Latest News

A Christmas Tree at Priory

We would like to place a real Christmas Tree in our Reception area at Priory this year.  Can you help?  Do you  know any local businesses which would be able to donate one, along with a stand?  We would then find a good home for another family to enjoy once school closes over Christmas.  If you can help, please call 01273 476231 x201 (Emma) or x312 (Amanda) or email ejh@priory.e-sussex.sch.uk.

Parent Forum, mobile phones - Thursday 7th November

Russ Cook, aka Hardest Geezer visit!

On Wednesday we had a very exciting visit from Russ Cook, aka Hardest Geezer! Last year, Russ accomplished his mission to be the first person to run the entire length of Africa, raising over a million pounds for charity and inspiring people worldwide. Russ shared his experiences with Year 7 and 8, talking about some of trials that he had to overcome and the power of persistence and teamwork in the face of adversity: "if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together". Students were very excited to meet a local Sussex hero and were hopefully inspired to strive for adventure in their own futures.         

Modern Foreign Languages - Bernice McCabe Award

Our Modern Foreign Languages department are thrilled to announce that they were nominated for the prestigious Bernice McCabe Award by the Prince’s Teaching Institute and received a commendation certificate. This recognition celebrates excellence in education, and we were honoured to be considered. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year for languages at our school!

Mini Bridge Taster sessions this week and next

Bikeability at Priory

This week we will have seen almost 40 Year 7 students complete their Bikeability Level 3 course, led by Sarah and Ed, the fantastic Bikeability Instructors from East Sussex County Council.  The course gives students the skills needed to navigate challenging roads and traffic situations and encourages them to think independently and make informed decisions.  One student said "The course is fun and great because we are learning how to ride safely on the road - I now know what 'giving way' means". If your child has missed the opportunity to attend one of our courses in school Bikeability also run courses during the holidays.  Click here to find out more.   

Priory School Open Evening 2024

We held our highly successful Priory School Open Evening on Thursday, 19th September.  Our student speakers and student tour guides and department volunteers were the real stars of the show and one visitor took the time to write in to share some lovely feedback "I attended your open evening tonight with my son; we loved our visit.  We were impressed by the staff and school but, more importantly, were so grateful to the lovely year 9 students who gave us a tour around the school.  They were friendly, engaging and beautifully mannered; if we'd have left it to them, they'd still have been showing us around the school at midnight!  They put my son at ease and really helped us understand the school.  They are a real credit to Lewes Priory and I hope their input can be acknowledged in some way."  Our students really are such a credit to the school.    

PTI Award

Priory has been awarded the PTI Mark of excellence for outstanding teaching in English and Modern Foreign Languages, as well as for excellent school Leadership. We are delighted to have been awarded The PTI Mark for our innovative work in English, MFL and Leadership, and will be proud to carry the Mark on our stationery and website as evidence of our commitment to inspirational teaching. Our MFL department have also been shortlisted for the PTI’s prestigious Bernice McCabe Award, which is awarded annually to an exceptional department which demonstrates the ethos and values of the PTI through their work within and beyond the curriculum.   

GCSE Results (Summer 2024)

Today’s results mark the culmination of years of dedication, effort, and unwavering support from everyone involved in guiding our young learners through their examinations, in often challenging circumstances. This Year 11 cohort have had a school experience like no other year group before them or, hopefully, since, and we are extremely proud of them for how they have responded to the unique set of circumstances that they have had to face. That they have achieved so well is a reflection of the hard work and commitment they have invested in their futures and it is hugely pleasing that so many of our young people will now progress with confidence onto courses in their chosen colleges and sixth forms. Nationally, grading has continued as normal this summer and standards have been maintained from summer 2023 following the return to pre-pandemic standards last year. Within this context it is very pleasing to note that Priory students have continued to achieve outcomes well in excess of both local and national averages. Outcomes at grade 7 and above are 35.5% compared with 21.7% nationally, and outcomes at grade 4 and above are 79.7% compared with 67.4% nationally. The young people who leave us today have shown us that they have the curiosity, discipline and persistence to flourish academically, the kindness, honesty and respect that will help them to collaborate with others throughout their lives, and the aspiration, imagination and optimism to thrive personally. We are very proud of them as a cohort who will go on to achieve great things and, as its future citizens, change the world for the better. We are very grateful to have been able to support them to face the future with well-earned confidence and take the next exciting steps in their lives.    

Priory School Open Evening - Thursday, 19th September

Parent Forum - East Sussex Parent Carer Forum

Build a Resilient Child Workshop - Thursday, 6th June at 6pm

We are excited to be hosting a special workshop from our partners Action Your Potential, called ‘Build a Resilient Child’ this Thursday at 6pm. This workshop is for all parents, carers and young people and it is focused on how parents, carers and students themselves can build a resilient brain everyday.  The workshop will also explore the impact of a phone-based childhood on the mental health of young people and offer guidance and solutions based on evidence-based approaches. The presence of smartphones in schools and wider society presents an increasing problem for school leaders to manage, and you may recall that I shared my concerns with parents and carers about the impact of smartphone usage on the developing teenage brain last year. The workshop promises to be exciting, engaging and passionately delivered, and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with parents and carers. You can view a  promo video here, and sign up for the workshop here.  Mr Curtis-Brignell.    

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

It was Neurodiversity Celebration Week in school last week. We have had a week of assemblies helping students understand what we mean by neurodiversity and celebrating neurodiversity here at Priory. Neurodiversity is about recognising that everybody’s brain works differently. Both children and adults have their own unique way of thinking, interacting and experiencing the world.  We more commonly think of neuro diversity as an umbrella term for: ADHD, ASC, Tourette’s and dyslexia. The World Health Organisation say that worldwide 1 in 100 people have autism, here in School we have 94 students with an ASC diagnosis.  ASC and ADHD have to be diagnosed by a psychologist and currently the waiting list to get this done is between two and three years, so there are many more students on the pathway who receive support in school. There are also students with obvious traits who choose not to get a diagnosis. Whilst many of us would recognise traits in ourselves of ASC, ADHD or dyslexia, this does not mean we would get a diagnosis, as the thresholds are high.  If you are concerned that your child does show traits and would benefit from the diagnosis, please make an appointment with your SENDCo or your GP.  There are both positives and negatives of being neurodiverse, but the world is essentially set up for the people who are neurotypical.   Young people with ADHD often have engaging personalities, can be quick decision-makers and have an abundance of enthusiasm for interests.  The positives of autism often include honesty, integrity, logical thinking, hyperlexia and being very detail orientated.  Those with dyslexia can be creative, making connections, visualising ideas, and communicating well. School can be difficult, but many neurodiverse young people go on to achieve great things later in life.   Let us not just be aware but celebrate difference. We can read books and blogs written by neurodiverse people, listen to podcasts, shine, a light on their talents, passions and fortitude. Let’s avoid harmful stereotypes, use positive language be curious, admire and be an advocate. If you’d like to know more, please check out some of the websites below: CLASS+           Amaze            Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust If you would like a book to book an appointment with one of the SENDCos , please click on the link.            

East Sussex Youth Cabinet

We are pleased to announce that Lola G in Year 8 has recently been elected to the East Sussex Youth Cabinet by the students in her year group.  The East Sussex Youth Cabinet consists of young people aged 11-18 who run co-produced campaigns and work with local leaders to bring about change and improve services.  Lola will be representing the students of Priory School in this new role and we know that she will do an excellent job.  Well done, Lola!    

Wellbeing Ambassadors

We are starting the recruitment process for a team of Student Wellbeing Ambassadors!  The Ambassadors will act as a mentor for a fellow student who is struggling; providing emotional support, listening and helping them to find their own solutions to their problems.  All Ambassadors will be provided with training from the anti-bullying charity Kidscape. Any students interested in taking up this opportunity should speak with their Head of Year, Tutor or Reception to obtain an application form—entries will close at the end of Term 5.  

South Down National Park's Youth Photography winner!

Congratulations to Jessica B in Y8 who won the 11-17 years category of the South Down National Park’s youth photography competition with her image of a cow at Woodingdean, Brighton.  Fitting the brief of “a new perspective” the picture has won Jessica and her family a trip to Marwell Zoo in Hampshire.  Well done Jessica, what a wonderful picture!

Alice - Priory School Production

Tickets for Alice are almost sold out!  This photo was taken at our last Saturday rehearsal where we had a special guest visit from Ember Dimoglou - Ms Dimoglou’s beautiful Labrador who helped collect up the croquet balls in Act Two and was especially excitable when the White Rabbit came running onto the stage. Ember provided brilliant fun for our cast while they were waiting for scenes, playing fetch on the school field, supportive well done cuddles when the students came off the stage and barks of support when the rest of us applauded. She has had a brilliant preview of the show already!  Click here to grab yourself some tickets https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DDCN. 

World Book Day

We celebrated World Book Day in style last week.  The winners for best costumes were: Best Student - Lukas as the Cheshire Cat with 46 votes.  Best Staff member - Miss Noone as the Lorax with 59 votes.  Closely followed by Miss Fraser as Miss Trelawney.  As well as dressing up, we also read a short story across the course of the day The Impossible Planet, by Philip K Dick.  A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making the day a positive celebration of books and reading.