Samuel Whitbread Community College

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.

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 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. 

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. 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 area 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. 

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: Green
• Brunel - Hall colour: Blue

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.

Notable former students

• Ben Whishaw, actor, noted for acting the lead role in Tom Tykwer's film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

• Jack Collison 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.