Lewes Priory School
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| Priory School | |
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| Established | 1969 |
| Headteacher | Mr Martyn Ofield |
| Specialism | Arts College |
| Location | Mountfield Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 2XN  England |
| LEA | East Sussex |
| Ofsted number | 114598 |
| Students | 1160 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11 to 16 |
| Website | http://www.priory.e-sussex.sch.uk/ |
| Coordinates: | |
Lewes Priory School is a British co-educational school for 11 to 16 year-olds located on Mountfield Road in the East Sussex town of Lewes. It is a specialist school as an Arts College, Language College, and Science College.
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[edit] History
The 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. 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.
During this period there was also academic streaming: the names of the streamed groups based on the letters of the word MOUNTFIELD. Later, in the early 1990s, the school was split into a Sixth Form College (16-19) and the separate Priory School (11-16) on the Mountfield Road site.
[edit] Campus
The Priory School then became centered on the site of the former Secondary Modern School and new building have since been added. The adjacent buildings formerly used by the County Grammar School for Boys and by the Sixth Form College have become part of the Sussex Downs College (Higher Education). The Chapel of the former Boys Grammar School was retained by the Priory School.
In 1991, the new revised version of Priory School opened boasting a new wing — "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.
[edit] The Arts
Priory School has a strong tradition of amateur drama that it inherited from the Grammar Schools. Members of the teaching staff wrote an entire musical about the life of local WWI soldier, Private Rupert Freeman, called "In the Pink". The pupils are divided into four "houses" named Fire, Earth, Water and Air. Each pupil is allocated to a house and the houses compete collectively in sport and other activities.
Priory has been awarded Arts and Language College statuses, specialising in these areas with increased funding.
A number of pupils have gone on to make careers in the arts. Eric Goulden, Pete Thomas, and Tom (Keith) Morley, made their names in the music business. Graeme K Talboys has had a number of books published.
[edit] Uniform
The Priory School rules and regulations regarding uniform are said to be "relaxed", and are plain black trousers, a white shirt or polo shirt, a plain black Priory School sweatshirt and plain black school shoes. Small earrings are permitted, as are watches and hairbands et cetera.
[edit] Present Day
At the beginning of the academic year September 2006, a new arrangement for the school day was put into practice consisting of six lesson periods, Three times a week, one lesson period is used as tutor time. The lunch times have been altered to create three lunch sittings. Which lunch a student may be sitting varies from day to day.
A new music block was recently built in place of the old temporary one. The new block features many more practice rooms, and spaces for music lessons to take place.
Ex-Priory students commonly progress to further education courses at the close by Sussex Downs College, or BHASVIC, Varndean and City Colleges in Brighton.
The current Headteacher is Mr. Martyn Ofield.
[edit] Chapel
The school has a chapel that was built in the 1950s to honour the boys from the Lewes County Grammar School for Boys who died in World War II. Their names grace the walls of the vestibule to this day. The Latin "Dare Nec Computare" above the door translates to "To give and not to count the cost". The schools assemblies are now mostly held in the chapel, including a weekly "collective worship" session in which speakers from various religions come to talk to the students.
