Samuel Whitbread Community College

Infobox UK school
name = Samuel Whitbread Community College


size =
latitude = 52.03682
longitude = -0.31835
dms = dms
motto = Where people matter: their growth, their achievements, their success
motto_pl =
established =
approx =
closed =
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type =
religion =
president =
head_label = Principal
head = Mr Robert Robson
r_head_label =
r_head =
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founder =
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specialist = Engineering College
specialist_pl =
street = Shefford Road, Clifton
city = Shefford
county = Bedfordshire
country = England
postcode = SG17 5QS
LEA = Bedfordshire
ofsted = 109670
staff =
enrollment = c1600
gender = Co-educational
lower_age = 13
upper_age = 18
houses = Brunel, Curie, Wombat
colours =
publication =
free_label_1 =
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website = www.swcc.beds.sch.uk
website_name =

Samuel Whitbread Community College serves the rural communities around the small market town of Shefford in Mid Bedfordshire. It consists of an expanding comprehensive school for years 9-13, a nursery school and facilities for adult education. The school holds Specialist Engineering College status.

History

1970s

Originally designated Shefford & District Upper School, it was as Samuel Whitbread 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 schools [http://www.robertbloomfield.beds.sch.uk/ Robert Bloomfield] and [http://www.etonbury.com/new_page_1.htm/ Etonbury] , which were to become middle schools, and from 1975, a planned purpose-built [http://www.henlowmiddleschool.co.uk/ 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 Initiative 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. Rob Robson

The 2007 students (Year 10) Are the biggest year group in the country with over 450(?)in one year.

Catchment Area

The catchment area is bounded by the parishes of Arlesey, Stotfold, Lower Stondon, Shillington, Campton, Chicksands, Haynes, Southill and Langford.

Notable former students

*Ben Whishaw, actor, noted for acting the lead role in Tom Tykwer's film .

External links

* [http://www.swcc.beds.sch.uk/ Samuel Whitbread Community College Website]

Notes and references

* Bedfordshire County Council Education Committee (1973) "Reorganisation of schools in the Shefford / South East Bedfordshire Area: Information for parents" The Council, Bedford
*Samuel Whitbread Upper School & Community College (1973 - 1983) "School Annals" (unpublished chronicle)