Samuel Whitbread Community College serves the rural communities around the small market town of Shefford in Central Bedfordshire. It consists of an expanding comprehensive school for years 9-13, a nursery school and facilities for adult education. The school holds Specialist Engineering College status. Originally designated Shefford & District Upper School, it was as Samuel Whitbread Upper School that it opened on a purpose-built site on the 4th September 1973, as part of Bedfordshire County Council's re-organisation into a 3-tier, non-selective school system. Adult education provision was in place from the beginning under Mr Gordon Ainscough, but the name of the institution was not changed to Samuel Whitbread Upper School and Community College until 1975 (when the 'Headmaster' became the 'Head') and it became Samuel Whitbread Community College, (led by a 'Principal') at some point in the late 90s. The Headmaster when the school opened was Mr Kenneth Dodsworth, and the Chairman of Governors was Alderman W. Inskip.