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Academy converter · Central Bedfordshire

Samuel Whitbread Academy

  • 13–18Ages
  • 1,657Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137948URN

Shefford Road, Clifton, Shefford, SG17 5QS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodOct 2017
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2023
What Ofsted found
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
45.7of 90
6th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodOct 2017
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Mar 2023

Inspection history

  1. 3 March 2023
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
  2. 31 October 2017
    Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
  1. 2025 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
  2. 2024 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
  3. 2023 1.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
  4. 2022 1.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  5. 2021 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  6. 2020 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  7. 2019 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  8. 2018 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
  9. 2017 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  10. 2016 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
  11. 2015 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  12. 2014 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
More applications per place than the Central Bedfordshire median in 0 of 12 years.
  • This school
  • Central Bedfordshire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20253564091.23621.02
Sep 20243945041.34641.18
Sep 20233614111.13641.01
Sep 20223714091.13701.00
Sep 20213764641.24141.10
Sep 20203844831.34321.13
Sep 20193814971.34341.14
Sep 20183974771.24231.07
Sep 20173524221.23230.92
Sep 20164234991.24090.97
Sep 20154114741.24101.00
Sep 20144174791.24120.99

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

389 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)45.76th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%8th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths69%
  • This school
  • Central Bedfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.13
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)38945.743%69%–
2024/2539646.748%73%–
2023/2440147.151%70%−0.13
2022/2339346.849%68%−0.18

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
137948 · 823/4079
Trust
Bedfordshire Schools Trust Limited
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,650 pupils · 1,657 on roll
Free school meals
12.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Opened
1 March 2012
Replaced
Samuel Whitbread Community College (URN 109670)
Address
Shefford Road, Clifton, Shefford, SG17 5QS
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources