Millfield Primary School

Millfield Primary School is a good school where pupils are happy, safe and well cared for. Inspectors found high expectations for behaviour and achievement, an ambitious curriculum that builds knowledge from early years, and strong teaching in reading and phonics. The school's personal development programme is a particular strength, with pupils benefiting from trips, clubs, outdoor learning, sports and opportunities to take responsibility. SEND support is identified quickly and parents are highly positive about it, while safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school is part of the Cadmus Family of Schools Federation and this was its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic. All key judgements were good, and the previous inspection grade was also good. Governors and the federation understand the school well, provide effective support and challenge, and staff are positive about leadership and professional development. Two areas need further work. Handwriting teaching is not consistently securing efficient pencil grip and correct letter formation, which can slow some pupils' writing fluency. Attendance is improving, but persistent absence remains too high for a significant minority of pupils, meaning they miss important learning and opportunities.

Strengths

• Ambitious curriculum builds and deepens knowledge securely over time
• Skilled early years staff develop children's vocabulary through regular talk
• Teachers have good subject knowledge and adapt learning to pupils' needs
• SEND is identified quickly and effective support helps pupils achieve well
• Phonics teaching is expert, with effective support for pupils who need to catch up
• Pupils behave well and the school is calm and orderly
• Personal development programme is a strength, promoting inclusion and British values
• Pupils benefit from a rich range of trips, clubs, outdoor learning and sports
• Pupils take on responsible roles and contribute to the community
• Governors and the federation provide effective challenge and support
• Staff are positive about leadership, workload and professional development
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Handwriting teaching is inconsistent, sometimes failing to secure efficient pencil grip and correct letter formation
• Persistent absenteeism remains too high for a significant minority of pupils despite improving attendance

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Millfield Primary School attended 94.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 19.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.9% of pupils at Millfield Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Millfield Primary School had 18.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 19.4% of pupils at Millfield Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Millfield Primary School received £7,707 and spent £7,778 for each of its 213 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £125,000 (£588 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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What is Millfield Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Millfield Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Millfield Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Millfield Primary School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Millfield Primary School have?

Millfield Primary School has 217 pupils on roll.

What age range does Millfield Primary School cover?

Millfield Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Millfield Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Millfield Primary School?

Millfield Primary School is at Catshill Road, Brownhills, Walsall, West Midlands, WS8 6BN.