Classpot

Priory School

Lewes, BN7 2XNSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2023
Progress 8
+0.48
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
213 1st-choice / 235 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#534 of 3,141 nationally

About Priory School

Priory School in Lewes is a state secondary for 11-16 year olds that is running at near-full capacity, with 1,163 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,160. The school serves a community where 18.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure that sits above the national average for secondary schools in England (around 14%) and suggests a slightly more disadvantaged intake than the typical state school. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 497 applications for 235 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.11, with 213 first-preference applications and 198 first-preference offers. This means that while most first-preference families secured a place, the school is clearly a popular choice in the area, and parents should be aware that competition for entry is significant. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and has no sixth form, so pupils move on elsewhere after Year 11.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMountfield Road, Lewes, Lewes, BN7 2XN
HeadteacherJon Curtis-Brignell
Local AuthorityEast Sussex
Number of Pupils1,163
Free School Meals (FSM)18.6%
School Capacity1,163 / 1,160 (100% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (8 Nov 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 14 Apr 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
TheatreSwimming PoolLibraryICT SuiteTennis CourtsGymnasiumArt StudiosAstro TurfChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

AthleticsRowingMartial ArtsTennisSwimmingCricketRugby

Clubs & Activities

GardeningArt ClubDramaDuke of EdinburghYoung EnterpriseScience ClubEco ClubCodingChoir

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningResourced ProvisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Breakfast club

08:00-08:30

Source: priory.e-sussex.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Priory School

Priory School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.