The Priory School

The Priory School is performing well overall, rated as good with outstanding aspects in behavior and personal development. The school's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment is evident, as pupils feel valued and supported. Staff demonstrate a strong dedication to ensuring all students, including those with complex needs, receive high-quality education and opportunities for personal growth. The school is noted for its positive relationships, calm atmosphere, and extensive career preparation programs, which ensure that pupils are well-equipped for their futures. Despite these strengths, there are concerns regarding the consistency of teachers' expectations for student work. Some pupils may not be producing work to the highest standards, which potentially limits their progress. This has been identified as an area for improvement, as the school aims to further enhance the educational outcomes for all pupils. The inspection is particularly significant as it marks the first routine evaluation following a long gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the school's ongoing commitment to excellence in education.

Strengths

• Exceptional relationships between staff and pupils
• Strong focus on kindness, understanding, and empathy
• Effective curriculum that supports logical learning
• Skilled staff with strong subject knowledge
• High-quality specialist support for pupils with SEND
• Wealth of stimulating experiences for personal development
• Ambitious reading initiatives for all pupils
• Exceptional careers support and preparation for future pathways

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent expectations for work quality among some teachers

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Priory School attended 93.4% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 16.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

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, 5.0% of pupils at The Priory School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 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 The Priory School had 19.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

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, 13.7% of pupils at The Priory School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Priory School received £7,823 and spent £7,818 for each of its 856 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £596,000 (£696 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of The 3-18 Education Trust, income was £7,598 and spending £7,604 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 Shrewsbury · Shropshire local authority: places and applications

The Priory School is part of The 3-18 Education Trust, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• Coleham Primary School Shrewsbury
• Bowbrook Primary School Shrewsbury
• Clive CofE Primary School Shrewsbury
• William Brookes School Much Wenlock
• The Thomas Adams School Shrewsbury
• Much Wenlock Primary School Much Wenlock
• Hodnet Primary School Market Drayton
• John Wilkinson Primary School and Nursery Broseley
• Prees CofE Primary School Whitchurch
• Whixall CofE Primary School Nr Whitchurch

What is The Priory School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was The Priory School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Priory School was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does The Priory School have?

The Priory School has 852 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Priory School cover?

The Priory School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are The Priory School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 52.6, and 57% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Priory School?

The Priory School is at Longden Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 9EE.