Samuel Whitbread Academy, Shefford

From the headteacher's welcome: "We offer an exceptional academic and extra-curricular experience in an outstanding learning environment where students are expected to work hard and achieve their best. We are a member of the Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST), a learning community of five nurseries and 11 schools, providing outstanding all-through 0-19 education."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, dance, drama, Duke of Edinburgh and cheerleading.

In 2026, pupils at Samuel Whitbread Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Central Bedfordshire and 47 across England.

43% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Central Bedfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.13: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.5, against 47.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2025 entry, 362 families put Samuel Whitbread Academy as their first choice and 409 named it as one of their preferences, for 356 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Samuel Whitbread Academy are Robert Bloomfield Academy (1 mile, Outstanding); Henlow Church of England Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41); Etonbury Academy (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.8); and Pix Brook Academy (3.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.6).

Samuel Whitbread Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Samuel Whitbread Academy is one of 12 schools run by Bedfordshire Schools Trust Limited, an academy trust.

Of the 401 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 248 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 34% into work. 16% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

10.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Mixed (9%).

Samuel Whitbread Academy has a resourced provision for autism.

The nearest railway station is Arlesey Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Samuel Whitbread School (outside), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Samuel Whitbread Academy stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 8th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Samuel Whitbread Academy issued 384 suspensions, 23.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Samuel Whitbread Academy are Clifton All Saints Academy (0.7 miles), Shefford Lower School (1 mile), Raynsford Church of England Academy (1.5 miles) and Campton Academy (1.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.