Classpot

Samuel Whitbread Academy

Central Bedfordshire, SG17 5QSSecondaryAges 13–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2023
Progress 8
-0.13
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
362 1st-choice / 356 places
Ranking
#1,826
of 3,141 nationally

About Samuel Whitbread Academy

Samuel Whitbread Academy is a large state secondary for pupils aged 13 to 18 in Central Bedfordshire, and it is effectively full. With 1,660 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,650, the school is operating at near-maximum capacity. The demand is clear: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 409 total applications for 356 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.15, and 354 of those places went to first-preference applicants out of 362 first-preference applications. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.4%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools (typically around 14%) but not dramatically so. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Nicholas Martin. It is a mixed, non-selective upper school, meaning it takes pupils from Year 9 onwards, and it operates its own sixth form. The most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in 2023, confirmed the school remains Good, a rating it has held since at least its previous graded inspection in 2017.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range13 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressShefford Road, Shefford, Central Bedfordshire, SG17 5QS
HeadteacherNicholas Martin
Local AuthorityCentral Bedfordshire
Number of Pupils1,660
Free School Meals (FSM)12.4%
School Capacity1,660 / 1,650 (101% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

3 Mar 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (3 Mar 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 11 Dec 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Music RoomsTheatreSixth Form CentreAstro TurfDining HallLibraryICT SuiteScience LabsSports HallPlaying Fields

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

NetballCross CountryDanceFootballRugbyHockeyRoundersMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

ChessChoirBook ClubDebateDuke of EdinburghDramaGardening

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionMulti-Sensory

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Source: samuelwhitbread.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Samuel Whitbread Academy

Samuel Whitbread Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.