Priory School, Lewes

Last updated

Priory School
Lewes Priory School logo.png
Address
Priory School, Lewes
Mountfield Road

Lewes
,
East Sussex
,
BN7 2XN

England
Coordinates 50°52′09″N0°00′58″E / 50.86906°N 0.01624°E / 50.86906; 0.01624
Information
Type Foundation school
Established1969
Local authority East Sussex
Department for Education URN 114598 Tables
Ofsted Reports
HeadteacherJon Curtis-Brignell
GenderCoeducational
Age11to 16
Enrolment1,165 pupils
Website www.priory.e-sussex.sch.uk

Priory School is a British co-educational secondary school for 11- to 16-year-olds located on Mountfield Road in the East Sussex town of Lewes.

Contents

History

Priory School was originally formed in 1969 when the Lewes County Grammar School for Girls, the Lewes County Grammar School for Boys and the Lewes Secondary Modern School were amalgamated to form a comprehensive school called Priory School, its name referring to the nearby Lewes Priory. At this point, although the school was comprehensive for children who lived within the town of Lewes, it was also open to children from the surrounding towns and villages who had passed the 11 plus. During this period there was also academic streaming: the names of the streamed groups were based on the letters of the word MOUNTFIELD.

In its early years (from 1969 until around 1980) the school was in three separate locations: the former Girls' Grammar School buildings in Potter's Lane housed the Lower School (ages 12–13), while on Mountfield Road the Secondary Modern buildings housed the Middle School (ages 14–15), with the Upper School (ages 16–18) in the former Boys' Grammar. Later, in the early 1990s, Potter's Lane site was turned into a primary school now housing Southover and Western Road Schools; Priory School itself was split into Priory School (11–16) on the former Secondary Modern site and the Sixth Form (16-18), housed on the former Boys' Grammar School site, merged with Lewes Technical College, which had a site opposite in Mountfield Road, to become Lewes Tertiary College and now East Sussex College.

In 2017 the uniform was changed to prohibit new joiners from wearing skirts, and was said by the headteacher to be "gender-neutral". Multiple news outlets and alumni, including Piers Morgan [1] criticised the move, stating that the restrictions were more of a contradiction than a progression in uniforms. [2] [3] This decision led to a protest by students in 2019 on the basis of environmental issues, after it was announced that the change would affect every student, as opposed to just the new joiners. [4] [5] [6]

Site

Priory School then became centred on the site of the former Secondary Modern School and new buildings have since been added. The adjacent buildings formerly used by the County Grammar School for Boys and by the Sixth Form have become part of the Lewes Campus of East Sussex College (Further Education). The Chapel, of the former Boys' Grammar School, was retained by the Priory School. This chapel was built after the Second World War to commemorate the boys from the school who fought in the war. Next to it is the Music Block, which was rebuilt in 2008 in place of the old temporary one. The new block features improved disabled access, but thin walls and a void beneath the floor make it a rather difficult environment for music lessons.

In 1993, the new revised version of Priory School opened boasting a new wing – the "South Block" – and a heavily refurbished main building. The latter was the home of Lewes Secondary Modern School until 1969, sporting a distinctive copper plated clock tower. The main building included new science labs, a library and design technology rooms, built in anticipation of design technology being in the National Curriculum. The South Block hosts, on the ground floor, the Art, Maths, Modern Foreign Languages and English classrooms and on the first floor the Humanities classrooms. The Performing Arts Block was built recently next to the Main Hall.

The nearby Leisure Centre is used for indoor sports and the nearby Convent Fields, the Cricket Nets and the Tennis Courts, for outdoor ones. Between the South Block and the Main Building is a playground called the Quad. The tarmac playground continues until the chapel but there are large muddy and grassy areas surrounding it.

Arts

Priory has been awarded Arts and Language College statuses, specialising in these areas with increased funding. The three modern foreign languages taught are Spanish, French and German. There is also a Chinese club.

A number of pupils have gone on to make careers in the arts. Eric Goulden and Pete Thomas made their names in the music business. Annabel Abbs and Lucy Atkins have had a number of books published.

Chapel

In 1960 a chapel, designed by Sir Edward Maufe, [7] was built to honour the boys from the Lewes County Grammar School for Boys who died in the Second World War. Their names are shown on the walls of the vestibule, with the Latin motto "Dare Nec Computare" above the door, translating as "To give and not to count the cost".

Notable former pupils

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewes</span> County town and civil parish in East Sussex, England

Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England. The town is the administrative centre of the wider district of the same name and the location of East Sussex County Council at the county hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priory School, Portsmouth</span> Academy in Southsea, Hampshire, England

Priory School is a secondary school in Southsea, Hampshire, England. It is situated in the northern area of Southsea bordering Fratton, and lies close to Fratton railway station on the A2047. Stewart Vaughan is the Headteacher at the school. Priory school is an academy and part of the Bohunt Education Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Maufe</span> English architect and designer

Sir Edward Brantwood Maufe, RA, FRIBA was an English architect and designer. He built private homes as well as commercial and institutional buildings, and is remembered chiefly for his work on places of worship and memorials. Perhaps his best known buildings are Guildford Cathedral and the Air Forces Memorial. He was a recipient of the Royal Gold Medal for architecture in 1944 and, in 1954, received a knighthood for services to the Imperial War Graves Commission, which he was associated with from 1943 until his death.

Ark Alexandra, previously known as Hastings Grammar School, William Parker School, William Parker Sports College, and later as Ark William Parker is a secondary school in Hastings, East Sussex in the United Kingdom. It was the only male single-sex secondary school in East Sussex and is now a co-educational Academy spread over two sites after Ark Helenswood Academy merged with Ark William Parker on 1 September 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton College</span> Public school in East Sussex, England

Brighton College is an independent, co-educational boarding and day public school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in Brighton, England. The school has three sites: Brighton College, Brighton College Preparatory School and the Pre-Prep School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex College</span> College in East Sussex, UK

East Sussex College or East Sussex College Group is the largest higher education college in East Sussex, providing education and training from foundation to degree level. The college educates almost half of the county's young people and over 8,000 adults each year at campuses in Lewes, Eastbourne, Hastings and Newhaven, and in the workplace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Henry VIII 3-19 School, Abergavenny</span> State school in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales

King Henry VIII 3-19 School Abergavenny is an English-language comprehensive school situated in the town of Abergavenny, in the county of Monmouthshire, Wales.

Chailey Secondary School opened in April 1958, is a comprehensive secondary school located in the village of South Chailey, Chailey, just outside Lewes in East Sussex, UK. Chailey School was awarded specialist Language College Status in July 2002. In the year 2007, the school was also awarded Humanities College status. The school also provides adult classes in French, Italian, and Spanish. It does not have a sixth form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond School</span> Academy in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England

Richmond School & Sixth Form College, often referred to simply as Richmond School, is a coeducational secondary school located in North Yorkshire, England. It was created by the merger of three schools, the oldest of which, Richmond Grammar School, is of such antiquity that its exact founding date is unknown. The first mentions of it in writings, however, is estimated, to be between 1361 and 1474. It was officially ratified as an educational establishment in 1568 by Elizabeth I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derby School</span> Former school in Derby, England

Derby School was a school in Derby in the English Midlands from 1160 to 1989. It had an almost continuous history of education of over eight centuries. For most of that time it was a grammar school for boys. The school became co-educational and comprehensive in 1972 and was closed in 1989. In 1994 a new independent school called Derby Grammar School for boys was founded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Academy Ringmer</span> Academy in Lewes, East Sussex, England

King's Academy Ringmer is an academy school and a specialist technology college. It is located in the village of Ringmer, East Sussex, England. The school was opened in 1958 and serves a catchment area of Lewes and surrounding towns and villages.

King Edward VI School, Lichfield, is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form located near the heart of the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is a community school maintained by Staffordshire Education Authority and admits pupils from the age of 11, with most electing to continue their education into the sixth form, leaving at 18. In the main school, the published admissions number is 250 pupils for each year group. In total there are in excess of 1600 pupils on roll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewes Priory</span> Grade I listed ruins in the United Kingdom

Lewes Priory is a part-demolished medieval Cluniac priory in Lewes, East Sussex in the United Kingdom. The ruins have been designated a Grade I listed building.

The Hastings Academy, formerly known as Hillcrest, is a secondary school in Hastings, East Sussex, England. The Hastings Academy opened on 1 September 2011 moving into a new building during February 2013. The school has around 900 students and over 100 staff. The Principal is Mr Simon Addison. It is run by the University of Brighton Academies Trust.

Falmer High School was a community mixed-sex non-denominational comprehensive school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Brighton, East Sussex, England. It closed on 31 August 2010 and was replaced by Brighton Aldridge Community Academy on the same site, sponsored by Rod Aldridge.

Southover Manor School was a private boarding school for girls at Lewes, East Sussex, with a preparatory department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longhill High School</span> Community school in Rottingdean, East Sussex, England

Longhill High School is a co-educational secondary school for 11 to 16 year-olds, which is located in Rottingdean, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex.

Central Technology & Sports College was a secondary school in the north of Grantham in Lincolnshire, England. It became part of The Priory Ruskin Academy in 2010.

Carisbrooke College is a foundation trust-supported secondary school in Carisbrooke on the Isle of Wight, formerly Carisbrooke High School. Sixth form students are based at the Island Innovation sixth form Campus, in Newport, a shared sixth form with Medina College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King James I Academy</span> Academy in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England

King James I Academy is a medium size academy school and sixth form centre for mixed gender aged 11–18 in the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham in northeast England. It traces its history to the early 17th century. The site currently consists of two large two-storey buildings as well as a few small cabins, including the "Kings Feast" which is used to sell food at breaks, lunches and special occasions. The others are used as classrooms or form rooms similar to the rooms inside the other buildings.

References

  1. ↑ Holly Watt. "Secondary school makes uniform gender neutral". The Guardian . Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "Lewes school adopts new 'gender neutral' uniform policy" . Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Gender neutral uniform sparks protest at Lewes Priory School". BBC News. 6 September 2019.
  4. ↑ yomi-adegoke (8 September 2019). "Gender neutral uniforms make sense - but there should be a choice". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Piers Morgan threatens to wear a SKIRT to his old school after introduction of 'gender neutral' uniform". The Argus. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "School closes its gates on pupils protesting against a skirt ban". The Argus. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Comprehensive List of Building's designed by Sir Edward Maufe. Retrieved September 2011
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.