Our vision is to offer an education of high quality which ensures our young people become creative, enthusiastic, hard-working learners who control their own success and contribute positively to the communities in which they live. Priestlands School Pennington, Lymington, Hampshire Learn more... Do more... Be more... Introduction by the Headteacher Welcome to Priestlands Education at this school is of the highest calibre. The school is well maintained, on a pleasant site and well equipped to meet the needs of the future. Our commitment to students and parents was summed up by Ofsted Inspectors who, in November 2016, said: “Leaders have maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection and model the school values, ‘learn more, do more, be more’ very well.” and “Parents describe the school as ‘amazing, with a real family atmosphere’.” Our curriculum is rich, varied and challenging – and designed to equip each student with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for a successful and fulfilling adult life. We believe all children are capable of making exceptional progress and we do our best to encourage them to embrace challenge, pursue excellence and to be resilient in overcoming obstacles. We want them to accept that hard work, effort and deliberate practice are critical to success. We want them to support and encourage each other and to be inspired by each other’s successes. In this way, everyone can go beyond their best! Above all, we aim to ignite in our students a love of learning which will serve them well throughout their lives. In summary, we want all our young people to achieve success in as many spheres of life “Governors are as possible and we have high expectations of all. We are proud of our academic record a significant and our high standards. We seek always to improve and to raise standards in all aspects strength of of school life. the school We encourage all our young people to develop a sense of values and responsibility for themselves and other people. We aim to treat young people as individuals, recognising because they and respecting individual needs, aptitudes, interests and aspirations. consistently This prospectus aims to give you some idea of what Priestlands is like but, to experience reflect on the energy and enthusiasm of the school, we invite you to visit and see us in action. how they We promise the very best opportunities and we look forward to a happy and successful could improve career for all those who join us. their and We look forward to meeting you. Our vision is to offer an education of high quality the schools which ensures our young people become creative, Pete Main performance.” Headteacher enthusiastic, hard-working learners who control (Ofsted report, their own success and contribute positively to the November 2016) communities in which they live. 2 Learn more... Do more... Be more... Learn more... Do more... Be more... 3 “Pupils talk confidently about how they can School Aims The School improve their work and We aim Priestlands is a well-established, mixed 11-16 comprehensive school. Set in a magnificent 25 try hard to do their best. • to be a leading comprehensive acre site, bordered by woodlands and lakes, the school, serving our whole traditional Inspectors saw this ‘can site is shared with Pennington Infant and Junior community, without selection do’ attitude in a range of Schools and the Lymington Health & Leisure • to provide equality of opportunity, different subjects.” Centre and swimming pool. offering a first class curriculum to all The premises include a listed building, which (Ofsted report, November 2016) students and academic success for all dates back to the eighteenth century and now • to provide a challenging curriculum, houses superb facilities for Art, Careers and which provides opportunities for all Health Education. students to achieve their potential, and There is excellent specialist Science eradicates under-achievement accommodation, incorporating ten laboratories, • to develop attitudes and skills that will an ICT suite and a prep room surrounding an enhance our students’ ability to work open courtyard, which enables the school independently, in order to encourage to offer a full programme in Science to every self-discipline, self-confidence and a student. sense of responsibility “Pupils who Seven ICT rooms, all equipped with PC • to develop our students spiritually, machines, colour laser printers and scanners, left in 2016 morally, socially and culturally. Treating allow us to deliver a quality ICT and Computing made good them as individuals in a climate of curriculum to all students. Data projectors and/ progress from mutual respect, so they may enter or interactive whiteboards are installed in nearly adult life equipped to make a full all classrooms. their starting contribution as responsible citizens and points across a The campus affords ample recreational space family members and playing fields for a wide range of sporting wide range of • through a partnership between activities, including an 8-lane grass athletics measures. ’’ students, parents, governors and staff, track, football, hockey and rugby pitches, a (Ofsted report, continuously to improve the quality of synthetic cricket wicket, tennis and volleyball November 2016) all we do. courts and a floodlit artificial turf hockey pitch. We also have a large Sports Hall and Gymnasium, state of the art fitness equipment, as well as having access to the Health & Leisure Centre’s swimming pool. There are also excellent facilities in Technology for Catering, Product Design, Resistant Materials and Textiles. A newly refurbished study centre is located in the heart of the English suite, and there are well equipped suites of rooms for Maths, Modern Languages and Humanities. We have a purpose-built Performing Arts Centre, accommodating two drama studios, two music classrooms (one with a new suite of iMac computers), four practice rooms and a recording studio. 4 Learn more... Do more... Be more... Learn more... Do more... Be more... 5 Over the past four years, staff, parents, students All Priestlands’ students follow a broad, and members of the local community have balanced and relevant curriculum that provides worked together to identify priorities to much more than is required by the National improve the site for all. This has already led to Curriculum. The school benefits from specialist us creating more outdoor seating areas and teachers who are well qualified in their subjects. developing the Victorian Walled Garden as a We create an atmosphere in which children teaching and community resource. We have feel encouraged and valued so that they may secured funding to refurbish and re-equip most achieve their full potential. We aim to motivate buildings on the site; re-decorated the exterior children through their studies so that self- of all of our buildings; install double glazing esteem and confidence thrive. throughout; re-roofed the whole school; extended the car park to create a car-free All students in all years are taught for 25 hours campus and installed WiFi; and extended and per week. This excludes registration and refurbished our kitchen and cafeteria. assembly time. Academic Years 7 and 8 Achievement In Years 7 and 8, students study English and English Literature, ICT and Computing, The school is proud of the standards which Mathematics, Science, a Modern Foreign its students have achieved over many years. Language (French or Spanish), History, Effective teachers and hardworking students Geography, Religious Education, Art, Drama, ‘‘Staff are have worked together to achieve impressive Music, Technology (Food & Nutrition or Design hugely positive results. Technology), Physical Education, Citizenship about the The school prides itself on the progress and PSHE. individuals make during their five years at In Year 7, setting takes place in Maths; all other school and Priestlands. Every opportunity is provided for classes are mixed ability. enjoy working students to increase their skills in the whole there because range of school subjects. For the keen student, extra teaching is frequently available during Year 9 they are well lunchtimes and after school. In Year 9, students continue to study English supported and English Literature, Mathematics, Science, and are part Our Curriculum their Modern Foreign Language, Physical of a highly Education, Citizenship and PSHE. Ofsted have consistently described our motivated However, our students also begin to have curriculum as outstanding or exemplary and team.“ teaching methods are grounded in evidence choices about which subjects they study. based practice. They have six choices from Art, Drama, Food & (Ofsted report, November 2016) “Staff value the way that leaders We expect all our students to achieve their have created a climate in which very best. We offer firm, fair discipline; frequent they can take risks and innovate. reports on children’s progress; lessons which are well planned and well delivered; and high As a result, staff work diligently to standards of work. Our central goal is to help achieve the highest standards for students constantly improve on their previous pupils across the school” best. (Ofsted report, November 2016) 6 Learn more... Do more... Be more... Learn more... Do more... Be more... 7 “You have established good Nutrition, Geography, History, Music, additional partnerships with the local primary PE, Religious Education, Technology and a Homework and junior schools to improve the second Modern Language (French, Spanish or Homework is an important part of the school German). transition for pupils. As a result, you experience. It is intended to provide all students This enables us to stretch higher achieving with the experience of working by themselves, to know the children well when they students, support those with learning consolidate or extend work covered in school and arrive and they make a strong start difficulties, motivate the disaffected and deliver to develop the habit of private study.