Samuel Whitbread Academy Catchment Area
Samuel Whitbread Academy is an academy converter secondary school in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 13-18, with 1660 pupils, and a capacity of 1650 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
13-18
Age range
1,660
Pupils
1,650
Capacity
101%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2017
Samuel Whitbread Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Samuel Whitbread Academy?
The catchment area for Samuel Whitbread Academy is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Samuel Whitbread Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Central Bedfordshire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
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Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Central Bedfordshire publishes the 2027 Samuel Whitbread Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Central Bedfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Central Bedfordshire catchment area documents →Samuel Whitbread Academy: at or above its 1650 place limit
Samuel Whitbread Academy has a published admission number of 1650 places. 1660 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 101%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1650 places. Central Bedfordshire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 12.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Shefford.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Central Bedfordshire publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Central Bedfordshire school admissions →
Samuel Whitbread Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Shefford Road, Clifton, Shefford, SG17 5QS
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 13-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 12.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 137948
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Samuel Whitbread Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Samuel Whitbread Academy
What is the catchment area for Samuel Whitbread Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Samuel Whitbread Academy is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Samuel Whitbread Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Samuel Whitbread Academy currently has 1660 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1650 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Samuel Whitbread Academy? ▾
Admission to Samuel Whitbread Academy is managed by Central Bedfordshire. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Samuel Whitbread Academy cover? ▾
Samuel Whitbread Academy is a secondary school in Shefford, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 13-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Samuel Whitbread Academy? ▾
Samuel Whitbread Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.