St Augustine's Priory, Ealing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Augustine's Priory School |
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Hillcrest Road
, W5 2JL
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| Type | Independent day school |
| Motto | Veritas (Truth) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1634 |
| Local authority | Ealing |
| Department for Education URN | 101946 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Headteacher | Mrs S. Raffray |
| Gender | Girls Coeducational (Nursery) |
| Age | 3 to 18 |
| Enrolment | ~500 |
| Houses | St Michael St George St Raphael St Gabriel |
| Colour(s) | Blue & Turquoise |
| Former pupils | Old Augustinians |
| Website | http://www.sapriory.com |
St Augustine's Priory School is a private Catholic school for girls. It is located in the London Borough of Ealing, England. Nuns from a priory first started and ran the school. Since 1996, a lay headteacher has led the school.
The school has different sections for various age groups. These include Nursery (ages 3-4), Prep (ages 4-7), Junior (ages 7-11), and Senior (ages 11-18). Girls of all faiths are welcome to attend. In 2014, the school was among the top three best-performing GCSE schools in Ealing.
Contents
A Look Back: The School's Journey
The school's story began in 1631. A nun named Lettice Mary Tredway helped create a community of nuns in Paris. These nuns were called Canonesses Regular of the Lateran. They opened a school in 1634. This school was for English students. These students were escaping the persecution of Catholics in their home country.
The priory and school stayed in Paris for many years. However, the nuns had to leave France. This happened when the French Revolution began. They found safety back in England. There, they restarted their religious community and the school. They gave it the name it has today.
The priory moved to Ealing in 1910. It was first on Castlebar Road. Then, in 1915, it moved to its current location on Hillcrest Road. During the fight for women's right to vote, a school leader supported the cause. Mother Mary Frances, who was a headmistress, took part in protests.
World War II was a challenging time for London. The city was bombed during the Battle of Britain. But the school kept going. When air raid sirens sounded, the nuns would take the girls to the cellars. They would continue their lessons there.
Today, the priory is only the school. It is run by staff who are not nuns. The nuns decided to dissolve their community in 1996. This was because their numbers were small, and they were getting older. They joined other communities of their Order. The school still keeps its Catholic values. It works closely with the local Catholic church. It also has ties to Ealing Abbey, where the school's carol concert is held each December.
Exploring the School Grounds
The school is set on 13 acres of land. It is next to Hanger Lane. The grounds include a wild flower meadow and an orchard. There is also a Prep meadow and two netball courts. You can find a rose garden and a croquet lawn. A large playing field and an all-weather AstroTurf pitch are also on site.
School Facilities and Learning Spaces
The priory chapel is used every day. It hosts school assemblies, masses, and music performances. A new science block has modern science labs. It also has a drama studio. There is a music and drama room for younger students. The Sixth Form area is very popular. It has its own balcony with views of the North Downs. It also has its own kitchen.
Notable Former Students
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge (born 1985) — an actress, writer, and director for stage and TV.
- Hannah Kendall (born 1984) — a composer.
