O P P O R T U N I T Y • A C H I E V E M E N T • E X C E L L E N C E PROSPECTUS 2025
1 6 16 19 20 7 11 3 2 8 22 4 5 17 14 15 18 21 12 10 9 13 We offer an exceptional academic and extracurricular experience at Samuel Whitbread Academy in an outstanding learning environment where students are expected to work hard, achieve and excel. In our last Ofsted inspection, we were judged as ‘Good’ (March 2023) with many outstanding features and have set ourselves the target of being the best school we can be in every category over the next few years! Our GCSE and A Level results are consistently amongst the very best in the local authority. We offer a well-balanced curriculum with plenty of choice to prepare our students for the next stage in their lives. Most of our students continue on to the Sixth Form, which is one of the largest and highest performing in the area - providing students with a wide range of courses designed to match the expectations of universities and employers. Extracurricular opportunity is a vital part of our ethos and we expect all of our students to get involved in at least one club or activity. There are a huge number of opportunities ranging from highly competitive sports teams to spectacular drama, dance and musical performances. Our pastoral care is exceptional and we have dedicated pastoral support teams for each year group. The academy is also divided into five houses, named after people who have made a distinctive contribution to our community, the country or the world. These provide the framework for the multitude of different competitions, celebrations and charity events that bring our school community together throughout the year. If you would like a tour around the school, please contact reception on 01462 629900. Nick Martin - Principal BSc, MA, PGCE, NPQH, NPQEL 1 1 Main Entrance to Reception 2 English, Film, MFL and Science Block 3 Tennis and Netball Courts 4 Business, ICT, PE and Science Block 5 Art, Music, Drama and Dance Block 6 Sports Hall 7 PerformingArts and Main Hall 8 Gym 9 S ixth Form Centre, Blues Cafe and Health & Social Care 10 A ctivity Hall andTheatre 11 History, Philosphy, Religion & Ethics Block 12 The Street and Food Bar 13 Pastoral Support 14 Athletics, Rugby and Football Pitches 15 Library and Learning Resource Centre 16 DT & Food Block and Pitstop Cafe 17 Main Canteen 18 Sociology and Psychology Block 19 Learning Support and Provision 20 Geography and Maths Block 21 1st Football and Rugby Pitches 22 Memorial Garden OUR SCHOOL SAMUELWHITBREADACADEMY is proud to be a founder member of the Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST). BEST is a growing multi-academy trust which provides exceptional education to 7,500 children across its community of schools and nurseries.While we are all unique, we share a core belief of the importance of high expectations, hard work and community-based provision. The BEST Education Services and School Improvement Team supports us to develop our curriculum, while our staff all have access to an extensive range of free or subsidised training courses and CPD opportunities. Find out more about BEST at www.bestacademies.org.uk OUR SCHOOL WELCOME 1
ACHIEVEMENT AND STANDARDS 3 ACADEMIC SUCCESS The GCSE results at Samuel Whitbread have consistently been above the national average for the last nine years. In English and mathematics, over 70% of students gained a 4 or above, with over 50% achieving a 5 or above. In 18 different subjects, over 70% of students achieved a grade 4 or above, with similar impressive results in the BTECs subjects, making us one of the top performing schools in the Local Authority. The results at KS5 were equally impressive and some of the highest in the Local Authority, with 83% of grades A*-C or equivalent and 30% A*/A or equivalent. In the last few years, students have also secured apprenticeships at companies such as Airbus Space, Red Bull and Lockheed Martin, as well as securing places at some of the top Russell Group Universities including Oxbridge. RAISING ASPIRATIONS This year we are leading a project, involving schools from all across the county, which aims to increase the aspirations of Sixth Form students in our schools. The project is sponsored by the Connolly Foundation and our partner universities include: Oxford, Cambridge, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and MK:U.We are also working with several local and national companies such as Network Rail and Santander. The pupils are happy at this school. OFSTED 2023 ‘‘ ‘‘ PROMOTING ACHIEVEMENT We have high expectations of all our students and we believe every child has talents that can be nurtured with the right support and encouragement. The size and success of Samuel Whitbread means that we can continue to offer a balanced and modern curriculum which is second to none. An incredible array of educational visits and guest speakers also helps to enhance the learning experience. 3 2
5 The buildings and facilities at Samuel Whitbread are outstanding. They provide our students and staff with a fantastic environment in which to learn and work. In addition to well-equipped classrooms, we have a number of specialist facilities designed for ‘A’ Level standard work - that are also used by younger age groups. We have a spacious and well stocked library which is open to everyone, as well as several independent study rooms and a large study centre for our Sixth Form students. For engineering and design technology we have a number of workshops with specialist equipment such as laser cutters and 3D printers. We have 14 science laboratories which are supported by a well-stocked science prep room and a dedicated team of technicians, as well as 11 specialist computer suites. Art and textiles students benefit from a suite of rooms with a range of equipment including Apple computers for design and a kiln for pottery and ceramic work. 4 Members of the school community are proud of the school’s involment in Sport and the Arts. OFSTED 2023 ‘‘ ‘‘ Our drama and dance students use the theatre, three drama studios and a dance studiowith sprung floors, lighting,mirrors and sound equipment. Students studying music or film have access to a recording studio and use digital recording kit with high powered editing equipment and the latest industry standard software. Physical Education and sport have a number of recently refurbished courts, a large sports hall (with its own viewing gallery), extensive grounds and pitches that are second to none, as well as a gym and activities studio! FACILITIES AND RESOURCES 5 4
At Samuel Whitbread Academy we strive to develop healthy, resilient and independent learners, who read confidently for both learning and pleasure, and who actively participate in culturally enriching and diverse experiences. CURRICULUM INTENT Students are regularly assessed and given feedback using a variety of methods in all of their subjects. Both progress and attitude to learning are systematically tracked, monitored and analysed. This information is communicated throughout the year to both students and parents through Interim Progress Checks which outline key strengths and areas for improvement in all examination subjects. We strive for every student to meet their academic and personal potential regardless of gender, race, culture or ability. We want all students to experience success and to nurture their resilience to ensure they become independent learners who are prepared for life-long learning. We do so through a diverse and stimulating curriculum that allows both choice and challenge. 7 6
Year 9 (Key Stage 3) Students at Samuel Whitbread Academy follow a broad and balanced Key Stage 3 curriculum, carefully blended to ensure academic progress, as well as providing opportunities to experience the option subjects available to students in Year 10. Years 10-11 (Key Stage 4) Our Key Stage 4 curriculum includes 27 options and is designed to strike a balance between ensuring students study a wide range of subjects, whilst enabling them to develop their own personal interests. We have taken great care to ensure the offer at Key Stage 4 reflects the ever changing national picture, where GCSEs have undergone fundamental reform. It also ensures that the academy offers every student the opportunity to study the full English Baccalaureate. KEY STAGE 3 & 4 I think this school is brilliant. It has great members of staff who want the best for you. The school has a fantastic reputation and amazing facilities. It is an excellent school and I am proud to come here! YEAR 9 STUDENT ‘‘ ‘‘ 9 8
Leaders and teachers have high expectations for pupils in the Sixth Form. OFSTED 2023 Post 16 The size of the Sixth Form at Samuel Whitbread means our curriculum offer at Post 16 is second to none and includes 38 different courses. Following the government reforms to A Levels, we recommend that students study three courses, with the exception of some of the most able students and students taking Further Maths who often take four. Alongside these opportunities we offer a range of extra-curricular courses including our sports academies and the Extended Project Qualifications (EPQ) which are highly regarded by Universities. Or you could join the Society, which helps students achieve their dreams of applying to the top universities, or graduate apprenticeships. SIXTH FORM ‘‘ ‘‘ 11 10
9 We have three elite sports academies at the school. Our netball academy is partnered with Saracens Mavericks, and plays in the AOC league and the Sisters in Sport national competitions. The football academy plays in theAOC leagues and the Elite Schools Cup. Our well established rugby academy is part of the AOC leagues and competes in the National Vase which concludes at Twickenham. We are incredibly proud to see several ex-students, from the sports programmes, play for their country who have since turned professional. We encourage you to speak to the PE department and any of the dedicated staff to find out what makes sport at Samuel Whitbread so different from other schools. SPORTAND PHYSICAL EDUCATION At Samuel Whitbread we have two key principles that guide our sports and physical education. Firstly, we want everybody to take part in the extensive range of sports and activities that we have to offer, so they’re able to find a sport or type of exercise that they enjoy and continue outside of school. Secondly, we thrive on competition, or to put it another way, we like to WIN! If your child loves sport and wants to excel, then this is the school for them. We expect our sporting teams to train hard and do their best. We are the most decorated sporting school in Bedfordshire, holding more district, county, regional and national titles than any other school in the county. The past few years have been our most successful on record. Last year we made the national final in football for the 2nd year in a row. Our female rugby teams continue to have success at Rosslyn park as well as the boys reaching Twickenham again in 2023 following the double victory in 2019 (The first state school to achieve both U15 and U18 vase wins). Our netball teams also reached regional and national finals in the last few years and continue to compete and challenge the best schools in the country. 13 12 • U15 Boys National Vase Rugby Champions • U18 Boys National Vase Rugby Champions • National U16 and U18 boys football finalists • National finalists in U16 Netball • National semi-finalists in U18 Netball • U18 Girls Vase champions at Rosslyn Park Sevens • National Gymnastics tumbling and acro finalists • National Girls Futsal Semi-finalists • District and county champions in basketball, athletics, handball, badminton, table tennis, rounders, hockey and many more IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN…
My love of acting started at Samuel Whitbread. BEN WHISHAW 11 We are very proud of the arts provision at Samuel Whitbread. We want as many students as possible to learn and engage with the arts to develop their creativity, teamwork and confidence; skills that will stand them in good stead in their further studies and employment. In Year 9, every student studies the arts and as a result of high quality teaching, many continue on to GCSEs and Sixth Form. We have an excellent reputation for the arts and students perform and display their work all over the country. Our extra-curricular provision is extensive with over 20 different groups, clubs and ensembles to join, catering for all styles and tastes. Samuel Whitbread arts students and alumni are also extremely successful, including Caitlin Doody, who came second in the world at the Dance World Cup in Spain, Maddie Morris, BBC Young folk singer of the year, Crissie Rhodes in the Shires and Ben Whishaw (currently Q in James Bond and the voice of Paddington Bear) who is on record as crediting Samuel Whitbread as the place which ignited his love of acting! If your child loves the arts, you can be assured that Samuel Whitbread will provide ample opportunities. We will support, challenge and develop their talent and we look forward to welcoming you to one of our many performances. PERFORMING ARTS ‘‘ ‘‘ 15 14
One of the advantages of such a big school is that we can offer over 100 activities and clubs throughout the year. Our extracurricular provision is extensive with different groups, clubs and ensembles to join, catering for all styles and tastes. Whether it’s racing an electric car as part of ‘Team Scooby’, camping on the side of a mountain for the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award or discussing the latest book in the library with the other enthusiastic readers in Page Eaters club, there is something for everyone. If we do not have a club for a particular passion then we will help students to form it. CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES We believe it is important that students raise funds and support people in our own country and around the world who have lives less fortunate than ours. Students can take part in the National Citizenship Service Awards and use their contribution to their houses as part of this. As a school we support national and local charities, as well as the Tafo school in Ghana, for whom we raise money to develop their facilities and buy much needed equipment. CHARITY WORK EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 17 16
We have five Houses, each named after prominent people who have made a difference to the local community, the country or the world. Each House represents aspects of our school values.The Houses are led by a member of staff and our Sixth Formers who are house captains, prefects, sports and charities captains. The houses have a busy programme of competitions, house council meetings and charity events and every year each house selects a particular charity to support. Throughout the year, the members of each House work together across all years to form a caring and united community, culminating in the House Olympics! MOORE OBAMA RAS HFORD WHI SHAW SI MS OUR SCHOOL HOUSE SYSTEM MOORE Inspired by Captain Sir Thomas Moore SWA Values: Determination and Respect OB MA Inspired by Michelle Obama SWA Values: Empathy, Respect and Equality RASHFORD Inspired by Marcus Rashford SWA Values: Equality, Determination and Respect WHI HAW Inspired by Ben Whishaw SWA Values: Integrity, Determination and equality SI S Inspired by David Sims SWA Values: Determination and Integrity 19 18
Our teaching and learning strategy is centred on the idea that every pupil is embarking upon their own personal learning journey at Samuel Whitbread. Individual academic targets, based upon prior data, are regularly reviewed by academic and pastoral staff to ensure that our pupils and their parents always know where they are on that journey and what they need to do to reach their full and destination potential. Our well qualified subject specialists work hard to create a learning environment which inspires and stimulates students’ interests, as well as giving personalised support and guidance to help all students reach aspirational targets. Termly targets for progress in the core subjects, plus student/teacher reviews and evaluations at the end of every term, ensure that students have the opportunity to maximise their potential and to achieve and excel. These individual targets and analysis of assessments help inform our teachers’ planning so they can adapt their teaching to meet the learning needs of all the pupils in their care. Homework and independent learning is uploaded onto the site Edulink, so students (and their parents) can see what homework has been set and when it is due at any time of the day. Pupils enjoy coming to school and appreciate what staff do for them. They feel listened to and value the work of the school council because they share their views with school leaders. OFSTED 2023 ‘‘ ‘‘ PERSONALISED LEARNING 21 20
We are very proud of the pastoral system at Samuel Whitbread. During the transition from middle school all pupils are placed into tutor groups and assigned a form tutor. This is a key role within the pastoral system and students remain with their tutor from Year 9 to 11.They have daily contact with their tutor group, where they discuss important issues such as internet safety, healthy eating and British values - as part of the PSHE curriculum. The tutors are supported by their Head of Year and dedicated Pastoral Support Officers (PSO), who work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and the Heads of Department to carefully monitor student behaviour and academic progress. We have a strong and well developed Learning Support Department that supports students with Special Educational Needs. The dedicated team work with staff and students in classrooms to help them achieve their very best, as well as providing a package of support outside of the classroom to meet the needs of each student. For more information please contact our SENDCo Mrs Swift. The vast majority of students enjoy life at school and get on well with each other. On the few occasions when students do misbehave our Assertive Discipline System deals with this effectively and efficiently. CARE, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT We greatly value our partnership work in the community. We share many of our support services with the other schools in the Trust and jointly develop our teaching and pastoral systems. We also work closely with all of the other schools in our catchment area to ensure that transition across our pyramid is as smooth as possible. Our partnerships in engineering are excellent. Local and national companies provide opportunities for our students to experience work in an industrial setting and experts from these companies come into the academy to provide advice and materials. Our very successful Formula 24 teams started with the support of our engineering partners. The arts too have a number of partners who support and work with us to give our students the very best opportunities available. As a result we have been invited to play at both local and national events including receiving an invitation to play at the Chartered College of Teaching. We are not satisfied with being the best school in the county for sport and as a result we have developed partnerships with a wide range of outstanding organisations. For example, our partnership with Saracens Mavericks Netball and Northampton Saints School of Rugby Excellence attracts players from all over the county to receive coaching at the highest level and be part of their development squads. OUR PARTNERSHIPS 23 22
TEAMWORK INGENUITY EMPATHY DETERMINATION RESPECT EQUALITY INTEGRITY At Samuel Whitbread we have a set of values that drive everything we do. These were chosen by students, staff and parents. OUR VALUES
Principal: Nick Martin Samuel Whitbread Academy Shefford Road Clifton Shefford Bedfordshire SG17 5QS Telephone: 01462 629900 Email: swa-info@bestacademies.org.uk SamuelWhitbreadAcademy SamWhitAcademy SamWhitAcademy www.samuelwhitbread.org.uk
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