- Milking Bank Primary School
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Milking Bank Primary School Type Community School Location Aintree Way
Milking Bank
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 2SL
EnglandLocal authority Dudley DfE URN 103834 Gender Coeducational Ages 3–11 Website milkingbank.com Coordinates: 52°30′56″N 2°06′46″W / 52.51546°N 2.11271°W
Milking Bank is a state primary school in the West Midlands of England. It is located in the Milking Bank area of Dudley, being situated in the west of the town towards the border with Sedgley. Operating a two-form entry system, it caters for boys and girls aged 3–11. With approximately 480 pupils on its roll, including around 60 three- and four-year-olds in its onsite Nursery Unit, the school is larger-than-average for a UK primary school.
Background
The school is in the centre of the Milking Bank estate, a large private housing development which began in 1984 and was mostly completed within five years, although a few additions were made in the late 1990s.
Shortly after the construction of the new estate began, plans were unveiled for a new school and construction began during 1988.
Opened in 1989, the majority of the school's intake is drawn from the surrounding area. As a result of the low-unemployment figures for the area, few pupils are eligible for free school meals. Approximately 12% of pupils are from minority ethnic groups with OfSTED praising the "harmonious mixing" of pupils from minority backgrounds as "evidence of the way that pupils are being prepared for citizenship in today’s society".
The school's logo depicts a cartoon cow sitting atop a grass mound, a play on the words "Milking Bank".
Milking Bank Primary was founded in September 1989, but the new school buildings were not ready for use at this time, and until 27 November 1989 the school was based in mobile classrooms some two miles away at Straits Primary School.
Bert Bissell officially opened the new school on 6 November 1990.
The school briefly catered for 12 year olds, but from the beginning of the 1990/91 academic year the local authority reduced the primary school leaving age to 11.
Education and management
OfSTED praised the school's management both for its effectiveness in key areas, and for its shared, "clear vision" of how to further improve the school. The headteacher, Richard Mason, is part of a Senior Management Team comprising the Board of Governors, a Deputy Headteacher and an Assistant Headteacher. The Board of Governors is led by Andrew Cook. Mr Mason "leads the school well", is aided by governors who "play their part well", and is "ably supported by other members of the leadership team", says OfSTED. The active involvement of parents is also identified as a strength.
Academically, Milking Bank's pupils achieve above average standards in English, Maths and Science at both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. OfSTED praises the school's overall standards, and pupils' progress, in the following terms:
“ Standards have been improving and have been above average for the last few years. On joining the school in the nursery, most children have levels of skills and knowledge normally expected at this age. They make good progress in the nursery and reception classes to exceed the levels expected by the end of reception. This progress continues in Years 1 and 2 and by the end of Year 2, standards are well above average in reading, writing and mathematics. Standards were above average by the end of Year 6 in English, mathematics and science in 2004. ” Additionally, OfSTED rates the school as "good" in every category considered.
OfSTED summarizes its findings thus: "a good school where the pupils make good progress."
External links
Categories:- Primary schools in the West Midlands (county)
- Schools in Dudley
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