The Priory School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at The Priory feel exceptionally valued by all staff and say they are 'lucky' to attend such a great school, and they are indeed. The school's focus on the values of kindness, understanding and empathy, and the staff's consistent modelling of these values, helps pupils to develop into self-assured, selfless and successful learners. This is a community where all are confident to be themselves, where everyone is accepted and where differences are embraced and celebrated.

The exceptionally positive and respectful relationships between staff and pupils have created an environment that is calm yet allows pupils to express themselves and have fun. Pupils have a deep appreciat...ion and understanding of why they should behave well and take pride in doing so. They manage their own behaviours in a highly mature way.

Behaviour throughout the school is exemplary.

All staff have an uncompromising focus on supporting all pupils, including those with the most complex and challenging needs, to achieve as highly as possible. This, along with the skills and expertise of the staff, enables pupils to make strong progress in their studies.

With the addition of the exceptional careers offer, pupils are very well prepared for their next steps after The Priory.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school is uncompromising in ensuring that the education provided at The Priory enables pupils to achieve as well as possible. There is a clear focus on making sure that all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), have equal access to ambitious and challenging learning.

An effective curriculum across all subjects that supports pupils to learn knowledge and skills in a logical order has been developed. Staff are skilled at teaching this curriculum and their specific subject knowledge in the areas they teach is strong. The combination of effective leadership, curriculum design and teaching enables the vast majority of pupils to achieve very well.

There are a small number of occasions, however, when staff's expectations of what some pupils should produce in their work are not as high as they could be. This can inhibit the progress of these pupils.

Some pupils need extra support to help them learn the curriculum in line with their peers.

Specialist support within 'The Hub' is very effective at helping pupils with SEND to do this. Staff are highly skilled and know how to precisely adapt learning in English, mathematics and modern foreign languages to help pupils with SEND to access the learning and make strong progress. This then enables these pupils to successfully access the rest of the curriculum in the mainstream provision.

The school also has a clear focus on ensuring that pupils develop their 'reading for progress'. Work to support pupils at the early stages of learning to read is developing at pace. This includes utilising effectively specialist expertise from other schools within the trust.

The school's ambition to ensure that all pupils read fluently to enable them to access learning across all subjects is starting to be realised.Pupils' personal development is exceptionally well supported. Pupils benefit from a wealth of exciting, stimulating and meaningful experiences.

The school is determined that no one misses out, and they do not. From overseas trips, choir, dance and sports to Rubik's cube clubs, there is something for everyone. The 'life programme' is impressive.

It provides pupils with opportunities to learn crucial life skills covering relationships, health and well-being and living in the wider world. Equally impressive is the school's careers offer. Great thought has been given to how pupils can learn about the wide variety of pathways they can follow after they leave The Priory.

Work-related experiences further enhance this offer. Pupils are exceptionally well prepared for life in modern Britain.

Pupils love coming to school and consider themselves lucky to do so.

The trusting relationships between staff and pupils help them to feel safe and secure. Everyone within the school embraces diversity. Interactions between pupils are positive and caring.

This is reflected in the excellent behaviour in lessons and around the school. Pupils are polite, considerate and kind towards one another. Their enjoyment of school is reflected in their low absence rates.

The trust and governors have a precise understanding of what is working well, but also what could be even better. They challenge in a supportive way to ensure that school improvements focus on helping pupils to achieve the very best. Staff share the same ambition for the pupils.

They appreciate the support they receive to help them do their job well, and the consideration leaders show for their well-being. Parents and carers are also an important part of the school community, and value the positive experiences and good education their children receive.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Occasionally, teachers do not ensure that all pupils produce work to the highest possible standard. This limits the progress that some pupils make. The school should ensure that all teachers consistently support all pupils to complete their work to a high standard so that they all achieve to the best of their ability.