This is a genuinely exciting time for The Priory Academy LSST as it opens its brand new sixth form boarding house in September 2011. Up to 60 sixth form boarders will be accommodated in single en-suite study bedrooms, with access to a range of social facilities and a large dining area all set in the grounds of the school.

Alongside the opening of the Robert de Cheney Boarding House comes the opening of The Priory’s sports centre, complete with a 60m indoor running track, climbing wall, four badminton courts, a dance studio, an extensive fitness area and, outside, a 400m synthetic running track and The Priory’s own riding stables. At the same time, the school is to open the Faraday Centre, a state-of-the art science building with sixth form research facilities, planetarium and labs. The Priory is confident that, by September 2011, it will have some of the best learning and extra-curricular facilities in the country.

This is an academic school – results make it one of the top-performing schools in the country. Last year, 99% of students gained at least five A*–C GCSE passes including English and maths. It has a large and well-established sixth form with a choice of over 40 A-level courses.

In a recent Ofsted inspection both the school and the sixth form were judged ‘Outstanding’. Indeed, the inspectors were very complimentary about the sixth form, observing that ‘students value highly the positive relationships with teachers and other staff that set the highest expectations of their achievement and engagement, and support well their academic and personal development’. Most students go on to university and, as a result of exceptionally good specialist support, there is a strong tradition of students going to Oxbridge and medical schools.

Boarders have the opportunity to join the school’s CCF and Duke of Edinburgh programmes as well as having access to a significant range of sporting and arts clubs and societies. Furthermore, a number of students interested in teaching as a career will gain entry on to the Teacher Bursary Scheme.

A unique feature of the boarding provision is that students spend part of their induction period at The Priory’s own residential centre in Normandy, which is a wonderful opportunity to meet with their Head and Assistant Head of Boarding, as well as other Priory staff, in an informal and supportive environment. In addition to this, all boarding students are given the opportunity to spend the Easter holidays on a scuba diving course in Bali.

The decision to offer boarding at The Priory was an easy one. A number of students in Lincolnshire and surrounding counties travel considerable distances, on a daily basis, to access the school’s high-quality teaching and wide range of courses. Furthermore, with RAF Waddington, one of the largest bases in the country, just seven miles away, the school now has the ability to offer continuity of provision for the children of Service families who are posted away during the sixth form years. As a science specialist school, boarding is also likely to attract students with a genuine interest in careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and many other areas of science. It is also likely that, with the new sports centre, the stables and the swimming pool, the boarding house will attract students who are keen to pursue a range of extra-curricular sporting activities.

The aim of the boarding house is to prepare sixth form students for university life. Living away from home in fully equipped individual study rooms, having access to a wide range of courses, enjoying wonderful extra-curricular activities, taking opportunities to travel, and benefiting from outstanding care, guidance and support are all important factors in making the successful transition from school to university. The Priory Academy LSST is looking forward to the next exciting stage in its development.

 

 

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