Sandy Secondary School

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

Sandy Secondary School
Address
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

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]

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

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

  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.