Priory School

Priory School is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating in all key areas with an outstanding rating for behaviour and attitudes. The school has established a positive environment where students enjoy attending and feel safe. Notable strengths include an ambitious curriculum tailored to meet the diverse needs of its students, particularly in communication and reading skills. The dedication of the staff to support personal development is evident, as they actively prepare students for their future lives, equipping them with essential life skills through practical lessons and work experience opportunities.

Strengths

• High levels of pupil happiness and attendance.
• Strong emphasis on personal development and well-being.
• Ambitious and carefully designed curriculum.
• Effective strategies to develop communication and reading skills.
• Outstanding behaviour and positive relationships among pupils and staff.
• Successful implementation of assessments to support learning.
• Robust support systems for students' emotional well-being.

Areas for Improvement

• Some aspects of the phonics programme are not fully established.
• New approaches in the sixth form curriculum are inconsistent.

In 2024–25 pupils at Priory School attended 91.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 28.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 2.2% of pupils at Priory School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Priory School had 6.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Priory School had 140 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Priory School received £48,761 and spent £47,595 for each of its 140 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £310,000 (£2,217 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Croydon · Croydon local authority: places and applications

What is Priory School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Priory School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Priory School last inspected by Ofsted?

Priory School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Priory School have?

Priory School has 140 pupils on roll.

What age range does Priory School cover?

Priory School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Priory School?

Priory School is at Hermitage Road, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 3QN.