Bedford Free School
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Bedford Free School
| image = Bedford Free School logo.png
| image_size =
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|52.1324|0.46670|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
| motto = Respect, Honesty, High Expectations{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/times-education-commission-how-schools-are-reinventing-education-g97s6spc8|title=From old school to no rules: How teachers create the classrooms of the future|access-date=2022-02-01|website=The Times|date=27 January 2022 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127062823/https://www.thetimes.co.uk//article/times-education-commission-how-schools-are-reinventing-education-g97s6spc8 |archive-date=27 January 2022 }}
| established = 2010
| closed =
| type = Free school
| religious_affiliation = None
| head_label = Principal
| head = Jane Herron
| r_head_label =
| r_head =
| chair_label =
| chair =
| founder = Mark Lehain
| address = Cauldwell Street
| city = Bedford
| county = Bedfordshire
| country = England
| postcode = MK42 9AD
| ofsted = yes
| urn = 138228
| dfeno = 822/4001
| staff =
| enrolment =
| gender = Mixed
| lower_age = 11
| upper_age = 16
| colours = Yellow and purple
{{color box|Yellow}}{{color box|Purple}}
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
| free_2 =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = {{url|www.bedfordfreeschool.co.uk}}
}}
Bedford Free School, part of Advantage Schools is a mixed secondary free school located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. The school opened in September 2012, and educates pupils from Bedford, Kempston and the wider Borough of Bedford.[http://education.gov.uk/b00197715/free-schools-2012/bedford-free-school Free Schools opening in 2012 and beyond] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211171920/http://www.education.gov.uk/b00197715/free-schools-2012/bedford-free-school |date=11 February 2012 }} Department for Education website
History
Campaigning for a free school in Bedford and Kempston began in July 2010. On 6 September 2010, Michael Gove (Secretary of State for Education) announced Bedford Free School as one of the first 16 free schools to be set up under the UK coalition government.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11197827 First 16 'free schools' details set out] BBC News website The business case for Bedford Free School was signed off by the Department for Education in May 2011.
Founding Principal Mark Lehain was previously head of mathematics and assistant head at Wootton Upper School.[http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Top-job-for-Free-School-advocate-25112011.htm Top job for Free School advocate] Bedfordshire on Sunday article
The school's initial governing body included a magistrate, a stockbroker and a chartered accountant.[http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/education/governors_for_bedford_s_new_free_school_1_3274415 Governors for Bedford's new free school] Bedford Times & Citizen article
In August 2011, Cauldwell House was chosen as the site for the school. Bedford Free School was due to open in September 2012, however in June 2012, members of Bedford Borough Council’s planning committee voted to not grant planning permission to the new school. The refusal of planning permission centred on concerns that the new school would create an unacceptable increase in traffic in the immediate area, and also that pupils safety may be compromised when being dropped off and picked up outside the school.
The refusal of planning permission was called "spiteful" by Richard Fuller, the MP for Bedford. He suggested that the decision was politically motivated by members of the council that were opposed the free schools programme. The school appealed the decision, and still opened in September 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/free-school-plans-still-on-course-1-4003324 |title=Free school plans 'still on course' - Local |publisher=Bedford Today |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=7 August 2012}} Further to this, the school drew up contingency plans, should the appeal fail, and would have seen children at the school taught in a building at nearby Bedford College.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/School-has-a-back-up-plan-should-appeal-fail-21092012.htm |title=School has a back-up plan should appeal fail | Bedfordshire News, News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Bedfordshire on Sunday |publisher=Bedfordshire-news.co.uk |access-date=7 April 2014}} In November 2012, the school won its appeal against the council's decision, after Eric Pickles (the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) decided in its favour.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Eric-Pickles-gives-the-stamp-of-approval-for-Free-School-20121123164012.htm |title=Eric Pickles gives the stamp of approval for Free School | Bedfordshire News, News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Bedfordshire on Sunday |publisher=Bedfordshire-news.co.uk |access-date=7 April 2014}}
In March 2013 it was reported that Bedford Free School had been established at a time when there would be a 25% surplus in secondary school places in Bedford.{{cite web|last=Coughlan |first=Sean |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21994224 |title=BBC News - Free schools 'in areas of surplus places', says NUT |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1 April 2013 |access-date=7 April 2014}}
In February 2014 the schools first Ofsted inspection was published and gave the school a rating of 'Requires improvement'. The report found that pupils at the school 'do not sustain good progress', and that the 'teaching does not expect enough of students'. Unusually the report also found that boys make better progress at the school than girls.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Ofsted-demands-improvement-as-Bedford-Free-School-fails-to-make-the-grade-20140328170308.htm |title=Ofsted demands improvement as Bedford Free School fails to make the grade | Bedfordshire News, News Headlines in Bedford | Bedfordshire Newspaper Online | Bedfordshire on Sunday |publisher=Bedfordshire-news.co.uk |date=28 March 2014 |access-date=7 April 2014}}
In February 2015 the school was awarded a grant to construct a new sports hall and activity studio.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/extension-plan-is-cherry-on-the-cake-at-free-school-1-6575888|title=Extension plan is 'cherry on the cake' at free school|work=bedfordtoday.co.uk}}
In March 2016, the school received a Good rating in its second Ofsted inspection. In April 2017, the school announced that, in partnership with Elstow School, it would establish a new Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) named Advantage Schools.
In September 2017, Mark Lehain left the school and Stuart Lock was appointed as his successor. Previously the Headteacher of Cottenham Village College, Lock also took on the role of Chief Executive of Advantage Schools. In 2019, he transitioned to this role full-time, with Tim Blake succeeding him as Principal. In January 2020, Bedford Free School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas.{{Cite web |url=https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50149799 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=ofsted.gov.uk}} The current Principal is Jane Herron. Both Blake and Herron were founding members of Bedford Free School when it opened in 2012.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bedfordfreeschool.co.uk Bedford Free School homepage]
{{Schools in Bedfordshire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Secondary schools in the Borough of Bedford
Category:Free schools in England
Category:Educational institutions established in 2012