Sandy Secondary School

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52°08′13″N 0°17′24″W / 52.137°N 0.290°W / 52.137; -0.290

Sandy Secondary School
Address
Map
Engayne Avenue

, ,
SG19 1BL

Information
TypeFoundation school
Department for Education URN109669 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalKaren Hayward[1]
GenderCo-educational[1]
Age11 to 18[1]
Enrolment1009 (As of 2024)[1]
Capacity1155 (As of 2024)[1]
Websitewww.sandysecondaryschool.com

Sandy Secondary School (formerly Sandy Upper School) is a coeducational secondary school, located in Sandy, Bedfordshire, England.[2]

The school educates 11–16 year-olds, mainly from the town of Sandy, Great Barford, Potton and the surrounding villages. In addition, the school offers further education for 16–18 year-olds through its sixth form department.[3]

History

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Previously an upper school educating pupils from the age of 13, in September 2018 Sandy became a secondary school educating pupils from the age of 11.

The school was designated as a Sports College in 2003. As a result of this, the school improved its sporting facilities and hired specialised sports teaching staff.[4]

Preparations for the planned academy conversion were controversial with pupils and students, including a requirement for year 10 students to drop one of their GCSE courses.[5] The move to academy status was cancelled after financial irregularities were uncovered at the Barnfield Federation.[6]

Pupils at Sandy Secondary School protesting about changes to their GCSE choices

In January 2013 the Governing Body of Sandy Secondary School voted not to enter into advanced negotiations with the Barnfield Federation, with the intention of Sandy Secondary School becoming a sponsored academy.[7]

Academic performance and inspections

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The school received an 'Inadequate' inspection rating from Ofsted at the start of 2013 where the school was subsequently put in special measures.[8]

As of 2024, the school's most recent inspection was in January 2023, with an outcome of Requires Improvement.[9]

In 2023, the school's Progress 8 benchmark at GCSE was average.[10] The proportion of children achieving grade 5 or above in English and mathematics GCSE was 34%, lower than the overall figure for the local authority and the England figure.[10] The figure for children entering the English Baccalaureate in 2023 was 78%, higher than the overall figure for the local authority and the England figure.[10]

The average score at A-level in 2023 was C, compared to B- in the local authority as a whole and B in England.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Sandy Secondary School - GOV.UK".
  2. ^ [1] Ofsted Sandy Upper School
  3. ^ [2] Newspaper report on Status as member of Barnfield Federation
  4. ^ "Sports Specialist Status". Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013. Sandy Upper School Sports Specialist Status
  5. ^ "Sandy Upper School in chaos over last minute takeover". Bedfordshire News.
  6. ^ [3] theadvertisergroup.co.uk : Ministers have ordered a school to cut its links to the Barnfield Federation
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Sandy Upper School Press Release
  8. ^ "Sandy Upper School OFSTED Report, February 2013".
  9. ^ Loneragan, Damian (2023). "Inspection of Sandy Secondary School". Ofsted. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Sandy Secondary School". Compare school and college performance in England. Gov.UK. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Sandy Secondary School". Compare school and college performance in England. Gov.UK. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
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