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 2024
The pupils are happy at this school. Ofsted 2023 ‘‘ ‘‘
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 fewyears! 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 havemade 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 during the year. We enjoy showing visitors around the school, please contact reception on 01462 629900 to book a tour.We look forward to seeing you. NickMartin - Principal BSc, MA, PGCE, NPQH, NPQEL WELCOME 1
ACHIEVEMENT AND STANDARDS 2 Academic Success The GCSE results at Samuel Whitbread have consistently been above the national average for the last eight years. In English and mathematics, 70% of students gained a 4 or above, with 49% achieving a 5 or above. In 22 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 82% of grades A*-C or equivalent and 26% 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. 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 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 ‘‘ ‘‘
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 roomand a dedicated teamof 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. Our drama and dance students use the theatre, three drama studios and a dance studio with 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 4 Members of the school community are proud of the school’s involment in Sport and the Arts. Ofsted 2023 ‘‘ ‘‘
5 ‘‘Pupils feel safe in school. Ofsted 2023 ‘‘
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 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 choice and challenge. 6
Key Stage 3 & 4 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. 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. Post 16 The size of the Sixth Form at Samuel Whitbreadmeans our curriculumoffer 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. Information on all of the above is available on the website along with our option booklets for Key Stages 4 and 5. ASSESSMENT AND PROGRESS 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. 7
8 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 available, so they 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 to 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, with the U18 girls rugby team winning the Vase at the Rosslyn Park Sevens in 2022 and the U15 and U18 boys both winning National Vase trophy finals at Twickenham in 2019 – the first ever state school to do so. In football, last season was the most successful year thatWhitbread has ever experienced. Throughout the age groups we achieved many district and county titles, but it was the success in the national cups that was most pleasing. With over a 1000 teams in all competitions, SWA managed to reach the quarter finals in three age groups and the semi final at Sixth Form level. 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 the AOC leagues for Shefford Saints. Our well established rugby academy is part of the Northampton Saints Rugby Programme.We are incredibly proud to see several ex-students, from the sports programmes, play for their country and even turn professional, including our first student to join Northampton Saints with a professional contract.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
9 IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN… • U15 Boys National Vase Rugby Champions • U18 Boys National Vase Rugby Champions • National Gymnastics (tumbling) Finalists • National Girls Futsal Semi-finalists • 4x Football District Champions • National finalists in U18 Netball • U18 Girls Vase Rosslyn Park Sevens
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 the Sixth Form. Our students have the opportunity to display and perform at the highest levels. We have an excellent reputation for the arts and students perform and display their work all over the country. Our extracurricular 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. THE ARTS 10
11 ‘‘My love of acting started at Samuel Whitbread. Ben Whishaw ‘‘
One of the advantages of such a big school is that we can offer over 100 activities and clubs throughout the year. 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 12
In 2017 our equestrian team was crowned the 80cm showjumping national champions by the NSEA. We have five houses, each named after prominent people who have made a difference to the local community, the country or the world. 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! 13 MOORE OBAMA RAS HFORD WHI SHAW SI MS THE HOUSE SYSTEM
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 destination and full 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 pupil/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 24/7. PERSONALISED LEARNING 14 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 ‘‘ ‘‘
We are very proud of the pastoral system at SamuelWhitbread. 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. They also liaise between school, home and Central Bedfordshire’s support services where necessary. 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 15
16 PARTNERSHIPS We are proud to be able to offer our sporting academies to our Sixth Form students so that they can train in their chosen sport alongside their further studies. With directors in Football, Netball and Rugby, we are able to offer an exciting programme to all our students and challenge them to be their best. 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.
17 D 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 Fax: 01462 629901 Email: swa-info@bestacademies.org.uk SamuelWhitbreadAcademy SamWhitAcademy SamWhitAcademy www.samuelwhitbread.org.uk
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