We now have the HMI visit report on our website and it can also be accessed on the Ofsted website. Importantly for our community we can see, as evidenced through this report, that we are making the correct decisions for Sandy Upper School. Our strategies and systems are working and the school's journey into becoming an outstanding institution has truly started. Even though the report is short, its points are positive and do highlight the strengths the school now has.

The comments on student behaviour are particularly pleasing and underpin the school's policy of respect for education. Staff can be proud of the calm efficiency that permeates our school. We are secure in the knowledge that the policies and actions we have taken, supported by the Local Authority, have made a fast and effective impact.

We must now also thank parents for their support. We work together as a triumvirate and as a team we have secured success. Let us unite in our pride for Sandy Upper School.

Ursula Byrne

Head Teacher

This is a very busy and sometimes stressful time for the school community.The examination period has started and students are ready to prove they have worked hard and are prepared for the examinations they are taking. I am really impressed by the positive attitude that is being shown by everyone. The Sixth Form students, constantly revising in their study area, are smiling and are certainly "up for it". Year 11 students are charming. They come to their examinations with smiling faces, yes, some nerves, but with a really mature approach and this all bodes extremely well. Year 10 students have been entered for their English and Mathematics GCSE examinations this year and they have taken on the mantle of understanding the importance of these two subjects. There is a real sense of purpose pervading the school.

We have had an HMI monitoring visit, which proved and endorsed that the school is on the right tracks and our strategy is the correct one. As soon as the report is made public, it will be posted on the website and parents/carers will be informed.

This feature cannot be complete without a good news section. We were privileged to go and see Henry Ward and Joe Peacock at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Henry choreographed the dance and Joe performed. It was amazing!

Mrs U Byrne
Headteacher

The Bedfordshire schools Battle of the Bands event involving upper schools from around the area took place last night in Milton Keynes. 5 Sandy Upper school students hastily put together a band in the past couple of weeks for the event.

With only a short amount of practice before their performance, they should have been the underdogs.

But not only did they put on a fantastic performance, they got through to the final 4, and they then managed to achieve third place out of the 11 bands performing.

The band consisted of Tia Jackson as the main vocalist, with members of the crowd commenting on how confident she was and what a great voice she had.

Eddie Hubberd was on drums, who managed to lose a drum stick in the final performance.

Evie Mugridge was on the keyboard and Ollie Bond and Angus Monaghan on guitars.

It is always fantastic to see the amazing talents of the students of Sandy Upper School and the school is really pleased with how they performed.

Thanks to Mr Phelps in the Music department for his work with the band.

I know that the students are on a high and already thinking about next year’s event.

You can check out a video of their performance in the Broadcast Extra area of the site here.

It is a pleasure to write to you with so much good news.  The school has been buzzing over the last two weeks with so much activity. Our young people are involved in so many aspects of school life. 

I cannot be too fulsome in my praise of the Dance Show that took place last week and was filled to capacity every evening.  Watching pupils and students aged from 5 years to 19 integrating together and working so well to produce such a high calibre performance is warming and endearing. The younger pupils were enchanting, while the older students showed both their sophistication in performance but also their warmth when looking after the younger children.  Collaboration on this level is so important and highlights how our family of schools is determined to serve the community aswell as they can. The packed audiences for the three nights highlight the commitment of our parents/carers and all our schools truly value this support.

To continue the praise, I must congratulate Jack Culbert on winning the over 16 Musical Theatre Award in Bedford.  Jack, who attends our Sixth Form, is not only a talented musician but also an academic.  He wishes to apply for Oxbridge and we shall give him every support.

It is a pleasure to write to you with so much good news. The school has been buzzing over the last two weeks with so much activity.  Our young people are involved in so many aspects of school life.  I cannot be too fulsome in my praise of the Dance Show that took place last week and was filled to capacity every evening. Watching pupils and students aged from 5 years to 19 integrating together and working so well to produce such a high calibre performance is warming and endearing. The younger pupils were enchanting while the older students showed both their sophistication in performance but also their warmth when looking after the younger children. Collaboration on this level is so important and highlights how our family of schools is determined to serve the community aswell as they can. The packed audiences for the three nights highlight the commitment of our parents/carers and all our schools truly value this support.

To continue the praise, I must congratulate Jack Culbert on winning the Over 16 Musical Theatre Award in Bedford. Jack, who attends our Sixth Form, is not only a talented musician but also an academic. He wishes to apply for Oxbridge and we shall give him every support.