Cotwall End Primary School

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Cotwall End Primary School is a primary school for boys and girls in Sedgley, West Midlands. It serves children of ages 5 through 11. As of 2005 there are around 450 pupils and the current (as of 2006) headteacher is Mrs. Nicole Anderton.

1 History
2 Timeline
3 Academics
4 Extracurricular activities
5 Further reading
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

Cotwall End was opened in 1962 as an infant and junior school. In 1971, following the completion of a new infants school building, Cotwall End became a two-form entry school with a First School and a Middle School. The two schools merged in 1981 to form a single primary school. The school had a nursery unit which was built during the 1960s, but became part of the junior school in 1975 when Dudley MBC increased the area's primary school leaving age from 11 to 12. When the primary school leaving age was reverted to 11 in 1990, the building was used by a local playgroup. The playgroup disbanded in December 2000 and the building was demolished the following year. Perhaps the best-known person connected to Cotwall End is Mr Ken Thomas, who was appointed head teacher in September 1977 and remained in his post until he retired in April 2003. He was a successful leader and a popular, well-respected figure in the local community, who brought the best out of many pupils and teachers.

Five teachers who worked under Mr Thomas went on to be head teachers at other schools; these were deputy head teachers Mr Eric Tibble, Mr David Cox, Mr Adrian Slack and Mr Leonard Hazelhurst, and class teacher Mrs Ann Mason.

There has been an almost total staff turnover at Cotwall End since 1996, with just three teachers on the payroll having been there 10 or more years.

[edit] Timeline

September 1962: Cotwall End Infant and Junior Schools opened within one building as one-form entry.

September 1971: Cotwall End becomes two-form entry following the opening of an infant school.

September 1975: Cotwall End gains two extra junior classes following the local authority's decision to rise the primary school leaving age from 11 to 12; the school's oldest pupils are taught in the former nursery school building on the junior school playground.

December 1977: Mr Clifford Whitehouse retires as head teacher and is replaced by Mr Ken Thomas.

September 1981: Cotwall End merges into a single primary school.

September 1990: The local authority lowers the primary school leaving age from 12 to 11, and the redundant two classrooms become part of a local playgroup.

April 1999: A new school library is opened in the junior school.

September 2000: A new nursery unit is constructed in the infant school.

April 2001: Two former classrooms on the junior school playground are demolished.

April 2003: Mr Ken Thomas retires after 26 years as head teacher and is replaced by Mrs Nicole Anderton.

October 2004: Two new "annexe" classrooms are added to the junior school.

June 2005: Mrs Diane Morgan, former infant school teacher, dies of cancer aged 66.

October 2006: OFSTED removes the "notice to improve" on Cotwall End and praises its rising standards.

[edit] Academics

The school has a fairly broad curriculum, including English, mathematics, science, geography, history, information technology, physical education, music (including instrumental music), and religious education.

In 2005, an OFSTED inspection of the school found that the overall effectiveness of the school, and in particular progress in in English, mathematics, and science was inadequate, particularly in Years 3 through 6. The school was given a Notice to Improve. The school's strengths include physical education, art, and music.

The school regularly comes in the upper section of the Dudley borough's Key Stage 2 SATs league tables.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

The school operates several extracurricular activities. These include sports such as football, basketball, and cross-country running, and musical activities like orchestra and choir. There is also an after school club.

[edit] Further reading

A C Jolly (2000-04-06). Cotwall End Primary School (PDF). Ofsted.
Cotwall End Primary School. The Good Schools Guide. Lucas Publications Limited. — 5 year test performance data for the school
"Corner of paradise in Cotwell End", This Is The Black Country, 2005-06-02.