The Sandon School

Opened in 1955, The Sandon School is an 11-18  co-educational Comprehensive with around 1280 students.  It is a true comprehensive school with a full range of  abilities. With results consistently above the national  average, it has an excellent reputation in the community  and the school underwent an Ofsted Inspection in March  2018 which found it to be a good school. 

The Sandon School is fortunate to have a well-qualified,  motivated and experienced staff. Many of the staff are  currently undergoing a variety of professional development  activities focused on teaching and leadership in particular.  

The school is a stand-alone academy, having achieved academy status in 2011, and has  been successful in a number of capital bids. As a result, the site is  both attractive and well equipped in all areas of the curriculum.  The school is extremely well resourced in relation to ICT with all  classrooms equipped with data projectors/interactive whiteboards  and many with a wide range of specialist ICT facilities. 

The school’s ATLAS Centre (Access to Learning at Sandon) is a  hub of learning for the whole school and incorporates numerous  computers as well as a well-stocked library.  

Specialist sports facilities include a dedicated sports hall with an  international standard specialist floor, a smaller sports hall, a dance  studio and multi-gym, two flood lit 4G Astro Turf pitches, extensive  playing fields and hard play areas and a well-equipped gymnasium. 

Other specialist facilities include a fully-equipped drama  studio with banked seating for an audience of 100, a  large performance space, several smaller music practice  rooms and a dedicated media suite. As well as nine  laboratories, the science department also has an  outdoor garden for environmental studies.  

The majority of lessons are taught in specialist  classrooms and there is a Sixth Form Centre with  dedicated study facilities for Sixth Form students.  

For administrative and pastoral purposes, the school is organised into  three divisions: Lower School (Years 7 and 8), Middle School (Years 9,  10 and 11) and Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13). Heads of School/Sixth  Form are supported by Heads of Year and together are jointly  responsible for monitoring students’ progress and ensuring the wellbeing of the students within the school to facilitate their learning.  Students entering the school are placed in all-ability tutor groups and are  set by ability early in Year 7 for English and maths. Setting for science  takes place in Year 9. 

The school provides a full range of courses for GCSE and A Level/Level  3 examinations as well as non-GCSE Certificate courses at KS4. The  school has successfully developed a vocational curriculum programme  for some students at KS4. 

The school enjoys the support of a dedicated Parent Teacher Association (Friends of  Sandon School) which organises fundraising and social and educational activities. It is  instrumental in providing the school with many items of equipment and ‘extras’.  At The Sandon School students are given  the opportunity to participate in the highly  regarded Duke of Edinburgh’s Award  scheme. Currently Bronze and Silver  awards are offered. 

The catchment area of the school covers a  wide rural area in addition to the immediate  locality of Great Baddow, Sandon and  Chelmer Village. The main villages served  by the school are Danbury, Bicknacre, East  and West Hanningfield, and Chelmer  Village from which approximately 60% of  students are currently transported daily to school by means of contract or local service  buses.  The school occupies a very pleasant location on the east side of  Chelmsford. Located near to the A12, it is easily accessible by car and is  well served by public transport. Chelmsford is situated 32 miles from  London and has a train service to Liverpool Street (around half an hour).  It is within easy reach of the east coast with its many sailing centres, and  also Colchester, Ipswich. Southend and Brentwood. During the last 20  years, Chelmsford has undergone rapid expansion and this is  continuing. It is a popular residential city and serves London as a  commuter centre.