An Introduction from the Headteacher:
I began my own journey with Priory School on 1st September 2025. As a teacher and author of history, I am deeply conscious of the school’s history, traditions, and founding principles—and will combine respect for those pillars while writing a new chapter that ensures the school adapts for the times in which we live.
Our littlest Poppets will still be working when the twenty-second century dawns. All of our current and future pupils will either thrive or simply survive in a rapidly changing world in which those who are more adaptable, hopeful, and socially dextrous will inherit the opportunities that our world will present.
Those children who are inspired at school and at home to secure deep confidence in reading, writing, speaking, listening, thinking, problem-solving, resolving, and redesigning, will flourish. Those who are tolerant whilst being principled, humble and still ambitious, sensitive yet driven, and committed to family and community whilst being excited by making their own mark on this world, will be the happiest and most fulfilled.
Instead of being a product of their environment, we seek to help shape individuals who will shape the environment in their own image—based on deeply held values and beliefs that are unbreakable in the gusts and storms of life.
In short, we pursue the dream of every child possessing both courageous and compassionate hearts that glow in ways that inspire and endear others. But also, perpetually curious and creative minds that leave no stone unturned in their endless search for truth, discovery, and meaning.
Our current Mission Statement appears below, as do our school aims. With respect and care, I plan to carefully review both during the first year of my headship so that an even clearer course is set for this great school as it approaches its centenary.
Our Mission Statement:
Priory School is a thriving, co-educational independent school founded upon a rich Catholic heritage which welcomes those from all faiths and none. In partnership with parents and guardians we provide a nurturing, family-based ethos, alongside high standards of teaching and learning, enabling all pupils to achieve their potential.
We embrace diversity and interfaith understanding alongside awareness of environmental and global issues, in response to the needs of our time.
Our Vision Statement:
We are a family orientated school devoted to the promotion and celebration of our multicultural community in order to inspire and foster a lifelong love of learning on a truly equal footing. Our heritage is our foundation from which we educate our students to become responsible global citizens. We embrace diversity and interfaith understanding alongside awareness of environmental and global issues, in response to the needs of our time.
We strive to embrace the talents of all students recognising the power of opportunity and offering a broad range of extracurricular enrichment activities, alongside a chance to contribute to the community we serve through charitable missions. We understand the importance of nature to develop healthy, and positive lifestyles with an outdoor curriculum.
Taught in small class sizes, our curriculum is diverse and rigorous fostering curiosity, challenge and independent learning enabling us to target the needs of the individual. We invest in the development of our teaching staff, and those at early career and entry level, understanding our responsibility to ensure excellence for the future.
We are proud of our heritage and the international connections which enables us to fully encompass the values of our global family, striving to make a difference on environmental and humanitarian issues.
We promote the importance of mental health within our exemplary pastoral model where an onsite school counsellor and mental health ambassadors support our students, developing strategies to manage the modern world effectively.
Overall, our ‘high aspirations and high expectations’ encourage determination and resilience equipping our students with empathy, flexibility, and a strong moral compass for life.
Our School Aims:
- To promote a safe, family orientated community based upon the values of Cornelia Connelly the founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and derived from our rich Catholic heritage.
- To achieve academic success through high standards of teaching and learning.
- To actively promote and celebrate intercultural multi-faith understanding, inclusivity and genuine care and empathy for all community members.
- To respond to the wants of the age through an understanding of environmental and global issues.
- To encourage physical fitness and healthy lifestyles including effective use of the outdoor environment.
- To applaud determination, tenacity, resilience, commitment and effort.
- To encourage personal initiative, self-discipline, and responsibility.
- To encourage students to act and make judgements in a fair-minded, balanced and sensitive way.
- To value each student for their unique talents, abilities and qualities assisting them to achieve their potential.
- To work collaboratively with parents and guardians ensuring effective standards of communication.
