The Priory Church of England School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have established an ethos of high aspirations and raised expectations of what pupils can achieve. Their actions are leading to improvements in teaching, pupils' progress, behaviour and attendance. New appointments have strengthened leadership and ensure that there is strong capacity for further improvement.

Middle leaders are making an increasingly effective contribution to raising standards. Pupils make good progress in most subject areas as a result of the good teaching they receive. Teaching in previously weaker areas, such as science, is improving, although it does not yet match the best teaching found elsewhere in the school.

...>Leaders make careful checks on the quality of teaching and on the progress that pupils make. They hold teachers to account for pupils' progress and intervene promptly to support any pupils who may be underachieving..

The progress of disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) currently in the school is improving. Leaders and teachers now pay more attention to these pupils' needs. Pupils conduct themselves well in lessons and around the school.

They are polite and courteous to one another and to staff. The curriculum and wider provision promote pupil's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development very well. Safeguarding and child protection procedures are well thought through and effective.

Pupils feel safe and have a good understanding of how to protect themselves from risk. Governors carry out their duties diligently and have a good understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. They provide effective challenge to leaders.

The small sixth form provides well for students. Students in the sixth form make good progress because the curriculum meets their needs. However, the most able students do not always achieve the higher grades of which they are capable.

Although teaching and learning is good overall, a small amount of teaching does not focus enough on high expectations or challenge for all pupils, or adhere to the school's feedback policy. Disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND do not attend school as regularly as others.

Information about this school

The Priory CofE Voluntary Aided School is smaller than the average-sized secondary school with a sixth form.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is below average, with small numbers of pupils from a very wide range of groups. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who are learning English as an additional language is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average. A small number of pupils in key stage 4 attend alternative provisions at Reigate Valley College, East Surrey College and the LINK Dorking. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.