Biddenham Upper School
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| Established | 1979 |
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| Type | Comprehensive Upper School |
| Headteacher | Mr David Bailey |
| Location | Biddenham Turn Biddenham Bedfordshire MK40 4AZ England Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Local authority | Bedford |
| DfE number | 822/4124 |
| DfE URN | 109690 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 955 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 13–18 |
| Website | www |
Biddenham Upper School (formerly John Howard Upper School) is a 13-19 coeducational state comprehensive school serving the Brickhill, Harpur and Queens Park areas of Bedford, England, plus the village of Biddenham. The school holds Specialist Sports College status.
Contents
History
It was established in 1979 as John Howard Upper School. The headmaster for the entire time the school was as John Howard Upper School was Roy Grace. In 1988 the school was merged with Pilgrim Upper to form Biddenham Upper School on the John Howard site. Garry Fitzhugh took over as head when the merger was complete.
In October 2008 Biddenham Upper School was awarded International School status by the British Council. The award was made in recognition of Biddenham's international ethos and its links with schools abroad.[1] Following this, the school planned to offer the International Baccalaureate to its sixth form students as an alternative to A level courses from September 2010, however a lack of interest amongst students has led to the baccalaureate being withdrawn at the school.[2]
In January 2010, Bedford Borough Council confirmed its intention to move St John’s School in Kempston in the next few years to a new campus on the site of Biddenham Upper School.[3] However since 1 September 2011, St John’s School has gained academy status and the plans for the move are on hold.
Secondary school
Bedford Borough Council has decided to implement a two-tier education system in the borough, meaning that Biddenham will be converted from an upper school to a secondary school, and take pupils from the age of 11. The changes are due to take effect from September 2015.
Catchment
Most of the schools students come from Newnham Middle School, Westfield Middle School, Goldington Academy and Beauchamp Middle School in Brickhill, with a few coming from Lincroft Middle School and Robert Bruce Middle School.
Layout
Biddenham is divided into six main blocks named in 2003 by competition winner Ian Whitmore, a student at Biddenham. These are:
- Hurst (H) block - named after Geoff Hurst, the former English footballer,
- Radcliffe (R) block - named after Paula Radcliffe, the English runner,
- Akabusi (A) block - named after Kriss Akabusi, the English athlete,
- Tendulkar (T) block - named after Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar,
- Davies (D) block - named after English swimmer Sharron Davies,
- Sports block - named after Tanni Grey-Thompson, the English paralympic athlete.
H, A, T, and R blocks all face a central quadrangle, where students can spend break and lunchtimes. In 2007 the quad was widened and refurbished with picnic benches.
From 1980 - 1989 the six blocks were named according to the core subjects taught in them:
- H block - Humanities subjects - R.E., Sociology, Humanities, Languages, Maths. Downstairs 3rd year common room, upstairs 4th year common room,
- R Block - Resources (library and canteen) and English, History, Geography, 5th year and 6th Form common rooms,
- A Block - Administration (teachers offices, staff room), school assembly hall/theatre. music rooms and small sports room,
- T Block - Technology - Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Design and Craft, Woodwork, Metalwork,
- S Block - Sports Block (sports hall and changing rooms),
- D Block - Design, Arts, kitchens for Home Economics.
Timetable
Biddenham has an unusual school day, consisting of four 75-minute lessons and breaks between each lesson. Other unusual features include the absence of any morning registration (students are registered in each lesson), bells are not used, and the earlier start and finish times. A typical school day is as follows:
- 8.00 - lesson 1
- 9.15 - tutor time
- 9.35 - break 2
- 10.50 - lesson 2
- 11.05 - break 3
- 11.15 - lesson 3
- 12.30 - lunch time
- 1.15 - lesson 4
- 2.30 - end of school day
After-school clubs take place from 2.45 until 4.00, and sixth formers may have a 5th lesson during this period on some days.
