Samuel Whitbread Academy

For other uses, see Whitbread (disambiguation).
Samuel Whitbread Academy
Type Academy
Principal Mr Robert Robson
Location Shefford Road, Clifton
Shefford
Bedfordshire
SG17 5QS
England
Coordinates: 52°02′13″N 0°19′06″W / 52.03682°N 0.31835°W / 52.03682; -0.31835
DfE number 823/4079
DfE URN 137948 Tables
Ofsted Reports Pre-academy reports
Students 1851
Gender Co-educational
Ages 13–18
Colours Blue, Green Red Purple turquoise
Website Samuel Whitbread Academy

Samuel Whitbread Academy is an upper school and sixth form with academy status serving the rural communities around the small market town of Shefford in Central Bedfordshire. Its school campus includes a nursery school and facilities for adult education.

History

1970s

Originally designated Shefford & District Upper School, it was as Samuel Whitbread Upper School that it opened on a purpose-built site on 4 September 1973, as part of Bedfordshire County Council's re-organisation into a 3-tier, non-selective school system. Adult education provision was in place from the beginning under Mr Gordon Ainscough, but the name of the institution was not changed to Samuel Whitbread Upper School and Community College until 1975 (when the 'Headmaster' became the 'Head') and it became Samuel Whitbread Community College, (led by a 'Principal') at some point in the late 90s.

The Headmaster, when the school opened, was Mr Kenneth Dodsworth, and the Chairman of Governors was Alderman W. Inskip.

The original intention was for the school to have an eventual roll of 1100, drawn from the existing secondary modern schools Robert Bloomfield and Etonbury, which were to become middle schools, and from 1975, a planned purpose-built Henlow Middle School.

There were 457 pupils when the school was opened: 249 in what was then the '3rd Year' (now known as Year 9) from the Robert Bloomfield and Etonbury Schools; 94 in the '4th Year' (Year 10) and 117 in the 5th Year (Year 11) who were from Robert Bloomfield only. A vestigial 6th Form of 5 former Robert Bloomfield pupils was enrolled, although 6th form courses were not yet in place.

Thirty teachers were employed in September 1973, the last of whom retired in 2007. At that time there were 25 support staff, including 8 cleaners and 9 kitchen assistants.

21st century

The site was extensively updated to provide new facilities and space for school departments as part of a Private Finance Initiative with the companies Bilfinger Berger, Galliford Try, Gensler and Helaba. The site is owned by Bilfinger Berger and maintained by Galliford Try Facilities Management. The new buildings were officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 17 November 2006.

On 1 March 2012, the school officially became an academy and was renamed Samuel Whitbread Academy. Previously the school had been a specialist Engineering College.

Samuel Whitbread's current Principal is Mr. Robert Robson.

Catchment area

The catchment area is bounded by the parishes of Arlesey, Stotfold, Stondon, Shillington, Campton, Chicksands, Haynes, Southill Stanford, Broom, Langford and Meppershall.

Hall System

To help with managing the large number of students, the school employs a House system, whereby students are separated into five "houses" with which they are permanently associated.

The five Houses are:

They are named after Victoria Pendleton, Ralph Endersby Harwood, Lord Olivier, Ben Whishaw and Frank Whittle. All of whom have a historical connection to Clifton, Shefford.

These houses are used to simplify lesson planning and other activities within school. Sporting events will often be organised in "houses" culminating in the 'SWA House Olympics' at the end of the year.

Harwood are the current house champions for Academic Year 2014-15.

Notable former pupils

Notes and references

External links

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