Samuel Whitbread Community College
Encyclopedia
Samuel Whitbread Community College serves the rural communities around the small market town of Shefford
in Central Bedfordshire
. It consists of an expanding upper school for years 13-18, a nursery school and facilities for adult education. The school holds Specialist Engineering College
status.
Upper School that it opened on a purpose-built site on the 4th September 1973, as part of Bedfordshire County Council's re-organisation into a 3-tier, non-selective school system. Adult education provision was in place from the beginning under Mr Gordon Ainscough, but the name of the institution was not changed to Samuel Whitbread Upper School and Community College until 1975 (when the 'Headmaster' became the 'Head') and it became Samuel Whitbread Community College, (led by a 'Principal') at some point in the late 90s.
The Headmaster when the school opened was Mr Kenneth Dodsworth, and the Chairman of Governors was Alderman W. Inskip.
The original intention was for the school to have an eventual roll of 1100, drawn from the existing secondary modern school
s Robert Bloomfield and Etonbury, which were to become middle schools
, and from 1975, a planned purpose-built Henlow Middle School.
There were 457 pupils when the school was opened: 249 in what was then '3rd Year' (now known as Year 9) from the Robert Bloomfield and Etonbury Schools; 94 in the '4th Year' (Year 10) and 117 in the 5th Year (Year 11) who were from Robert Bloomfield only. A vestigial 6th Form of 5 former Robert Bloomfield pupils was enrolled, although 6th form courses were not yet in place.
30 teachers were employed in September 1973, the last of whom retired in 2007, at that time there were 25 support staff, including 8 cleaners and 9 kitchen assistants.
with the companies Bilfinger Berger
, Galliford Try
, Gensler
and Helaba. The site is owned by Bilfinger Berger
and maintained by Galliford Try Facilities Management
. The new buildings were officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
on 17th November 2006.
Samuel Whitbread's current Principal is Mr. Robert Robson.
The 2007 students (Year 11) are the biggest year group in the country with over 450 in one year.
Seeing itself as part of the local community, the college has instituted a "Good Neighbour" policy, which, amongst other things, includes small teams of pupils giving up an hour or two of their time to remove the huge amounts of litter scattered around the school and on most routes to and from the school.
is bounded by the parishes of Arlesey
, Stotfold
, Stondon
, Shillington
, Campton
, Chicksands
, Haynes
, Southill
Stanford, Langford and Meppershall.
However, as with all schools, many students come from outside these catchment areas because of the college's specialist Engineering status.
It also collaborates with other schools, so that students from local schools who choose to do an Engineering Diploma can study at the college.
The two halls are:
They are named after Marie Curie
and Isambard Kingdom Brunel
respectively. The colour scheme extends to uniform and student "planners", (diaries).
These halls are used to simplify lesson planning and other activities within school. Sporting events may be organised along "hall" lines.
This is a new idea that has only recently been implemented, but the take-up rates have proved it to be worthwhile.
Shefford, Bedfordshire
Shefford is a small town and civil parish located in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 4,928, although this was estimated to have grown to 5,770 by 2007.-History:...
in Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. It was created from the merger of Bedfordshire County Council, Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire on 1 April 2009...
. It consists of an expanding upper school for years 13-18, a nursery school and facilities for adult education. The school holds Specialist Engineering College
Engineering college
Engineering colleges generally refer to institutes of higher education which offer an engineering course at degree level. The duration of the course is four to five years depending upon the university to which the college is affiliated. The students learn little of basic science concentrating...
status.
1970s
Originally designated Shefford & District Upper School, it was as Samuel WhitbreadSamuel Whitbread
Samuel Whitbread was an English politician.- Early life :Whitbread was born in Cardington, Bedfordshire, the son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread. He was educated at Eton College, Christ Church, Oxford and St John's College, Cambridge, after which he embarked on a European 'Grand Tour', visiting...
Upper School that it opened on a purpose-built site on the 4th September 1973, as part of Bedfordshire County Council's re-organisation into a 3-tier, non-selective school system. Adult education provision was in place from the beginning under Mr Gordon Ainscough, but the name of the institution was not changed to Samuel Whitbread Upper School and Community College until 1975 (when the 'Headmaster' became the 'Head') and it became Samuel Whitbread Community College, (led by a 'Principal') at some point in the late 90s.
The Headmaster when the school opened was Mr Kenneth Dodsworth, and the Chairman of Governors was Alderman W. Inskip.
The original intention was for the school to have an eventual roll of 1100, drawn from the existing secondary modern school
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
s Robert Bloomfield and Etonbury, which were to become middle schools
Middle Schools in England
Middle schools in England are defined in English and Welsh law as being schools in which the age range of pupils taught includes pupils who are aged below 10 years and six months, as well as those who are aged over 12. Such schools were not permitted in the state system under the legislation...
, and from 1975, a planned purpose-built Henlow Middle School.
There were 457 pupils when the school was opened: 249 in what was then '3rd Year' (now known as Year 9) from the Robert Bloomfield and Etonbury Schools; 94 in the '4th Year' (Year 10) and 117 in the 5th Year (Year 11) who were from Robert Bloomfield only. A vestigial 6th Form of 5 former Robert Bloomfield pupils was enrolled, although 6th form courses were not yet in place.
30 teachers were employed in September 1973, the last of whom retired in 2007, at that time there were 25 support staff, including 8 cleaners and 9 kitchen assistants.
21st century
The site was extensively updated to provide new facilities and space for school departments as part of a Private Finance InitiativePrivate Finance Initiative
The private finance initiative is a way of creating "public–private partnerships" by funding public infrastructure projects with private capital...
with the companies Bilfinger Berger
Bilfinger Berger
Bilfinger Berger is a large, internationally active construction and services company based in Mannheim, Germany.-History:Bilfinger Berger dates back to 1880 when August Bernatz founded an engineering business which became known, from 1886 as Bernatz & Grün and, from 1892, as Grün & Bilfinger.In...
, Galliford Try
Galliford Try
Galliford Try plc is a leading British construction business. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
, Gensler
Gensler
Gensler is an American design and architecture firm headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was founded in 1965 by Art Gensler, Drue Gensler, and James Follett, and originally focused on corporate interiors...
and Helaba. The site is owned by Bilfinger Berger
Bilfinger Berger
Bilfinger Berger is a large, internationally active construction and services company based in Mannheim, Germany.-History:Bilfinger Berger dates back to 1880 when August Bernatz founded an engineering business which became known, from 1886 as Bernatz & Grün and, from 1892, as Grün & Bilfinger.In...
and maintained by Galliford Try Facilities Management
Galliford Try
Galliford Try plc is a leading British construction business. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
. The new buildings were officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on 17th November 2006.
Samuel Whitbread's current Principal is Mr. Robert Robson.
The 2007 students (Year 11) are the biggest year group in the country with over 450 in one year.
Seeing itself as part of the local community, the college has instituted a "Good Neighbour" policy, which, amongst other things, includes small teams of pupils giving up an hour or two of their time to remove the huge amounts of litter scattered around the school and on most routes to and from the school.
Catchment area
The catchment areaCatchment area (human geography)
In human geography, a catchment area is the area and population from which a city or individual service attracts visitors or customers. For example, a school catchment area is the geographic area from which students are eligible to attend a local school...
is bounded by the parishes of Arlesey
Arlesey
Arlesey is a small industrial town and civil parish in the district of Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire. It is located on the border with Hertfordshire, about three miles north-west of Letchworth Garden City, four miles north of Hitchin and six miles south of Biggleswade. Arlesey railway...
, Stotfold
Stotfold
Stotfold is a small town and civil parish in the county of Bedfordshire.In the 19th century, Stotfold was regarded as a wealthy place. The saying was that to live in Stotfold, one has to have £100 and a pig. The town is divided by a long road, High Street, which separates the north side from the...
, Stondon
Stondon
Stondon is a civil parish located in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. The parish includes the settlements of Lower Stondon and Upper Stondon....
, Shillington
Shillington, Bedfordshire
Shillington is an English village and civil parish located in the county of Bedfordshire. In the south of the parish, the hamlet of Pegsdon is almost encircled by Hertfordshire, and since 1985 the parish has included the village of Higham Gobion to the west...
, Campton
Campton, Bedfordshire
Campton is a village in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. It is part of the civil parish of Campton and Chicksands with the nearby Chicksands. It is about nine miles south of Bedford, and is about nine miles north-west from Letchworth and sits on a tributary of the...
, Chicksands
Chicksands
Chicksands is a village in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England and part of the civil parish of Campton and Chicksands . It is on the River Flit. Nearby places are Shefford and Campton....
, Haynes
Haynes, Bedfordshire
Haynes is a small village and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England, about seven miles south of Bedford. It includes the small hamlet of Haynes Church End. It was previously known as Hawnes....
, Southill
Southill
Southill may refer to:*Southill, Bedfordshire, England*Southill, Limerick, Ireland*Southill, Weymouth, Dorset, EnglandSouthill may also refer to:*Viscount Torrington, Lord Byng of Southill...
Stanford, Langford and Meppershall.
However, as with all schools, many students come from outside these catchment areas because of the college's specialist Engineering status.
It also collaborates with other schools, so that students from local schools who choose to do an Engineering Diploma can study at the college.
Sporting Achievements
The Year 11 Rugby team, consisting of many talented players, won the Bedfordshire Schools County Cup in 2010, beating Icknield High School 55-0 at Luton Rugby Club. This victory accompanies their previous County Cup successes, winning the trophy in 2009 and also 2008. They have now won the cup three years in a row, a prestigious achievement.Hall System
To help with managing the large number of students, the school employs a Hall system, whereby students are separated into two "halls" with which they are permanently associated.The two halls are:
- Curie - Hall colour:
- Brunel - Hall colour:
They are named after Marie Curie
Marie Curie
Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a physicist and chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes—in physics and chemistry...
and Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
respectively. The colour scheme extends to uniform and student "planners", (diaries).
These halls are used to simplify lesson planning and other activities within school. Sporting events may be organised along "hall" lines.
"Late Buses"
Samuel Whitbread also funds school buses to run at a later time, (4:30pm instead of the usual time of 3:00pm) on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that students participating in after-school events can get home.This is a new idea that has only recently been implemented, but the take-up rates have proved it to be worthwhile.
Notable former students
- Ben WhishawBen WhishawBenjamin John "Ben" Whishaw is an English actor who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Whishaw is perhaps best known for his breakthrough role as Hamlet, and his role as the lead character in Tom Tykwer's film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.-Early life:Whishaw was born and raised in...
, actor, noted for acting the lead role in Tom Tykwer's film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
- Jack CollisonJack CollisonJack David Collison is a Welsh international footballer who plays for West Ham United. Collison is a product of West Ham's youth academy and has quickly progressed from trainee to playing first team football in the Premier League since joining at age sixteen...
A truly talented footballer during his time at the school who has gone on to represent Wales' u21s and full national side as well as playing for West Ham United's first XI.