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Reviewed

Priory School

State school · Lewes, BN7 2XN
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 11-16
  • 1,167 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

Priory offers excellent support and teaching to everyone who comes through its doors. It feels like a positive and hopeful school, in spite of the shoestring budget; a testament to those who make up its community. The students we met were impressively outward looking, and unusually adept at thinking about the consequences of actions on others. Students leave school ‘very well equipped’, said a parent; ‘[they’re] very good at bringing out the best in students’. ‘[My son] got a huge amount out of it’, said another.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
1,167 ·
Local authority
East Sussex County Council
Area guides

Headteacher

Headteacher

Mr Jon Curtis-Brignell

Since 2022, Jon Curtis-Brignell, previously head at Thomas Tallis School, Greenwich, where he rose through the ranks during his 17 year tenure. Grew up in Sussex and studied English and philosophy at Southampton, where he also gained a masters in

Entrance

At 11+, there are 232 places which get filled by pupils from Lewes primaries, and those of the surrounding villages, plus a few from Brighton. As a Foundation school, the school follows the East Sussex LA admission criteria.

Open days
September

Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Southover CofE Primary School 24 %
Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School 18 %
Other 12 %
Where the number of students is less than 10, we cannot say where they've come from or where they are going to due to data protection rules.
Western Road Community Primary School 9 %
South Malling CofE Primary and Nursery School 9 %
Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School 7 %
St Pancras Catholic Primary School 5 %
Hamsey Community Primary School 3 %
Woodingdean Primary School 3 %
Saltdean Primary School 3 %
Rudyard Kipling Primary School & Nursery 2 %
St Margaret's CofE Primary School, Rottingdean 2 %
Unknown 2 %
Where the school a student attended before or after this school is not known. These might be students who have come from or going to home schooling, independent schools, moving abroad etc.
Bevendean Primary School and Nursery 1 %
Data highlight

Exit

Most students (some 80 per cent) go to BHASVIC or Varndeen College. Others to East Sussex College, MET Brighton and Plumpton College. Others straight into work or apprenticeships.

Latest results

In 2025, 30 per cent 9-7 at GCSE.

GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
64.1%
LA avg.
42.5%
Eng. avg.
45.9%
Data highlight

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Teaching & learning

The best thing about the school is the teaching, said students: ‘you get comedy in lessons, stories that stick in your head’; ‘[teachers are] lively, bubbly, interactive…everyone gets involved’. ‘Teaching is very, very good’, said a parent; ‘teachers

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • GCSE
74
Number of teachers
16:1
Pupil to teacher ratio
20
Average class sizes (up to GCSE)

Learning support & SEN

‘The inclusivity impresses me most’, said a parent, who was warned that his autistic son might struggle in such a big school. This proved to be far from the case, as the student is well supported by the staff in the specialist autism facility, who

0.69 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
20.4 %
Students with SEN support

Arts & extracurricular

Outside the head’s study, an enormous cardboard floral DM sits alongside an equally large pot of Marmite and a rubber duck large enough for a long sea voyage. Art is a popular choice, and most students achieve high grades. Students are encouraged to

Sport

‘A very football school’, said a parent, with boys’ and girls’ teams; the boys are current holders of the local area schools' shield. The usual statuary two sessions a week of exercise, an hour of PE and an hour of dance (focus on team work and

Ethos & heritage

Students we met were friendly and articulate, comfortable with themselves and each other; they reflected on their own statements, and those of others; were comfortable with developing thoughts and changing their minds. No hesitation in speaking out.

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Strong pastoral support is provided through tutors and the houses: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Each has two staff - a senior leader and a non-teaching assistant (who is therefore available for most of the day). They help with all sorts of problems, from

Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Phones may be brought to school but must be neither seen nor heard on the school site. Phones which are seen or heard will be confiscated.

Updated Oct 2024

Pupils & parents

Chosen by Lewes parents who want a local school their kids can walk to. Lewes is the town closest to the University of Sussex; it schools and houses many academics, and overall parents are ‘a pretty engaged bunch’. ‘If you want to improve something,

1,167
Number of pupils

Money matters

Austerity is a real problem for the school, agree parents; 'we’re always fundraising for something’. More substitute teachers than is ideal.

The last word

Priory offers excellent support and teaching to everyone who comes through its doors. It feels like a positive and hopeful school, in spite of the shoestring budget; a testament to those who make up its community. The students we met were

Inspection reports

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Short inspection: Good

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Leadership and management Good

Full inspection: Outstanding

Leadership and management Outstanding

What the school says

With a new leadership team in place since September 2022, this is an exciting time for the school. 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.

Contact the school

Address

Mountfield Road
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 2XN
Get directions

Telephone: 01273 476231

Email: office@priory.e-sussex.sch.uk

Website: https://www.priory.e-sussex.sch.uk/

Local authority: East Sussex County Council

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School data & information Priory School Mountfield Road, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2XN
1,167 Pupil numbers
18.6 % % of pupils eligible for free school meals
3 % Pupils whose first language is not English
20 Average class sizes (up to GCSE)
16:1 Pupil to teacher ratio
74 Number of teachers
23 Number of teaching assistants

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Phones may be brought to school but must be neither seen nor heard on the school site. Phones which are seen or heard will be confiscated.

Updated Oct 2024
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by Priory School and is updated annually. See the review

% achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
64.1%
LA avg.
42.5%
Eng. avg.
45.9%

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Average overall GCSE score (attainment 8) (2024)

School
53.30
LA avg.
43.10
Eng. avg.
45.90

What is this?

Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Improvement rates in core subjects (progress 8) (2024)

0.48 Score Above average
≈ 16% of schools in England

What is a progress score?

This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. This is based on results in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Subjects entered at GCSE level (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCSE (9-1) Full Course 54 6
Sociology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 29 6
Russian GCSE (9-1) Full Course 6 9
Religious Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 12 7
Physics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 53 7
Physical Education/Sports Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 31 5
Music GCSE (9-1) Full Course 17 6
Media/Film/Tv Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 29 6
Mathematics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 226 6
Latin GCSE (9-1) Full Course 49 5
History GCSE (9-1) Full Course 73 7
German GCSE (9-1) Full Course 38 7
Geography GCSE (9-1) Full Course 128 6
French GCSE (9-1) Full Course 36 6
English Literature GCSE (9-1) Full Course 216 6
English Language GCSE (9-1) Full Course 224 6
Drama & Theatre Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 20 8
Design & Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 17 5
Dance GCSE (9-1) Full Course 16 7
D&T Food Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 37 6
Computer Studies/Computing GCSE (9-1) Full Course 28 5
Classical Civilisation GCSE (9-1) Full Course 41 6
Chemistry GCSE (9-1) Full Course 53 7
Biology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 53 7
Art & Design (Photography) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 20 5
Art & Design GCSE (9-1) Full Course 46 7

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 11 exit (average 2020-2022)

SEN overview

Priory School is a mainstream school with resourced provision. Their resourced provision has a capacity of 17 and has 8 pupils on roll. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

We strongly believe that all children should be able to succeed, whatever their individual needs. We recognise that these needs can be varied so our approach is flexible, designed to develop the necessary skills and strategies required by children to achieve their potential. We work closely with our pastoral teams, our school counsellor, and our student support advisor as well as with a range of external agencies. Throughout year 7, 8 and 9, smaller classes with a bespoke curriculum are organised for children who will benefit from this smaller learning environment. Within these classes we focus on developing basic skills and on preparing children for a successful transition to an appropriate GCSE curriculum.

In years 10 and 11, children have the opportunity to follow a vocational programme which may include attending a course at a local college for one day a week.

We are actively involved with the teaching and monitoring of the smaller classes and offer a variety of interventions to support students in developing their basic literacy skills. We also run a variety of interventions which are designed to support students in developing positive engagement and improving self-esteem. The potential aims of these groups range from building confidence in year 7 to looking at emotional well-being at key stage 4. We work with mainstream curriculum areas to develop good inclusive teaching strategies that support differentiation.

Ofsted made the following comments in its 2018 report: 'Morale is high at your inclusive school, and everyone shares your determination to provide the best for every pupil.' 'One group of pupils said, "Teachers are supportive and enthusiastic", and in another meeting, pupils told us that "This school is inclusive, and it is OK to be different".' 'Pupils’ personal development and well-being, including their mental health, has a high priority and is well provided for at your school.'

Updated Jun 2019
0.69 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
20.4 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment Yes
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs Yes
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes Yes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health Yes
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism Yes
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired Yes

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Short inspection: Good

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Leadership and management Good

Full inspection: Outstanding

Leadership and management Outstanding
Our data explained
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