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TRANSFORMATIONALASPIRATIONALFLOURISHINGTHE PRIORY SCHOOLDORKING

Welcome to our school

All Priory students are encouraged to explore their talents and passions, nurtured to exceed all expectations and fully prepared to realise their potential; educated for life in all its fullness. Our promise is to: • Provide a safe and supportive community in which children thrive• Offer a wise curriculum that ensures breadth, balance and unique opportunities• Ensure dignity for every student through provision of choice, voice and respect• Build hope and vision through the pursuit of academic excellence for all studentsWe ensure that students are supported at every turn and that they feel comfortable, respected, safe and secure in their environment. From challenge and inspiration in lessons, to a vast range of different enrichment activities outside of the classroom, we provide a huge array of opportunities for every child. Our ultimate aim is for every student to make the most of every day, to grow in character, confidence and academic success in preparation for their future.Mrs J TrimnellHeadteacherWelcome to The Priory Church of England school, where high standards of attainment and behaviour are expected; where each individual matters; and where everyone has something special to contribute.

Every individual matters

At The Priory School we believe that every individual should be known and valued. Your child will have the opportunity to continue friendships from primary school, and for those who do not know other students, we offer a supportive transition programme. These healthy relationships are the bedrock of effective learning and progress. Every student at The Priory is a member of a House: Westminster, Guildford, Canterbury or Coventry. Students contribute to their houses as they accrue house points in lessons and as they get involved in extracurricular activities and competitions. The House system not only recognises individual student success, it also builds our school community across year groups and gives us a focus for celebrations at various points across the year. As a specific feature of being a Church School we have a vibrant chaplaincy that includes BeMe, a charity that has its origins in The Priory and that now runs courses nationally for boys and girls tackling self-esteem issues. The chaplaincy team offers weekly clubs as well as annual events including OMG week during which students experience ways to grow in the community. All students are welcome to Chaplaincy activities, with one-on-one support available too.Pupils follow a broad and balanced curriculum, which is enhanced by well-planned spiritual, moral, social and cultural provision. Christian values are well promoted. OFSTED

School isn’t only about learning; it is also about creating lasting memories with friends. I’ve already made many memories at The Priory and I look forward to creating more. Freya, Year 8 studentWhat I like about The Priory is the strong community of teachers and students that support us and help us achieve our goals.Sylvie, Year 8 student

Our students are expected to aim high. Every student is supported on their learning journey to achieve the very best outcomes in everything they do. At The Priory we empower our students to develop the character and skills necessary for achieving their best possible GCSE results.Student progress is tracked against prior performance at Key Stage 2 and in year attainment. Every student is set an aspirational progress pathway at the end of the first term of Year 7. Teachers then track, monitor and liaise with the students to ensure that they are striving to achieve their best and that they have everything in place to continue to make progress. We consider Priory parents to be crucial partners in their child’s education. There are several events held at school that we expect parents to participate in:Meet the tutor evening for year 7This is an opportunity to discuss how your child has settled in their first half term and to receive some initial feedback on your child’s learning.Parents’ eveningsOne to one appointments with subject teachers provide you with specific feedback on your child’s progress and guidance on what their next steps in their learning need to be.Exam preparation evenings for KS4 studentsAn evening for parents and students to attend together and develop a better understanding of effective exam preparation and how this can be continued and supported at home.Teachers’ high expectations and clear explanations make it very clear to pupils what is expected of them. OFSTEDAchieve the very best

Discovering hidden talents

Pupils benet from many after-school clubs and activities, as well as the school’s strong commitment to the performing arts and practical subjects, such as design technology. OFSTEDExplore our array of enrichment activities at The Priory. We provide a wide range of clubs, visits, trips and events, offering fantastic opportunities for involvement in Music, Drama and Dance. Highlights include our annual Ski trip, Music Exchange trip to Italy and performance at the Harlequin Theatre. Many of our students participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The Priory School also has a strong tradition in competing in the Greenpower racing events.We have listed some of our current offerings below, and our staff are always open to starting new clubs if students express interest.Netball Football Badminton Dance Rugby Swimming Trampolining Cricket Chess Club Rounders Table Tennis Dorking Wanderers Football Club Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Music Choir Jazz Band Guitar Club Steel Drum Rock Band Keyboard Club Wellbeing Club Drama Club Cookery Club Art Club Reading Club Greenpower Science Club Journalism Club Reading Club Young Carers Support Club Gym & Dance Show School Production Ski Trip School Council Maths Challenge West End Shows Foreign Exchange Music Concerts Revision Clubs

Both sta and students ourish. They are known and valued as individuals. SIAMS

Outstanding facilities

The facilities we have available at The Priory are second to none, setting the stage for an outstanding educational experience. Our indoor pool, Sports Dome, Music Suite, dedicated Performing Arts Block, Dance Studio, significant sports fields and well equipped Science Labs allow us to provide not just excellent lessons but a dynamic programme of extra-curricular activities.We are able to offer a diversity of opportunities that really are unique to The Priory. These include:• The opportunity to study Physics, Chemistry and Biology as separate Sciences as GCSE• Swimming lessons integrated into our curriculum• Participation in one of our two Greenpower Racing teams, competing at national level• Regular opportunities to perform live music in front of an audience• Showcasing talent in school productions, Dance shows and the annual Gym & Dance Show• Access on-site, high quality recording facilities for musical performances

A supportive and happy environment

The Priory School is proud of its excellent pastoral care. Our students’ mental health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to us. We have created a nurturing environment where students are not only encouraged to flourish academically but are also supported throughout all of the challenges they might experience. Our aim is for all students in our care to feel happy, supported and fulfilled so they can thrive and flourish.We are honoured to have received the prestigious National Whole School Wellbeing Gold Award, a testament to our commitment to putting wellbeing at the heart of learning, teaching and leadership.The Shore Centre is our new purposefully designed facility that provides educational and wellbeing support to all members of our school community. The centre boasts a team of fully qualified mental health leads, ELSAs, Inclusion Specialists and collaboration with external agencies. Furthermore, our students have the unique opportunity to receive training as wellbeing ambassadors through our partnership with Eikon.It is our strong belief that students with positive mental health will have a happier time at school and will be better prepared for life long learning. The Shore Centre is a valuable asset enabling us to provide tailored support to our students throughout their time at The Priory.Personally, I love the Wellbeing club. It has helped me meet some new people and take some time out for myself! It overall just calms me, no matter what I do on the day. Priory Student

Relationships are warm and respectful. Parents are particularly grateful that their children are known and treated as unique individuals. SIAMS

Students live out a commitment to serving their community. They ourish because they see this as an integral part of being a member of the school. SIAMS

Post 16 opportunitiesReigate CollegeEast Surrey CollegeDorking Wanderers Academy

We are very lucky to have a wide range of Post16 providers in close proximity to The Priory School. We have partnered with three outstanding organisations who work with our students all through Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 so our students become familiar with the opportunities available to them when they complete Year 11.Reigate College and East Surrey College provide students with the widest possible range of courses, taught by subject specialists. This means that every student is able to find the perfect combination of subjects and support for them to succeed. The Priory School students are guaranteed a place at either college, provided they meet the minimum entry requirements and have an excellent school report. Reigate College is a specialist sixth form college, graded outstanding by Ofsted. The College’s focus is on A Level and BTEC Level 3 qualifications, providing students with a choice of over 50 courses. These include traditional subjects such as Biology, Maths and History as well as courses in subjects such as Business, Media, Film, Sociology, Psychology, Criminology and Health & Social Care. The College’s results are among the best in the country and for this reason university success rates are extremely high, with large numbers of students securing places at the top Russell Group universities including Oxford and Cambridge, and on the most competitive courses such as Medicine and Law.East Surrey College, including the acclaimed Reigate School of Art, has a strong vocational focus, with students offered qualifications such as full BTEC Diplomas and other industry standard qualifications from Entry Level to Level 3 (and Higher Education Level 4-6). Student pass rates are consistently within the top 10% for General Further Education & Tertiary Colleges in England. Full-time and Apprenticeship course areas include Hair & Beauty, Construction & Engineering, Science, Aviation & Travel, Sport, Public Services, Creative Arts, Business, IT & Digital, Motor Vehicle and Caring Services. For 2022/23 East Surrey College is also offering new T-Level (Level 3) routes across eight different subject areas. All courses have strong progression into careers, onto university or into the workplace.In addition to Reigate and East Surrey College, we also work alongside Dorking Wanderers Football Academy. DWFA is a nationally renowned football academy programme for boys and girls from the age of 16 onwards. Students study BTEC Level 3 in Sports Development and Coaching, whilst gaining access to high quality football coaching, training and match play. DWFA use Priory classrooms to deliver their academic content and they train and play at their top facility at Meadowbank Stadium. The football is taken by fully UEFA qualified coaches.This programme draws students in from all over Surrey and Sussex and we are very lucky to have DWFA on site as they contribute to the extra-curricular PE clubs for our own students. DWFA graduates can earn places in the Dorking Wanderers Senior squads, move on to other local clubs, continue with their study at university or transition to jobs within the area of football, sport, coaching, business, management, marketing or nutrition.Reigate CollegeDorking Wanderers Football AcademyEast Surrey CollegeBoth Reigate and East Surrey College have specialist support teams, as well as Additional Learning Support and Bursary services. Taster events, gifted and talented sessions, options advice, and formal transition activities help ensure Priory School students hit the ground running when they make the move to either Reigate or East Surrey College.

We are well served by public transport, the nearest bus stop, Townfield Court is a five minute walk away. Transport arranged by Surrey County Council sets down and picks up in Longfield Road, immediately adjacent to the school. Convenient locationThe school is also connected to the A25 and Dorking High Street by a series of footpaths enabling children to walk safely to school. Coaches drop off and collect students from the school’s coach park adjacent to the school site.The school is conveniently situated on the outskirts of Dorking town, a ten minute walk from the town centre.

FIDE ET LABORE CONFICEREThe Priory SchoolWest BankDorkingSurreyRH4 3DG01306 887 337enquiries@priorycofe.comwww.thepriorycofe.com