Lady Bankes Primary School

Our school is named after Mary, Lady Bankes (1598-1661).

Lady Bankes was born Mary Hawtry in Ruislip.  She became known as Lady Bankes when she married Sir John Bankes in 1618.  Sir John and Lady Bankes had ten children and lived in Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Sir John was the owner of the castle when the English Civil War broke out in the 1640s.  After Sir John’s death it was left to Lady Bankes to defend the castle against two sieges by Parliamentarian troops.  Lady Bankes fought the Roundheads by heaving stones and hot embers on her enemies.  Lady Bankes and her few soldiers were eventually overwhelmed in 1646, when the Parliamentarians reversed their jackets and tricked Lady Bankes into mistaking them for her fellow soldiers.

Lady Bankes survived the war, but the castle was deliberately wrecked by Cromwell’s men, and has remained in a ruined state ever since.

Lady Bankes died in 1661 and was buried in St Martin’s Church, Ruislip, where you can still see an inscription in her memory.

Lady Bankes Infant and Nursery School and Lady Bankes Junior School were originally called Ruislip Manor Council School and sited in Victoria Hall, Linden Avenue.  On 7 January 1936 it moved to its purpose-built premises in Dawlish Drive.  It was renamed in honour of Mary, Lady Bankes.  The first headteacher was Miss M. D. Christian.

From 1st September 2021 Lady Bankes Infant and Nursery School and Lady Bankes Junior School amalgamated to become Lady Bankes Primary School.

On behalf of the children, staff and governors of Lady Bankes Primary School I would like to welcome you to our website. Formally Lady Bankes Infant and Nursery School and Lady Bankes Junior School, these schools amalgamated from 1st September 2021 to create Lady Bankes Primary School. We could not be prouder that the school was graded as 'outstanding' following its Ofsted inspection on 21st and 22nd February 2024.

Lady Bankes Primary School is a three-form entry primary school set in the heart of Ruislip Manor in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The school is situated in a wonderful Grade II listed building. We currently have 618 children on roll aged from three to eleven. The school is located in a quiet road in Ruislip Manor, a short walk from the underground and bus routes.

The children and their learning are at the heart of everything that we do at Lady Bankes Primary School. Our vision is to provide a rich, varied and inclusive curriculum that harnesses every child's potential. Our school values of ambition, togetherness, opportunity, respect, curiosity and happiness (A TORCH) are woven into all the learning opportunities we provide for the children both in and out of the classroom. Everyone's contribution is valued and we have excellent relationships with different members of our school community which ensure that the school has a positive and welcoming environment. We are an extremely successful school. Our academic results for the Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two are higher that the local and national results, with some placing the school in the top 20% nationally.

We have a wide range of extra-curricular clubs, visits and opportunities for the children to take part in. We have significant sporting success with the school regularly representing Hillingdon borough at the London Youth Games in events such as basketball and athletics.

The school is served by a committed, experienced and pro-active governing body whose members execute their duties in a highly professional and supportive manner. The governors' dedication to Lady Bankes Primary School ensures strategic management and accountability at all levels.

The school's parent community- Friends of Lady Bankes School (FOLBA)- works with enthusiasm and generosity raising funds throughout the year to help support projects at Lady Bankes Primary School. This has included fundraising for items like the installation of a climbing frame in our lower playground for the children to enjoy, new picnic benches in the playground and funding mental health workshops for the children to take part in during Children's Mental Health Week (February 2024). The next project they will be helping us with is the installation of an outdoor library.

Lady Bankes Primary School is a vibrant place of learning and it is my privilege to be the school's Headteacher. I hope that you will find that this website gives you an insight into our wonderful school life.

Values

• Ambition
• Togetherness
• Opportunity
• Respect
• Curiosity
• Happiness