The school was established in 1974 by a merger of Fylde Lodge High School, which was located in Priestnall Road, Heaton Mersey, and Stockport High School for Girls, which was located in Cale Green.

Males were allowed to study at Priestnall School from 1987.

Previously a community school administered by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council,[3] in September 2023 Priestnall School converted to academy status.

Prior to the Laurus Trust sponsoring the school the school was led by two Acting Headteachers (Mr Timothy Clarey and Mr Robert Jones), this was for the period April 2023 to September 2023.

[5] They are all named after Manchester landmarks – the Bridgewater Hall, the Imperial War Museum, the Urbis Building, the John Rylands Library, and Victoria Baths.