Vandyke Upper School
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Vandyke Upper School
| image =
| image_size =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.93718|-0.64488|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| motto = Everyone matters
| established = 1976
| closed =
| type = Academy
| religious_affiliation =
| president =
| head_label =
| head = Leah
Ferguson-Moore
| r_head_label =
| r_head =
| chair_label =
| chair =
| founder =
| address = Vandyke Road
| region =
| city = Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
| country = England
| postcode = LU7 3DY
| local_authority = Central Bedfordshire Council
| ofsted = yes
| dfeno = 823/4096
| urn = 137169
| staff = 150 approx.
| enrolment = 1,500 approx.
| years = 9-13
| gender = Coeducational
| age_range = 13-18
| Colleges =
| colours = {{Color box|#800020|border=darkgray}} Burgundy
| publication =
| free_label_1 =
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
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| website = {{url|www.vandyke.beds.sch.uk}}
}}
Vandyke Upper School and Community College is an academy school and sixth form in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England. As of 2022, there are approximately 1500 students in both the sixth form at Vandyke, and compulsory education.{{Cite web |title=Vandyke Upper School - GOV.UK |url=https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/137169 |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk |language=en}}
History
The school was opened in 1976 as a comprehensive school for 13- to 18-year-olds.[http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=109678 Vandyke School at Office of Standards in Education (OfSted)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010051117/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=109678 |date=10 October 2007 }}, retrieved 15 June 2007
During the Ofsted inspection that took place in December 2006, Vandyke Upper School achieved a Grade 2 (Good) rating.http://www.vandyke.beds.sch.uk/Ofsted%20Inspection%20Report.pdf{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The school was inspected again by Ofsted in 2013, the overall result being Grade 3 (Requires improvement). This was primarily attributed to unsatisfactory exam results and mixed quality of teaching.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
Since this inspection, Ofsted have upgraded the school back to a `good` rating.
Achievements
For several years Vandyke has been a participant of the Rock Challenge, a dance and drama event promoting healthy lifestyles amongst pupils.{{cite web |title=Rock Challenge United Kingdom |url=http://www.rockchallenge.co.uk |access-date=15 June 2007 |website=www.rockchallenge.co.uk}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}}
In 2005 Vandyke achieved Sports College status[http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=109678&inspectionNumber=288471&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\\school\\109\\s5_109678_20070110.xml], retrieved 15 June 2007 {{Dead link|date=August 2016}}
and was granted £114,000 from the Government's Big Lottery Fund in 2006, providing out of hours sporting activities.{{cite web|url=http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID%3D213319%26NewsAreaID%3D2 |title=GNN - Government News Network |access-date=2007-06-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153700/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=213319&NewsAreaID=2 |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}, retrieved 15 June 2007
In 2007 the school was awarded the Government Charter Mark for excellence in customer service. Vandyke met 63 exacting standards of customer service to qualify for the award.[http://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=413&articleid=2989019 Leighton Buzzard Today (Online)]{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, retrieved 5 July 2007
The Government's Key performance indicator, a program that logs school's GCSE and Key Stage Two exam performances, has placed Vandyke's results in the top 25% of schools across the country. According to the log, 61 per cent of Vandyke students attained A* to C grades in their GCSEs in 2007.[http://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/schoolnews/Vandyke-on-top-form.3228878.jp Online News Article]. Retrieved 30 September 2007
Charity
Vandyke Upper School donated forty-eight computers to Kabalega Secondary School, in Uganda. Twelve more computers went to an NGO, the Link Development Community, also of Uganda, who work to improve education within the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.singletaskingpete.com/vandyke.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-06-15 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012052817/http://www.singletaskingpete.com/vandyke.htm |archive-date=12 October 2007 }} Retrieved 15 June 2007 Annually, since 2005, Vandyke has held fund raising events for the charity, Smile Malawi. Smile Malawi is a charity aimed at improving educatory standards for children in Malawi.{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929002931/http://www.lgov.co.uk/client/function/searchsystem/search%26ICM_Form_Search|date=29 September 2007 |access-date=2023-03-28}} Retrieved 15 June 2007 In 2008 Vandyke Upper School raised over £2000 for Smile Malawi and £3200 in 2017.{{cite web |title=Smile Malawi founder visits Vandyke |url=http://vandyke.beds.sch.uk/news/2018/01/smile-malawi-founder-visits-vandyke.aspx |access-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211708/http://vandyke.beds.sch.uk/news/2018/01/smile-malawi-founder-visits-vandyke.aspx |archive-date=2018-02-26 |date=22 January 2018}}
Vandyke Education Trust
The Governing Body of Vandyke Upper School is proposing{{when|date=September 2016}} a change of school category from a community school to a foundation school which will acquire a charitable trust to be called the Vandyke Education Trust.[http://www.vandyke.beds.sch.uk/ Vandyke home page], retrieved 30 June 2010 This is a new type of school that, while still being part of the local authority, has the opportunity to be supported by a Charitable Trust. To provide continuity and stability for the Trust, the Governors of Vandyke Upper School proposed to formalise, through a Trust, their partnerships with:
- The University of Bedfordshire
- Central Bedfordshire College of FE
- MK Dons Sport and Education Trust
- BEAerospace
- VT Education
- Central Bedfordshire Council
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.vandyke.beds.sch.uk/ Official website]
{{Schools in Bedfordshire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Upper schools in Central Bedfordshire District
Category:Academies in Central Bedfordshire District
Category:Educational institutions established in 1976