Milking Bank Primary School
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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:
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."
West Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located in the Milking Bank area of Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, being situated in the west of the town towards the border with Sedgley
Sedgley
Sedgley is an urban village within the West Midlands county of England. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Sedgley was formerly an ancient manor composed of several smaller villages, including Gornal, Gospel End, Woodsetton, Ettingshall, Coseley and Brierley...
. 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
Nursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
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
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
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
Bert Bissell
Bert Bissell was a mountain climber and peace campaigner.Born at Dudley, Worcestershire, in January 1902, he founded the Young Men's Bible Class at Vicar Street Methodist Church in the town in 1925...
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
OfSTEDOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
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
School governors
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, school governors are members of a school's Governing Body. In state schools they have responsibility for raising school standards through their three key roles of setting strategic direction, ensuring accountability and acting as a critical friend...
, a Deputy Headteacher and an Assistant Headteacher
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
. The Board of Governors is led by Andrew Cook. Mr Mason "leads the school well", is aided by governors
School governors
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, school governors are members of a school's Governing Body. In state schools they have responsibility for raising school standards through their three key roles of setting strategic direction, ensuring accountability and acting as a critical friend...
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
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1 is the legal term for the two years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 1 and Year 2, when pupils are aged between 5 and 7. This Key Stage normally covers pupils during infant school, although in some cases this might form part of a first or...
and Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
. OfSTED praises the school's overall standards, and pupils' progress, in the following terms:
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."