Bedford Academy
| Bedford Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Mile Road ,, MK42 9TR | |
| Coordinates | 52°07′19″N0°27′04″W/ 52.122°N 0.451°W |
| Information | |
| Type | SecondaryAcademy |
| Established | 2010 |
| Department for EducationURN | 136085Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Principal | Christopher Deller |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1129 |
| Capacity | 1440 |
| Website | http://www.bedfordacademy.co.uk/ |
Bedford Academy(formerly John Bunyan Upper School) is amixedsecondary schoolandsixth formlocated in theKingsbrookarea ofBedford,Bedfordshire,England.
The school mainly attracts pupils from the Kingsbrook,CauldwellandNewnhamareas of Bedford, as well as the village ofElstow.
History[edit]
John Bunyan Upper School was created in the early 1970s afterBedfordshire County Councildecided to implement thethree-tier educationsystem oflower,middleandupper schoolsacross the county (as recommended in the 1967Plowden Report). In the early 2000s, John Bunyan Upper School became a specialistMaths and Computing College.
In June 2008 Bedfordshire County Council announced that it would explore the possibilities of John Bunyan Upper School becoming anAcademy,sponsored by theHarpur TrustandBedford College.[1]In July theDepartment for Children, Schools and Familiesconfirmed that it had awarded feasibility funding to develop plans for the school to transform into an Academy by September 2010. In additionBedford Borough Counciland theUniversity of Bedfordshirebacked 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 asBedford 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 inScienceandTechnology.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[edit]
The school claims to be specialised inScienceandTechnologyand 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 includeGCSEs,BTEC First Diplomasand vocational courses. In the schoolssixth formcourses of study includeA LevelsandBTEC 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 theHeart Academies Trust,[11]a non-profit charitable company.
References[edit]
- ^"Harpur Trust set to take over John Bunyan - Bedfordshire on Sunday".Bedsonsunday.com. 20 February 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2012.Retrieved6 August2012.
- ^"New building, new era - Bedfordshire on Sunday".Bedsonsunday.com. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2013.Retrieved6 August2012.
- ^"Bunyan Academy set for next year".Bedfordshire on Sunday.13 March 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 23 July 2012.Retrieved28 April2009.
- ^"Academy gets nod – school will close".Bedfordshire on Sunday.27 June 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 21 July 2012.Retrieved29 June2009.
- ^"Mayor holds the key to new £27m academyBedfordshire on Sunday ".Bedsonsunday.com.Retrieved6 August2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Bedfordshire Local News, Local News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Final green light for Bedford Academy".Bedfordshire-news.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 24 January 2010.Retrieved6 August2012.
- ^"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 fromthe originalon 20 July 2012.Retrieved6 August2012.
- ^"Bedford Academy | About Us".Archived fromthe originalon 17 February 2013.Retrieved8 February2013.
- ^"Bedford Academy | Curriculum".Archived fromthe originalon 18 February 2013.Retrieved8 February2013.
- ^ab"Bedford Thunder Basketball".Bedford Thunder Basketball.Retrieved24 July2022.
- ^"HOME".www.heartacademiestrust.co.uk.Retrieved10 May2022.
