Priory School

Priory School continues to maintain its status as an outstanding institution following its recent ungraded inspection. While the overall judgment remains high, the evidence suggests that the school may not achieve the same rating if a graded inspection were conducted now. This highlights the need for the school to address various aspects of its educational provision to sustain its successful reputation. Currently, all pupils progress well, particularly in personal development and social skills, supported well in a safe learning environment that encourages independence. However, inconsistencies in curriculum planning and subject leadership were noted, suggesting areas for potential improvement in educational delivery.

Strengths

• Pupils develop strong social and emotional skills in a supportive environment.
• The reading curriculum is effective, and pupils achieve well in phonics.
• High attendance rates demonstrate pupil engagement and commitment.
• The curriculum for personal development is coherent and well-implemented.
• The school offers a wide range of life skills education and practical support.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum planning is inconsistent in some areas, affecting learning continuity.
• Subject leadership lacks sufficient oversight in certain subjects.
• Teachers sometimes struggle to adapt tasks to meet varying levels of pupil understanding.

In 2024–25 pupils at Priory School attended 90.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 31.0% 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, 1.8% 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 7.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.9% 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 241 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

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 2024–25 Priory School received £29,491 and spent £23,095 for each of its 224 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £375,000 (£1,675 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Eastern Education Group Trust, income was £10,066 and spending £10,047 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bury St Edmunds · Suffolk local authority: places and applications

Priory School is part of Eastern Education Group Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Abbeygate Sixth Form College Bury St Edmunds
• Woolpit Primary Academy Bury St Edmunds
• Stanton Primary School Bury St. Edmunds
• Chalk Hill Sudbury
• Exning Primary School Newmarket
• One Sixth Form College Ipswich
• Stone Lodge Academy Ipswich
• Duke of Lancaster School Fakenham
• Sunrise Academy Lowestoft

What is Priory School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Priory School is Outstanding, 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 241 pupils on roll.

What age range does Priory School cover?

Priory School for pupils aged 5 to 19.

What are Priory School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Priory School?

Priory School is at Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7BH.