Priory School is a secondary school in Southsea, Hampshire, England. It is situated in the northern area of Southsea bordering Fratton, and lies close to Fratton railway station on the A2047. Stewart Vaughan is the Headteacher at the school. Priory school is an academy and part of the Bohunt Education Trust.

History

The current site was originally purchased by the Portsmouth School Board in May 1890 for £3000, at the time the area was known as "The Wilderness" due to the lack of development activity. On the site were several buildings in a heavy state of disrepair, among the buildings were Howard's Cottage reputedly the oldest building in Portsmouth and home to the ghost of Lady Temple.

The construction of the school cost £9,704 and took two years, the buildings were completed in May 1892. Later extensions of the school site led it to cover the site of an old priory and a farm called Priory Farm.

During the 1920s the school became heavily over-crowded and an extension to the girls school was completed in 1934.

Notable former pupils

  • Prof Jim Al-Khalili OBE, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Surrey
  • Ben Close, professional footballer who plays for Doncaster Rovers FC
  • Ola Labib, comedian
  • Tommy Leigh, professional footballer who plays for Accrington Stanley FC
  • Stephen Morgan, MP For Portsmouth South
  • Dan Nlundulu, professional footballer who plays for Southampton FC
  • Jake Thomson, former professional footballer

Portsmouth Southern Grammar School for Girls

  • Marilyn Cole, January 1972 Playmate of the Month, and Playmate of the Year 1973

Notable former teachers

  • Mary James (educator), 1970-4 (at the girls' school)

References

Further reading

  • Brian L Davies, A Short History Of Priory School (Southsea) (1997)
  • Priory School
  • EduBase
  • History of the school
  • Ofsted: Priory School (Specialist Sports College)