Bedford Academy

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

Bedford Academy
Address
Mile Road

Bedford
,
Bedfordshire
,
MK42 9TR

England
Coordinates52.122°N 0.451°W / 52.122; -0.451
Information
TypeSecondary Academy
Established2010
Department for Education URN136085 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalMr Christopher Deller
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1129
Capacity1440
Websitehttp://www.bedfordacademy.co.uk/

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.

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.
  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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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