Priory Community School

Infobox UK school
name = Priory Community School


latitude = 51.3642
longitude = -2.9094
dms = yes
motto =
phone = 01934 511411
fax = 01934 520199
established = 1975
type = State school
Technology College
head = Neville Coles
head_label = Principal
street = Queensway
city = Worle
county = North Somerset
country = England
enrollment = 1,180
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 16
publication =
website = http://www.priory.n-somerset.sch.uk

Priory Community School, often shortend to PCS, is a school in Worle, North Somerset, England. Priory Community School is an 11-16 Community School and Technology College.

Admissions

There are 1,180 students on roll. Ofsted rated the school as good with outstanding features in 2006. There is a Federated sixth form on site through a partnership with Weston College - 37 students study at PCS. A pre-school is operated by Priory on site. Neville Coles is the Principal, he is a National Teaching Award Finalist (2007) and an advocate of new technologies and 21st century learning (see PCS You Tube 2008) - he was formally the Deputy Head / Director of Learning from 2002-2007 in a period of great improvement and change for the school. He is a first class Honours degree student from Loughborough University in Sport, Education and History. He holds an MA in Education and a NPQH. Results improved by 25% in the 2002-7 five year period - they continue to rise with the school predicting to beat 60% in 2008. A world class curriculum with a three year upper school is in place. A Trust School with Apple UK and Weston College as major partners is planned for 2009. A new building program of £8million was completed in 2007 and facilities are outstanding. Neville Coles was appointed Head / Principal from September 2007 upon the retirement of Ron Richards. There have only been five Heads/Principals at PCS.The school's stated mission and school plan is to take the organisation from 'good' to 'great' and PCS places 'STUDENTS FIRST'.

Exam Results

In 2006 the school celebrated a record set of GCSE results, with 58% of pupils achieving five A* to C grades - a 4% increase on the 2005 figure, and equal to the previous highest results in 2003. Once again these were the highest results in Weston-super-Mare. [cite web | title=Falling down the new exam table | work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6251577.stm | accessdate=2007-02-19] . [cite web | title=Priory Community School | work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/802_4143.stm | accessdate=2007-02-19] ,

[cite web | title=Schools in North Somerset | work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/802_gcse_lea.stm | accessdate=2007-02-19] .The school's contextual value add (CVA) is high. 1012 in 2006 from KS2 to KS4.The school was graded as 'good' in all categories in October 2006 by Ofsted.

History and information

The school was founded in September 1975, and moved to a purpose-built site during autumn 1977. During the 1980s, the school ran an unusual timetable, blocking an entire half-year to take the same subject at the same time. This allowed both setting and mixed-ability teaching in the same subject. This timetable management was the subject of an Open University module and television programme [cite web | title=Priory School Open University programme | work=BFI Film & TV Database
url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/321262 | accessdate=2007-02-19] .

Priory gained Technology College status in 1998. During 2006, a £7 million extension and refurbishment scheme saw the school move into a new main block, secure a humanities block extension, and a new sixth form block.

Priory pupil Alex Bethell made the televised national final of Hard Spell 2005; the BBC filmed him and other students in school. Alex Bethell is often referred to by the principal and is featured in many visits by guests to the school.

In September 2007 a new Principal was appointed, Neville Coles.

The school is currently pursuing a £12million ICT Zone to be built on site in conjunction with Weston College. A new fitness suite and sports changing rooms are also planned with local authority and Football Foundation money.

References

External links

* [http://www.priory.n-somerset.sch.uk Official website]