SchoolScoresPriory School
Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of The Lewes Co-operative Learning Partnership
Mountfield Road, Lewes, BN7 2XN
01273 476231 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 25 February 2015.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 November 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
378 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
East Sussex comparisons use the 16 of its 26 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 10 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 79% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 82% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 73% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 75% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 144 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 62% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 51% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 282 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 84% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 70% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 88% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93%said yes | 80% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. East Sussex figures pool parents at the East Sussex schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
225 pupils in this year group.
52% — 11 points above the East Sussex average, and 7 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 52% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 46.4 | 43.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
234 pupils in this year group.
93% — 3 points above the East Sussex average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 14% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 64% | 24% | 13% |
| Further education college | 25% | 44% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 93% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in East Sussex. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 229 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 228 |
| Of those, offered a place | 206 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 565 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 17 places for hearing impairment; Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.4% | 24.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.3% | 2.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.1% | 14.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 6.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1% | 9.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Lower than 12% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 32.9% | 25.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 22.5 | 29.7 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.1% | 9.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Higher than 29% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8 | 16.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Higher than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2 | 11.2 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Lewes. Higher than 7% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 5.7% | 13.3%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Lewes Old Grammar School 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 32% A*/A at A level
- King's Academy Ringmer 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Priory School's Ofsted rating?
Priory School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 February 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 November 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Priory School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 52% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 7 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Priory School?
93% of the 378 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Priory School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Priory School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 228 families put Priory School as their first choice for 229 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 206 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 114598.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.