Milking Bank Primary School
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Milking Bank is a state primary school located in and serving the Milking Bank estate on the outskirts of Dudley, West Midlands. 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.
[edit] Background
The school is in the centre of the Milking Bank estate, a large private housing development built between the 1990s and 2000s. 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".
[edit] 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. 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."
