Priory Park Community School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 June 2025

Pupils thrive at this nurturing school. Some pupils have had negative educational experiences in the past, but here they develop a strong sense of belonging. This helps them to flourish. Many who once thought they would not return to education, now take pride in their qualifications and look forward to attending college. Staff know pupils very well and care about them. Pupils trust the adults who teach and support them, knowing that staff have their best interests at heart. These positive relationships are evident in all aspects of school life. As a result, pupils feel happy, valued and safe. They enjoy their learning experiences and look forward to being at school. Pupils enjoy studying a variety of subjects that ignite their interests and foster their talents. Many achieve GCSEs in key subjects like mathematics and English, while others obtain different qualifications that prepare them for the future. Regardless of their pathway, pupils are well supported to re-engage with their education. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour. Pupils understand these expectations and work hard to meet them. They show respect towards others and put the school's values into practice.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes the checks that staff make on what pupils know and can do are too broad. This can mean that teachers do not identify the key knowledge pupils need to learn, and so give pupils activities that are not precisely aimed at what pupils need to improve. The school should tighten the checks that are made on pupils' learning, to ensure that the activities given help pupils to learn more, remember more and do more successfully.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)