has 20 laptops which can be signed in and out. Pupils’ use of fiction, reference and study areas speaks volumes for the self-regulating approach here. Day pupils have nominal workspaces in their rather crowded house accommodation where prep is supervised between 4.50 and 5.50p.m. Junior pupils split into small vertical groups which counters the risk of year eights dominating within Baines house (recently upgraded) where juniors are registered. Roche and Allen are relatively civilised boarding houses for boys on the upper floors of the mansion whilst girls are accommodated in enviable surroundings in St Mary’s house which occupies the nearby ‘Priory’. Some day pupils opt to be in boarding houses because they prefer the ethos; weekly boarding is popular. Sixth form centre (located above theatre which is used for assemblies) comprises classrooms, a large common room and well resourced careers suite.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

Catholic approach ‘looks at whole child,’ insists head. Lots of help and advice from all quarters: ‘staff at Prior (compared with her son’s previous school in Bath) are superb at following things up,’ we were told by one mother whose son transferred at lower sixth level. Reward system (head’s distinctions doled out for all kinds of worthy endeavours) breeds a positive approach. No evidence of a punishment culture. Pupils are generally well turned out without being ostentatious. Strong counter-bullying policy and all sixth forms shoulder some responsibility through a variety of committees; pupil hierarchy survives in terms of a head boy and head girl together with heads of house. Pupils are ‘at ease with the staff,’ say parents.

Half-terms are of sensible length (ten days in Michaelmas term) and don’t exploit guardianship arrangements. Central but not overly accessible medical centre. Suite of dining areas copes with peak periods and provides good choice of menus to suit most tastes.

Pupils and Parents

Most from within an hour’s drive. Half of the leavers from own boarding prep school at Cricklade transfer to Prior at 13. Nearby Paragon (acquired relatively recently) provides good co-ed intake at 11. Six daily mini-bus and coach routes transport day pupils from a 30 mile+ radius. Boarders generally come from further afield including a mix of overseas boarders (most of whom are Catholics). Good environment for language learning insisted our Chinese guide who spoke impeccable English. Former pupils and current parents are very supportive with a range of fund-raising and social events and pages on the school website.

Majority of pupils are non Catholics. Religion is packaged sensitively for all persuasions. Former pupils gaining selection for England and Scotland under 21 rugby teams also on Masters degrees at Royal Academy of Music (choral and composition). Famous Old Boys include Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor (see above), former archbishop of Westminster, famous musical producer, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, international rugby player Damian Cronin and television presenter Hugh Scully as well as, more recently, Charlie Holt (2009 president of Oxford Union).

Sense of mutual respect between pupils and staff: ‘no horrible teachers,’ confided pupils. ‘School you have to immerse yourself in,’ explained one new parent. Sixth formers have a particularly open and relaxed manner without being laid back. Pupil mentoring now under way. We liked the idea of information evenings for parents prior to each term’s personal development programme (for pupils in years 7-11) which includes topics such as ‘sex and responsibility’ and ‘respect for life’. Long-term link with Catholic archdiocese of Songia, Tanzania where gap year students spend five months teaching in local schools. Student run charities committee raised over £11k last year through all kinds of activities (main focus is annual charities week & former head’s performance of ‘Show me the way to Amirillo’ dressed as Elvis at the ‘Staff in Your Eyes’ show apparently ‘brought the house down.’); worthy causes range from Searight Hospital to Aid for Albania. Parents join Saturday activities (eg Leith’s cookery class). Active parents’ group hosts range of events (eg annual quiz served with curry and pud).

Entrance

Register at least eighteen months before entrance. January entrance tests for 11+ with majority of entrants coming from own 3-11 prep and about 20 per cent from state primaries. Non verbal reasoning score used as baseline for assessment. Lists close at least a year in advance for LDP (see above) applicants. About 40 pupils join at 13+ with about half of them from the junior school at Cricklade, Witshire. November interviews for entrants into lower sixth who need a satisfactory reference and a minimum of 6 A*-C grades at GCSE with higher grades in chosen AS subjects.

Exit

Very small numbers leave after year 11. Almost all to universities (lots take a gap year) with Cardiff and Liverpool recent popular choices plus art and music courses. Regular successes at Oxbridge entry.

Money Matters

Extensive range of scholarships (academic, art, music, all-rounder and sport) and bursaries with good academic scholars typically gaining 30 per cent remission of fees. Services bursaries. Currently around 150 award holders (normal range between 5-50 per cent). Drama awards at 13 and 16. Some continuity scholarships from preparatory school. Discounts for siblings. Bus services charged monthly and quite pricey. Music tuition fees represent excellent value for money.