Milking Bank Primary School

Milking Bank is a state primary school located in and serving a residential suburb on the outskirts of Dudley, West Midlands. Operating a two-form entry system, it caters for boys and girls aged three to 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 occupies a prominent position at the centre of the Milking Bank estate, a large private housing development built between the 1980s and 2000s. Opened in 1989, the majority of the school's intake is drawn from this low-unemployment surrounding area. As such, 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 ethos is summed up in its slogan: "To go further than I thought; To run faster than I hoped; To reach higher than I dreamed." The school's logo depicts a friendly cartoon cow sitting atop a grass mound, a play on the words "Milking Bank". Contary to popular mythology about the origins of the logo design, the marked similarities between the Milking Bank cow and a diminutive member of the SMT are wholly coincidental.

Education and Management

OfSTED praises 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. 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. Pupils' personal development and well-being are given due prominence alongside the quality of Curriculum provision.

OfSTED summarizes its findings thus: "a good school where the pupils make good progress."

Further information

1. The school's official website contains up-to-date news and showcase pupils' work.
2. OfSTED report.