Bedford Academy

Last updated

Bedford Academy
Address
Bedford Academy
Mile Road

Bedford
,
Bedfordshire
,
MK42 9TR

England
Coordinates 52°07′19″N0°27′04″W / 52.122°N 0.451°W / 52.122; -0.451 Coordinates: 52°07′19″N0°27′04″W / 52.122°N 0.451°W / 52.122; -0.451
Information
Type Secondary Academy
Established2010
Department for Education URN 136085 Tables
Ofsted Reports
PrincipalChristopher Deller
Gender Mixed
Age11to 18
Enrolment1129
Capacity1440
Website http://www.bedfordacademy.co.uk/

Bedford Academy (formerly John Bunyan Upper School) is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in the Kingsbrook area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.

Contents

The school mainly attracts pupils from the Kingsbrook, Cauldwell and Newnham areas of Bedford, as well as the village of Elstow.

History

John Bunyan Upper School was created in the early 1970s after Bedfordshire County Council decided to implement the three-tier education system of lower, middle and upper schools across the county (as recommended in the 1967 Plowden Report). In the early 2000s, John Bunyan Upper School became a specialist Maths and Computing College.

In June 2008 Bedfordshire County Council announced that it would explore the possibilities of John Bunyan Upper School becoming an Academy, sponsored by the Harpur Trust and Bedford College. [1] In July the Department for Children, Schools and Families confirmed that it had awarded feasibility funding to develop plans for the school to transform into an Academy by September 2010. In addition Bedford Borough Council and the University of Bedfordshire backed the plan. [2]

In March 2009, Bedfordshire County Council confirmed that John Bunyan Upper School would close on 31 August 2010. The school would reopen the next day as Bedford Academy. [3] In April 2009, Bedfordshire County Council was abolished, and the new education authority (Bedford Borough Council) confirmed its support for the planned academy in June 2009. [4]

However, in October 2009, The Harpur Trust and Bedford College issued a statement indicating that plans for the new academy would have to be re-examined if it is not to educate pupils from the age of 11. The sponsors stated that the academy would work best as part of a two-tier education system in the local area, which would end the need for middle schools. [5]

In January 2010, the Department for Children, Schools and Families formally approved plans for the new academy. A principal and vice-principal were appointed to manage the new school, and initial building works were begun. [6]

Bedford Academy formally opened in September 2010, and specialises in Science and Technology. The school has been completely rebuilt, and was occupied in September 2012. More than £27 million in funding was secured for the rebuild. [7]

Bedford Borough Council later backed a move to two-tier education in the district, and Bedford Academy began educating children from the age of 11 from September 2014.

Bedford Academy Today

The school claims to be specialised in Science and Technology and operates a 30-hour week for pupils, with lessons lasting an hour long, with a 20 minute break and 30 minute lunch. School begins at 8:20am and ends at 3:10pm. However, a range of before and after school activities that are offered means that the academy is open from 7:30am until 5:35pm. [8]

Courses of study offered at the school include GCSEs, BTEC First Diplomas and vocational courses. In the schools sixth form courses of study include A Levels and BTEC Extended Diplomas. [9] The day for sixth form is different, with an extended day to 4:10pm when they have a lesson occurring in this time.

The school offers an exclusive Sixth Form Basketball Academy from Bedford Thunder Basketball Academy, [10] where students are taught basketball alongside other academic subjects all within the BA facility, similarly to some American Colleges. Bedford Thunders [10] is also directly linked to Bedford Academy since the Basketball Academy's logo features the BA school badge's hoop-shaped coloured rings.

The school is part of the Heart Academies Trust, [11] a non-profit charitable company.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedfordshire</span> Historic County of England

Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council was abolished in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford</span> Town in Bedfordshire, England

Bedford is a market town and unparished area in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst the Borough of Bedford had a population of 157,479. Bedford is also the historic county town of Bedfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpur Trust</span> Charity in Bedford, England

The Harpur Trust is a charity in Bedford, England. The stated aim of the charity is to help and support the people who live in and around Bedford, and to help them improve their lives by:

Kempston Academy is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located on Hill Rise in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school forms part of an educational campus which also includes a Child Development Centre and Ridgeway School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford High School, Bedfordshire</span> Independent school in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

Bedford High School for Girls was an independent school for pupils aged 7 to 18 in Bedford, England. It was one of a number of schools run by the Harpur Trust. The school was located on its original site in Harpur ward, near the centre of Bedford, until its closure in 2012. In September 2010 the junior department of the school merged with the junior department of Dame Alice Harpur School. From September 2011 to September 2012 the senior schools also merged, the new school is known as Bedford Girls' School.

Dame Alice Harpur School, known from 1882 until 1946 as Bedford Girls' Modern School, was an independent girls school in Bedford, England, for girls aged 7–18. In September 2010 the junior department of the school merged with the junior department of Bedford High School. From September 2011 to September 2012 the senior schools also merged; the new school is known as Bedford Girls' School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biddenham International School and Sports College</span> Foundation school in Biddenham, Bedfordshire, England

Biddenham International School and Sports College is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in Biddenham in the English county of Bedfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wixams</span> Human settlement in England

Wixams is a new town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England, which has been under construction since early 2007. It is expected to become the third largest settlement in the Borough of Bedford after Bedford itself and Kempston, and one of the largest new settlements founded in England since the British new towns movement of the first twenty five years after World War II. Part of the site is also in Central Bedfordshire. At the 2011 Census the population of the new town was included in the civil parish of Wilstead.

St Thomas More Catholic School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in Bedford in the English county of Bedfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpur</span> Area of Bedford, England

Harpur is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsbrook, Bedford</span> Human settlement in England

Kingsbrook is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford College, Bedford</span> Further education school in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

Bedford College is a further education college located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. It is the principal further education provider in the Borough of Bedford, and is a member of the Collab Group of high performing schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redborne Upper School and Community College</span> Academy in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England

Redborne Upper School & Community College is an academy school and sixth-form located in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England. The school serves the population of Ampthill, Flitwick and surrounding villages.

Grange Academy is a coeducational special school located in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school accepts pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 years with Moderate Learning Difficulties from all over the Borough of Bedford.

St John’s School and College is a mixed special school located in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school educates pupils ages 2 to 19 from all over the Borough of Bedford.

Ridgeway School is a mixed special school for pupils with physical disabilities located in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England. The school accepts pupils from all over the Borough of Bedford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford Girls' School</span> Independent school for girls in Bedford, England

Bedford Girls' School (BGS) is an independent school for girls which opened in September 2010 located in Bedford, in the English county of Bedfordshire. The school is a result of a merger of Bedford High School and Dame Alice Harpur School, and is operated by the Harpur Trust. The school became fully operational in September 2012.

Bedford Free School is a mixed secondary free school located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. The school opened in September 2012, and educates pupils from Bedford, Kempston and the wider Borough of Bedford. The school's roll grew yearly until it reached its 500 capacity of 11- to 16-year-olds. The school is now oversubscribed. The school is located on Cauldwell Street, Bedford.

Wixams Academy is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form located in Wixams in the English county of Bedfordshire.

References

  1. ↑ "Harpur Trust set to take over John Bunyan - Bedfordshire on Sunday". Bedsonsunday.com. 20 February 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "New building, new era - Bedfordshire on Sunday". Bedsonsunday.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Bunyan Academy set for next year". Bedfordshire on Sunday . 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  4. ↑ "Academy gets nod – school will close". Bedfordshire on Sunday . 27 June 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  5. ↑ "Mayor holds the key to new £27m academy Bedfordshire on Sunday". Bedsonsunday.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Bedfordshire Local News, Local News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Final green light for Bedford Academy". Bedfordshire-news.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Bedfordshire News | Latest Bedford News Headlines | Bedfordshire Sports, Jobs, Weather & Business News | Academy gets green light after £27m funding boost". Bedsonsunday.com. 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Bedford Academy | About Us". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Bedford Academy | Curriculum". Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Bedford Thunder Basketball". Bedford Thunder Basketball. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "HOME". www.heartacademiestrust.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.