Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #6 in Central Bedfordshire public Top 22% UK

Samuel Whitbread Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Nicholas Martin

corporate_fareBEDFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED

location_onShefford, SG17 5QS

language Visit Website phone 1462629900

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

1,674

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.7

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GCSE Rank

#4 in Central Bedfordshire

#1,418 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Samuel Whitbread Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Shefford, serving ages 13-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Samuel Whitbread Academy is an academy converter in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 13-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BEDFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS TRUST LIMITED. The school has approximately 1,660 pupils on roll, of whom 13% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.7, placing the school #4 in Central Bedfordshire and #1,418 of 3,216 nationally. 48.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 18.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 24 A-level subjects. 54.3% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 23.5% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.02 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 6 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 9.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

46.7

Grade 5+ E&M

48.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)18.4%

Entering EBacc11.60%

EBacc APS3.87

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16.00%

EBacc APS3.99

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS3.89

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS4.29

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.96

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS3.82

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.02

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

158

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*8.9%

Achieving A*–A23.5%

Achieving A*–B54.3%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate96.2%

A-level subjects offered24

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.05

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

173

Retention rate94.80%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

167

Retention rate97.00%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

141

Retention rate93.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

02 March 2023

Inspection Report

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31 October 2017

Inspection Report

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15 May 2014

Inspection Report

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12 December 2012

Inspection Report

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02 October 2012

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2017-10-31

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-05-15

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

8.4%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.8%(63 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

3pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,660 pupils. During this period, there were 139 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 8.4%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,660	139	8.4%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,665	175	10.5%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,658	67	4.0%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,670	79	4.7%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,685	105	6.2%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,662	75	4.5%	6.6%	3
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,674	58	3.5%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,691	68	4.0%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,633	52	3.2%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,650	52	3.2%	4.9%	2
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,657	60	3.6%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,650	50	3.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,663	13	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,670	71	4.3%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,660	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,660	46	2.8%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,668	71	4.3%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,660	47	2.8%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,669	71	4.3%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,678	67	4.0%	3.8%	4
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,636	56	3.4%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,643	73	4.4%	3.0%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,647	48	2.9%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,621	45	2.8%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,633	42	2.6%	3.3%	3
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,644	54	3.3%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 95 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 81 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 62 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Hearing Impairment 9 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Visual Impairment 7 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

86.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

85.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree24%

agree50%

disagree14%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree27%

agree41%

disagree20%

strongly disagree6%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree24%

agree31%

disagree11%

strongly disagree7%

don't know1%

not applicable26%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes23%

no77%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree30%

agree32%

disagree14%

strongly disagree21%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree50%

agree35%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree45%

disagree8%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree34%

agree50%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree57%

agree37%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree41%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree34%

agree42%

disagree10%

strongly disagree7%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

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Good

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Cedars Upper School

Vandyke Upper School

Harlington Upper School

Houstone School

Priory Academy

Redborne Upper School and Community College