Ofsted publishes inspection reports for Priory School in Bury St Edmunds, including residential provision

A Bury St Edmunds special school that was graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted 10 years ago has areas to improve, the regulator has said.

Priory School, which is part of SENDAT and Eastern Education Group Trust, received an ungraded inspection by the education watchdog in June.

The inspection did not change the judgement of outstanding, but the report said the evidence suggests the inspection grade might not be as high if a graded inspection were carried out now.

The report noted the school is a ‘happy place’, bullying and unkindness are rare, and pupils flourish in the school’s safe culture, including in the sixth form.

However, inspectors felt some areas needed work: parts of the curriculum and some of the teaching and subject leadership.

Lawrence Chapman, regional director - SEND and outdoor learning, for SENDAT and Eastern Education Group Trust, said they had already identified the points raised during the inspection and had plans in place to address them.

He said: “We are being well supported within the wider Eastern Education Group Trust to further develop these and the team are working hard to retain the outstanding grade at the next inspection.”

He said the school, SENDAT and the Eastern Education Group Trust welcomed the report from Ofsted, and were pleased that it identified that ‘Priory School is a happy place’ and that pupils flourish in the school’s safe culture, do well in with their learning and take pride in their work.

Mr Chapman added: “The impact of the pandemic on all schools, but especially special schools should not be underestimated.

“In addition, Priory has grown significantly in the last few years with two satellite sites developed in response to the county’s need for more SEND places. We now have 30 students at the former Thurston Primary school on school lane and 10 students at Angel Hill College which has moved within Abbeygate Sixth Form College.”

The school’s next inspection will be a graded one.

Also in June, Priory School’s residential provision was inspected by Ofsted, and found to be ‘good’ for overall experiences and progress of children and young people.

SENDAT merged with Eastern Education Group Trust on September 1. At the time of the inspections, Mr Chapman was CEO of SENDAT.

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.