Biddenham Upper School

Infobox UK school
name = Biddenham International Upper School and Sports College


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latitude = 52.13672
longitude = -0.49696
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established = 1988
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closed =
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type = Comprehensive Upper School
religion =
president =
head_label = Headteacher
head = Mr Mike Berrill
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specialist = Sports College
specialist_pl =
street = Biddenham Turn
city = Biddenham
county = Bedfordshire
country = England
postcode = MK40 4AZ
LEA = Bedfordshire
ofsted = 109690
staff =
enrollment = 955
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 13
upper_age = 18
houses =
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website = http://www.biddenham.org
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Biddenham Upper School is a 13-19 coeducational state comprehensive school serving the Brickhill, Harpur and Queens Park areas of Bedford plus the village of Biddenham, England. The school holds Specialist Sports College status. It was formed in 1988 from the merger of John Howard and Pilgrim schools.

Its first head teacher was Garry Fitzhugh; the head teacher, as of 2007, is David Bailey and the Principal is [http://www.biddenham.org/principal_msg.asp Mike Berrill] .

Catchment

Most of the schools students come from Newnham Middle School, Westfield Middle School, Goldington Middle School and Beauchamp Middle School in Brickhill, with a few also coming from Lincroft Middle School.

Layout

Biddenham is divided into six main blocks rather than one whole building like most schools. The blocks were 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 many students spend break and lunchtimes. The quad is currently being widened and refurbished with picnic benches.

Timetable

Biddenham has a somewhat unusual school day, consisting of only 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), the fact that bells are not used, and the earlier start and finish times. A typical school day is as follows:

8.00 - Lesson 1

9.15 - Break 1

9.35 - Lesson 2

10.50 - Break 2

11.00 - Lesson 3

12.15 - Lunch break

12.55 - Assembly/tutor period or extended lunch break (varies on different days)

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.

International school

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. Following this the school intends to offer the International Baccalaureate to its students from September 2009. [http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunday%2Dnews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=354650]

External links

* [http://www.biddenham.org Biddenham Upper website]