Samuel Whitbread Academy

Type Secondary / Academy converter
Age Range 13-18
Religion Unknown
Address Shefford Road
Clifton
Shefford
Bedfordshire
SG17 5QS
Phone 01462629900
Reference Number 137948

Samuel Whitbread Academy continues to maintain a good standard of education, with pupils expressing happiness and pride in their school environment. The academy offers a diverse curriculum, which students appreciate, including opportunities in both academic and extracurricular activities. There is strong support for pupils, including those with special educational needs, and a commitment to ensuring all students, including sixth formers, are encouraged to reach their potential. However, the school acknowledges the need to address some inconsistencies in teaching quality across certain subjects, which can hinder pupil learning.

General Makeup

Number of pupils 1660
Boy/Girl ratio Boys: 53.49%
Girls: 46.51%
Percentage of students eligible for free school meals 12.4%
Percentage of students where English is not their first language 2.5%

Class Sizes

Average size of one teacher classes 22.4

Year Groups

Year Boys Girls Total
9 216 182 398
10 218 183 401
11 193 205 398
12 139 102 241
13 122 100 222

Ethnicities

Ethnicity Percentage
White, British 84.2%
Mixed, Other 3.2%
White, Other 3%
White & Asian 2.3%
White & Black (Caribbean) 2.2%
White & Black (African) 1.4%
Asian, Other 1.1%
Unclassified 0.9%
African 0.2%
Indian 0.1%
Irish 0.1%
Caribbean 0.1%

Overall Ofsted Rating Good
Last Report Date 02 Mar 2023
Date Report
02 Mar 2023 School inspection
31 Oct 2017 Full inspection:
15 May 2014 Full inspection:
12 Dec 2012 Monitoring visit
02 Oct 2012 Full inspection:
10 Aug 2012 Academy conversion letter
01 Feb 2012 Curriculum and development visit
Previously as Samuel Whitbread Community College
01 Feb 2012 Curriculum and development visit
03 Feb 2010 Full inspection:
03 Feb 2010 Full inspection:
10 Nov 2008 Curriculum and development visit
10 Nov 2008 Curriculum and development visit
13 Nov 2006 Full inspection:
13 Nov 2006 Full inspection:
19 Mar 2001 Full inspection
19 Mar 2001 Full inspection

Strengths

  • Pupils are happy and feel safe at school.
  • Strong commitment to sporting and artistic opportunities.
  • High expectations set by leaders and teachers for all pupils.
  • Ambitious curriculum for pupils with special educational needs.
  • Effective strategies in place to support pupils with reading.
  • Positive behaviour observed in lessons and around the school.

Areas for Improvement

  • Inconsistent quality of teaching in a small number of subjects.
  • Teachers do not regularly check pupils' understanding or address misconceptions, leading to learning challenges.

Points

Points Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Average Points 35.76
Average Points (best 3) 37.39

Grades

School Local Nationwide
Average Grade B- C C+
Average Grade (best 3) B- C+ C+
Percentage Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Students getting AAB or better 18.8%
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2025 Admissions

Number of Applications Number of Offers
First Preference
Second Preference 32 2
Third Preference 15 0
From another Local Authority 0 0

Previous Years

Sample

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Destinations after GCSE's

Staying in Education
 >  Further Education
 >  School Sixth Form
 >  Sixth Form College
 >  Other Education
Apprenticeships
Employment
Not in education or employment
Unknown

Name Distance
Clifton All Saints Academy
Church Street, Clifton, Near Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5ES
0.7 miles
Robert Bloomfield Academy
Bloomfield Drive, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5BU
0.99 miles
Shefford Lower School
School Lane, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5XA
1.05 miles
Raynsford Church of England Academy
Park Lane, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6AT
1.48 miles
Campton Academy
Rectory Road, Campton, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5PF
1.69 miles
Derwent Primary School
Hitchin Road, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6BA
1.97 miles
Southill Lower School
School Lane, Southill, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9JA
1.99 miles
Meppershall Church of England Academy
107 High Street, Meppershall, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5LZ
2 miles
Stondon Lower School
Hillside Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6LQ
2.42 miles
Langford Village Academy
Church Street, Langford, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9QA
2.58 miles
Gothic Mede Academy
High Street, Arlesey, Bedfordshire, SG15 6SL
2.96 miles
Gravenhurst Academy
High Street, Gravenhurst, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HY
3.28 miles
Shillington Lower School
Greenfields, Shillington, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3NX
3.38 miles
Haynes Lower School
Foresters Close, Haynes, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK45 3PR
3.86 miles
Fairfield Park Lower School
Dickens Boulevard, Fairfield Park, Hertfordshire, SG5 4FD
4.03 miles
St Mary's VA CofE Lower School
High Street, Clophill, Bedfordshire, MK45 4BE
4.06 miles
Biggleswade Academy
Mead End, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JU
4.08 miles
Roecroft Lower School
Buttercup Road, Stotfold, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 4PF
4.21 miles
St Mary's CofE Academy Stotfold
Rook Tree Lane, Stotfold, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 4DL
4.29 miles
Caldecote Church of England Academy
Manor Place, Upper Caldecote, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9DA
4.29 miles
Name Distance
Henlow Church of England Academy
Church Road, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6AN
1.59 miles
Etonbury Academy
Stotfold Road, Arlesey, Bedfordshire, SG15 6XS
3.3 miles
Pix Brook Academy
Arlesey Road, Stotfold, SG5 4HB
3.84 miles
Esland Bedford School
Unit 54, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HS
4.31 miles
Stratton School
Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JB
4.5 miles
Ivel Valley School & College
Hitchmead Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 0NL
4.67 miles
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