| Sandy Secondary School | |
| Head Label: | Principal |
| Head: | Karen Hayward[1] |
| Address: | Engayne Avenue |
| Postcode: | SG19 1BL |
| Dfeno: | 823/4078 |
| Ofsted: | no |
| Urn: | 109669 |
| Enrolment: | 1009 |
| Capacity: | 1155 |
| Lower Age: | 11 |
| Upper Age: | 18 |
Sandy Secondary School (formerly Sandy Upper School) is a coeducational secondary school, located in Sandy, Bedfordshire, England.[2]
The school educates 11-16 year-olds, mainly from the town of Sandy, Great Barford, Potton and the surrounding villages. In addition, the school offers further education for 16–18 year-olds through its sixth form department.[3]
Previously an upper school educating pupils from the age of 13, in September 2018 Sandy became a secondary school educating pupils from the age of 11.
The school was designated as a Sports College in 2003. As a result of this, the school improved its sporting facilities and hired specialised sports teaching staff.[4]
Preparations for the planned academy conversion were controversial with pupils and students, including a requirement for year 10 students to drop one of their GCSE courses.[5] The move to academy status was cancelled after financial irregularities were uncovered at the Barnfield Federation.[6]
In January 2013 the Governing Body of Sandy Secondary School voted not to enter into advanced negotiations with the Barnfield Federation, with the intention of Sandy Secondary School becoming a sponsored academy.[7]
The school received an 'Inadequate' inspection rating from Ofsted at the start of 2013 where the school was subsequently put in special measures.[8]
, the school's most recent inspection was in January 2023, with an outcome of Requires Improvement.[9]
In 2023, the school's Progress 8 benchmark at GCSE was average.[10] The proportion of children achieving grade 5 or above in English and mathematics GCSE was 34%, lower than the overall figure for the local authority and the England figure.[10] The figure for children entering the English Baccalaureate in 2023 was 78%, higher than the overall figure for the local authority and the England figure.[10]
The average score at A-level in 2023 was C, compared to B- in the local authority as a whole and B in England.[11]