Students, teachers and the whole school community at Priory School were delighted to welcome Portsmouth South MP and former student, Stephen Morgan, to the launch of their Alumni Programme this week.
As part of Parliament Week, Stephen visited the school to officially launch the scheme and speak with a number of the Academically More Able (AMA) students.
Priory School has a proud and strong school community, and the Priory Alumni Programme aims to foster lasting relationships with past students and by example, motivate and inspire current students to succeed.
Following Mr Morgan’s speech, which encouraged students to be inspired by his guiding mantra, “Dream Big”, students had the opportunity to ask him about his role and responsibilities, as well as sharing some of their ideas for making the city of Portsmouth a better place.
Prior to becoming the school’s local MP in June of this year, Mr Morgan was a former student at Priory School, and spoke to the students about how his role as Deputy Head Boy was a stepping stone into his current career as a politician. He also discussed with students his upbringing in Fratton and his desire from a young age to make a difference.
Mr Morgan left the school in 1997 and went on to be the first in his family to attend university, studying Politics and Sociology at the University of Bristol, before doing a masters at the University of Goldsmith.
‘Old Priorians’ – which is the term the school uses to proudly describe former students – are invited to the annual prize giving ceremony and celebration assemblies, and are welcomed to attend school concerts, sports days, school plays, art events, open evenings and sporting fixtures.
Priory School also produces a newsletter every term called ‘The Priory Post’, to engage with the school community and showcase the success being achieved by both students and teachers each term. Old Priorians are often encouraged to contribute to the newsletter, giving their views on school events they have attended and or sharing articles on their profession, industry and career journeys with students.
Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP, said:
“As a former and proud Priory School student myself, I was delighted to be able to go back to the school and speak with students, as well as officially launching the Alumni programme.
It was an honour to be able to discuss with the students their vision for the city and hear how proud they were to be Priory students.”
Stewart Vaughan, Headteacher at Priory School said:
“We were really delighted to welcome Stephen Morgan to Priory School, for the launch of our Alumni Programme and as part of Parliament week. He spoke to our students so passionately about serving the city, and we were so pleased that he was able to share such fond memories of being a Priory School student himself.
Our students were really inspired by his speech and his journey – which shows what hard work and commitment as a Priory School student can achieve.”
