The Priory Academy LSST

The Priory Academy LSST
File:Priorylsstquad.png The Priory LSST Quad, as seen from the Science Section of the School. This is the original part of the School (once South Park Girls School), showing the Languages Department (first floor) and Mathematics Department (bottom floor).
Address
Cross O'Cliff Hill Lincoln , Lincolnshire , LN5 8PW England
Information
Motto	Sic Itur Ad Astra (Federation Motto)
Religious affiliation(s)	N/A
Established	(as an Academy) September 2008
Local authority	120731
Specialist	Science and Technology School, Training Status
Department for Education URN	135565 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Head teacher	Ian Jones
Gender	Mixed
Age	11 to 18
Enrollment	1800 students
Houses	Sempringham, Castille, Alexandria and Avalon
Colour(s)	Navy Blue, Purple
Website	http://www.prioryacademies.co.uk/priory/

The Priory Academy, Lincolnshire School of Science and Technology, also recently known as The Priory LSST (previously LSST, and a grammar school called "South Park"), is an English comprehensive school situated on Cross O'Cliff Hill, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. It admits 240 pupils each year, with up to 10% being chosen via a Technology and Science Aptitude Assessment (Admin policy), in line with all English schools' remits to accept up to 10% of intake based on ability, and currently has approximately 1800 pupils, 500 of whom are in the Sixth Form. In 2008 The Priory LSST became part of The Lincolnshire Schools Academies project with Joseph Ruston School (Lincoln), previously Ancaster High School (now The Priory Witham Academy), City of Lincoln Community College (now The Priory City of Lincoln Academy), Usher Junior school (now part of The Priory Witham Academy) and two schools based in Grantham which are now the Priory Ruskin Academy. The ethos of the school (as are all the Academies) is based on the Priory Way. The school's Headmaster is Ian Jones, who is also the interim Chief Executive of The Priory Federation Of Academies, the previous Chief Executive, Richard Gilliland resigned on 30 March 2012 after an Education Funding Agency investigation into the financial management of the schools Ian Jones is now temporarily the Chief Executive Headmaster until a suitable replacement is found.

Performance

An Ofsted inspection in November 2010, led by Paul Brooker HMI, rated the following aspects of the school as outstanding (the Academy overall was rated as outstanding): Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils; Pupil's attainment, quality, progress and learning; The extent to which pupils feel safe; Pupil's behaviour; The extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles; The extent to which pupils contribute to the school and wider community; The extent to which pupils develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being; The extent of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development; The quality of teaching; The effectiveness of care, guidance and support; The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement; The effectiveness of the Governing body and The effectiveness of the school's engagement with parents ands carers. The Sixth Form was also rated overall as outstanding, with the outcomes for students, the quality of provision and the leadership and management of the Sixth Form all contributing to this. It was also commented that the school should promote community cohesion and improve the use of assessment in teaching (both were rated as good).

The official school league tables published in January 2009 show the school as the second best performing comprehensive school in Lincolnshire for its A-level results, with local competitors William Farr School, Welton in first place and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle in third place. In January 2011, the Department for Education stated that the school had a 99% GCSE A*-C pass rate in 2010 (including English and Maths), up from 98% in 2009. The BBC also ranked the school as having 749.6 GCSE points and is the third most successful school at GCSE level in the Lincolnshire Learning Authority.

The school is both a Technology College and Training School. It has been awarded the Artsmark and Sportsmark accreditations as well as the "International School Award (Intermediate and Full Awards)" in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

History of the School

The school is now found on the site of South Park Girls' Grammar School which had originally opened in May 1922 as an all-girls school and was closed in August 1989. It was reopened as The Lincoln School for Science and Technology in September 1992, admitting only year sevens in its first year, growing in size each year as a new year group joined. Its name changed at the end of 1999 after it was felt that the original name made it unclear that the school catered for all subjects. South Park had been originally intended for 200 pupils, however, by the time it closed its size had reached 900. Since reopening the school has grown further with the inclusion of former gas works offices in 1998, and in recent years the addition of separate blocks for the reception, music, geography, history, religious education, and a chapel. New buildings are currently being constructed. In 2008 The Priory LSST reopened as The Priory Academy LSST, as an integral part of the Priory Federation of Academies. The school now holds around 1800 students, including sixth formers, and has a new sports block.

2012 Federation Financial Scandal

In 2012 the report of an investigation by officials of the Department for Education criticized the financial management of Priory Federation of Academies Trust. Richard Gilliland, the organisation's chief executive, resigned on 30 March citing personal reasons. It later emerged that Gilliand had used school funds to purchase sex toys and employ his family in highly paid positions. Ian Jones, The Priory Academy LSST's headmaster, was then appointed the new Chief Executive "Investigation Report on Priory Federation of Academies Trust"; Department for Education, March 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012</ref>

The House System

In 2001 the Academy introduced a House System providing competitions and events covering the whole curriculum. The four houses are Sempringham (yellow), Avalon (green), Alexandria (red) and Castille (blue). Every pupil walks the school Labyrinth, outside the Chapel, and receives a House badge, displayed on their left lapel, showing the colour and initial of the house team. Pupils are encouraged to take part in house events by house assemblies which take place once a month. The largest annual house event is Sports Day.

The School Campus, Lincoln

The School Campus consist of twelve main buildings. Two buildings lie at the main entrance and exit of the school which act as the school reception and Academies administration offices. One is simply known by students as "the house" while the other has been named "St. Catherine's" in remembrance of the Priory that once stood near the site. The Main School block has rooms for Mathematics, Information Technology (IT), Languages (French, German and Spanish), Science and Technology. A covered walkway to the 6th Form centre (that is also used for English, Art, Drama and contains the Examinations Hall (AKA the 'New Hall') passes recently built buildings including the "Jackson Swimming Pool", the Boathouse (storing P.E. equipment and canoes and kayaks for use in the swimming pool), the Fitness Gym, the Pavilion (changing rooms for outdoor sporting activities as well as 6th Form study areas), the Chapel, the R.E. block, the History block, the "Rawson Geography Centre" and the Music block. In the 6th Form Centre there are areas specifically for 6th form students, including a common room, study areas and a canteen. The school also has substantial green areas for sport as well as hard-surfaced areas for tennis, netball and hockey amongst others. Each block has its own garden which are used by the students as somewhere to sit in their free time in the Summer months.

The Newton Centre

Officially opened on 29 June 2011, the Newton Centre is a Sixth Form Science centre on the school campus. The centre is named after one of Lincolnshire's most famous scientists, Isaac Newton. The facility includes a Debating Chamber, Research Area, laboratories and Planetarium. Built as part of the nationwide Faraday Project, the Newton Centre is used as the East Midlands hub for scientific education.

The Centre des Étoiles, Normandy

Opened in 2009, the Centre des Étoiles (translated from French as the 'Centre of Stars', taken from the Federation logo and motto) is an activity centre in Lower Normandy, France, close to the town of Bayeux. All new students to any of the Priory Academies (including this Academy, The Priory Witham Academy, the Priory Ruskin Academy and The Priory City of Lincoln Academy) get a chance to visit. Places visited are the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry and Cathedral, The 'Gold' D-Day beach at Arromanches-les-Bains, and La Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg. Whilst on the visit, pupils are put into their Federation Houses, which transcend individual Academy Houses. They are Szabo, Bonaparte, Rollo and D'Arc. Their house badges are displayed on their lapels when back at their respective Academies.

Laughton Manor, Sleaford

The Priory Federation Laughton Manor is an Equestrian Centre set in ninety acres of land, near Sleaford (Lincolnshire). 'The centre has a large indoor and outdoor school with extensive parking for large events. The centre has recently become part of The Priory Federation of Academies.' It is expected to be renovated and added to over the coming years.

Future additions to the Academy

The school has recently finished construction of a new Sport Centre, valued at around £8 million. It is now used for PE sessions and many extracurricular activities. The 400 m sythetic Olympic-sized running track outside the sport centre is on the brink of completion.

Alongside the sport centre sits The Robert de Cheney Boarding House. The House is a brand-new, state-of-the-art building providing boarding provision exclusively for Sixth Form students. The house is available for Sixth Form students drawn from the UK, British passport holders living overseas and students with an EU passport. There are no tuition fees for students in these categories. Accommodation is available for both male and female students, all in single ensuite study bedrooms, on single-sex floors within the House.

See also

• Lincoln
• Lincolnshire
• List of places in Lincolnshire
• English Academy
• St. Catherines Priory, Lincoln

External links

• Priory LSST website
• BBC News information page on The Priory LSST
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