Priory Community School
 | |
 | |
| Motto | Students First |
|---|---|
| Established | 1975 |
| Type | Academy |
| Principal | Neville Coles |
| Location |
Queensway Worle North Somerset England Coordinates: 51°21′51″N 2°54′34″W / 51.3642°N 2.9094°W |
| DfE URN | 137300 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Students | 1,261 pupils (2014) |
| Ages | 11–16 |
| Website |
www |
Priory Community School - an Academy Trust, often shortened to PCSA, is a school in Worle, a suburb of Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset, England. The school is an Academy, and had 1,264 pupils aged 11 to 16 as of September 2015.
OfSTED rated Priory 'outstanding' in all categories in November 2014 It received 338 first choice applications for 256 in December 2014 - entry 2015
GCSE Results 2015 - 70% 5AC with EM - maths 81% and English 88% - (32% A and A*) 2014 - 72% 5AC with EM - a really consistent 5 year trend - 69 / 70 / 75 / 72 / 70
2013 - 75% 5AC with EM - highest performing school in North Somerset.
20% of Year 11 got an A or an A* in English - 2013 results. 32% of Year 11 got an A or an A* in English - 2015 results.
DfE wrote a letter to the school in 2012 saying it was 23rd in the UK for 'sustained improvement' - 5,000 schools. The SSAT wrote saying the school was in top 10% nationally. The certificate is displayed at the school.
In late 2014 the school achieved a remarkable 'Grade 1' in all categories from OFSTED - Outstanding is Grade 1. 1- Overall effectiveness 1 - Quality of teaching 1 - Behaviour and safety 1 - Achievement 1 - Leadership and management
Priory Pre-School is owned and operated by PCSA on site - it was also grade outstanding by OfSTED in November 2014
PCSA has a trading company PCSE - PCS Enterprises.
The Principal is Neville Coles (BA MA) - a graduate of Loughborough University (1984-1988) - an Arsenal fan.
Due to demand in 2013 the school increased its PAN to 256. It received 314 first choice applications for its 256 places for 2014 entry.
332 in 2015. 359 in 2016.
The school is moving to an entry of 300 per year.
The school promotes helping the community, which was demonstrated in 2014 when pupils created feature-film "Obscurity", raising over £150 for charity.
In 2014 school raised £11,000 for Weston HospiceCare. Since 2010 it has raised over £30,000 for charities - Willow Foundation, Project Africa, CHSW and Bristol Children's Hospital - Cots for Tots.
The estimate for charity from 2007 - 2014 is £53,000K.
In 2015 - school raised £11K for the Red Cross.
The school is supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and The Ian Ritchie Foundation in 2016.
Exam results
2015 - 70% 5AC with EM Maths 81% English 88%
2014 - 72% 5AC with EM Maths 79% English 80%
2013 - 75% 5AC with EM Maths 80% C+ and English 81% C+
In 2012, 70% achieved five or more A* to C passes including English and Mathematics, and 88% achieved five passes on all subjects. English C+ passes were 82%, maths were 78%.
In 2011, 69% of GCSE pupils got five A* to C grades with English and Maths - up 15%. 83% got five A* to C grades in any subject - up 4% English was at 84%. Maths at 72%. Science was at 89%.
Priory converted to an Academy Trust on 17 August 2011.
History and future developments
The school was founded in September 1975, and moved to a purpose-built site during autumn 1977. During the 1980s, the school ran an unusual timetable, blocking an entire half-year to take the same subject at the same time. This allowed both setting and mixed-ability teaching in the same subject. This timetable management was the subject of an Open University module and television programme.[1]
Priory gained Technology College status in 1998. During 2006, a £7 million extension and refurbishment scheme saw the school move into a new main block, secure a humanities block extension, and a new sixth form block. It gained an Academy status in August 2012.
Neville Coles was appointed Principal in September 2007 upon the retirement of Ron Richards. He was formerly the Deputy Head / Director of Learning from 2002–07 in a period of great improvement and change for the school. Results improved by 25% in the 2002–07 five-year period — they continue to rise with the school achieving 84% in 2011. A three-year upper school is in place. PCS became a Trust School in 2009 and an Academy in 2011. A new building programme of £8million was completed in 2007.
In 2012 the school was granted £1.4million to develop a new SEND Centre - Academy funding. The Sir Richard Branson Centre is based at the school.
In 2013 the school was granted another £1.3million to create a Priory Sports Village - Academy funding. The Paula Radcliffe Centre is based at the school for student and community use.
In April 2016 the school received £2.4million to develop a new science block. Building work is planned to start in July 2016.
Head teachers / Principals
- Arthur Spencer: 1976–85
- David Dennis: 1985–2000
- Paul MacIntyre: 2000–03
- Ron Richards: 2003–07
- Neville Coles: since 2007
References
- ↑ "Priory School Open University programme". BFI Film & TV Database. Retrieved 2007-02-19.