'We know the children well' - Inside a small Walsall primary school with a big heart

Abbey Primary School has been serving the Mossley area of Bloxwich for the past six decades.

Headteacher Mark Gilbert has worked at the school since 2008 and said staff know the needs and interests of its 229 pupils really well.

He explained: "Because we are part of our community and we do really serve the Mossley estate only, our parents most of the time know each other really well.

"As children come through the school, we do involve the community. We have the vicar from the local church come into school, we did a litter pick with Walsall Council a few weeks ago.

"I do think it is important that we are quite small, we know the children well and we are part of what we are trying to do on the Mossley estate in serving the children in the area.

"We know the children well - we know their needs and their interests. I think you perhaps miss out on that in a bigger school where you have three classes in a year group."

The headteacher said he is now seeing former pupils bring their own children to the school which he described as a "real strength".

"We are lucky that we have a history as part of the Mossley estate being built more than 60 years ago and we still have contact of a previous headteacher who has shared her experiences of when she was here.

"There are actually teachers here who have been here for 30 to 35 years as well, so there is that rich experience", Mr Gilbert said.

Over the years, there have been many changes at the school not only to its facilities, but also to its curriculum.

Mr Gilbert told the Express & Star: "What is important is that we educate and have a curriculum that is fit for purpose for the children and that is a core thing we have in place.

"That curriculum has evolved as well and it changes all the time. We have a separate music provision, we have sport coaches come in, so we really adapt and change. 

"We try to make sure the children's experiences are quite broad. Some children don't leave Bloxwich or don't go past Walsall so we provide trips and experiences as well."

Just over 18 months ago, the school changed how it approaches break times through a programme called 'Opal' (outdoor play and learning).

With the help of regular donations of items from the community, it has transformed its outdoor space, making use of materials such as tyres and old bed sheets to create a space where pupils from all year groups can play alongside one and other.

"We do an assembly around every fortnight we make sure the children understand the rules that are in place to keep everybody safe. 

"It has helped reduced behaviour incidents at lunchtime and I think the pupils' wellbeing and conversations with each other have improved", Mr Gilbert said.

The school has recently been praised for its work to improve the wellbeing of youngsters, having received a silver accreditation as part of the 'my happy mind' programme. 

As part of this, staff deliver weekly lessons to pupils which centre around wellbeing, such as teaching them how to regulate and understand their emotions.

Mr Gilbert, who lives in Staffordshire, said he is "proud" to be headteacher at the school, a role he was appointed to in 2014.

He added: "I have a drive to continue to improve what we are doing. We have children who do come from quite a deprived background sometimes and I think that drives you on to try to do the best that you can for the children we have in the school.

"Every day is different, so that can be interesting and we try to do our best all the time and I think that's the key thing I say to my staff and the children - we say to try to be the best they can be as well.

"That is the aim really for children and staff within the school. Over the time I have been here I think we have become more nurturing and more understanding of pupils' needs and trying to take that on board with all staff as well."