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A WELCOME ON BEHALF OF THE PUPILS OF PRIESTHORPE SCHOOL Hello, and welcome to the Priesthorpe School Web Site. We hope this site will provide you with an understanding of what makes Priesthorpe so unique. As three sixth-formers, we have spent five years at Priesthorpe. We feel that our time here has changed us as people and helped us to form our own opinions and views on the world. On our first day at school, it seemed a daunting and fearsome place. The uniforms felt starchy, our shirts were tucked in and our shoes polished. As the years progressed, and our personalities developed, we gained the confidence to build new friends and relationships with other pupils and teachers alike. Our years at school have provided us with many fond memories, not least of which is the day that the school field was invaded by wild horses! As they roamed free on the rugby pitches, chaos reigned for the excited schoolgoers, who were acting as though they had never seen a horse before. Well, we hadn't - at least not that far up the school drive! There is certainly rarely a dull moment at Priesthorpe. A school wouldn't be a school without...teachers, all of whom have their own distinct teaching styles. Although some of them may look a little strange, the majority are friendly lifeforms. They are welcoming and will do everything they can to make students' transition from primary to secondary school as smooth as possible. Although the idea of a new school may seem scary at first, the staff provide a warm and friendly atmosphere into which you will be welcomed, whether as a new student, a parent or a visitor. For pupils, the time spent at school will be a challenge but, with the right attitude, both pastoral and academic success is ensured. The students of the school come from a wide variety of social and ethnic backgrounds. The school promotes an anti-bullying policy, and is strongly against racism. The majority of the student body coexists in harmony. There are a number of extra-curricular activities which students can enjoy, including sports, music, science and drama. There are also a number of homework clubs which can help people catch up on their work, or simply offer a helping hand to students who are struggling. Revision classes are added as exams draw near. All students have access to the excellent facilities of the school's computer network. Access to these facilities is excellent, and extremely secure, with all pupils being given a username and password, to ensure that no-one who is unauthorised has access to anyone else's work. The computer network is equipped with Windows XP and allows safe and secure internet access, which helps students with the research and information-gathering they will be required to do. The amount of homework students are required to undertake is very reasonable, and there is a great deal of support for any students who do begin to struggle. The school's pastoral system is extremely well-organised with consideration of, and care for, the emotional needs of all the students a high priority. There are a number of links between the Sixth Form and the lower years. Many Sixth Formers provide individual help, mentoring pupils in Years 10 and 11, in order to help them through the preparations for their upcoming GCSEs. Others help pupils in Key Stage 3 with their reading skills. The level of support available to pupils is most certainly not overwhelming, however, and pupils are able to choose the right amount of assistance to suit them. The school building itself may look daunting at first, but after just few days, pupils will know their way around like the back of their hand. All pupils are given a map of the school which makes it easy to find the way around the various floors and corridors. The pupils in the school are also friendly, and can help out anyone who is lost. The uniform is smart and simple and communicates the school's message of intelligence, integrity and community. The school's news is conveyed simply through a daily bulletin, read out at the beginning of every school day by each form tutor. There are also weekly assemblies, for a different year group each day. These are usually 'hosted' by the Head of Year, and feature a number of important messages for students. The whole year group is able to receive the relevant information. This system will no doubt be familiar to most pupils, but assemblies at Priesthorpe are far more current affairs-based than those given at primary schools. Without wanting to sound repetitive, ours really is a school with great facilities, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where students can progress academically, socially and pastorally. We are proud to say that we are pupils of Priesthorpe School. Ian Hague, Claire Smith and David Bentley (Year 12, 2002 ~2003),
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