Sponne School
104%
Capacity
1,422
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Sponne School
Sponne School is a large, mixed secondary and sixth form in West Northamptonshire, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school currently has 1,422 pupils on roll, which is 49 over its stated capacity of 1,373, and it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year. There were 343 total applications for 225 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.52, and 217 of those offers went to first-preference applicants. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.4%, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools. This combination of high demand and a pupil count exceeding capacity suggests a school that is well-regarded in the community, with families actively choosing it as their first option. The school is non-denominational and is led by headteacher Graham Forbes.
Academically, Sponne performs well above the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.27 is significantly higher than the West Northamptonshire average of 0.05, placing it 6th out of 22 schools in the LA and in the top 25% nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 52.3, and 78.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 22%, with 16.8% achieving the qualification at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025, the school was rated Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a change from its previous Outstanding rating in 2012. At A-level, the average points per entry is 34.28, equivalent to a C+ grade, and the best three A-levels average a B- grade. The sixth form value added score is -0.15, which is below average, though the school remains a popular choice for post-16 study with 122 pupils in the cohort.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a theatre, sixth form centre, astro turf, and music rooms, and runs clubs such as Model UN, DofE, and a gardening club. Sports on offer include rugby, swimming, and martial arts. Sponne has a wide array of SEND provisions, covering needs from dyslexia and autism to physical disabilities and multi-sensory impairment. In the Parent View survey, 84% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (86% agree or strongly agree) and that the school has high expectations (84%). However, only 66% felt concerns are dealt with properly, and 60% agreed the school makes them aware of what their child will learn. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic progress and a wide extracurricular offer, but who may want to keep a close eye on communication and pastoral follow-through.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Brackley Road, Towcester, West Northamptonshire, NN12 6DJ |
| Headteacher | Graham Forbes |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,422 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,422 / 1,373 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.27)
920th of 3,141
Nationally
68th of 273
In East Midlands
6th of 22
In West Northamptonshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.7
'22/23
31.4
'23/24
34.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2364%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 228 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)64%
- FE college28%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained1%
98% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 137 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
27%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)59%
- Employment27%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology42
- History32
- Biology30
- Geography27
- Physics26
- Mathematics25
- Chemistry22
- Sociology21
- Business Studies:Single19
- Physical Education / Sports Studies15
- Logic / Philosophy13
- Design and Technology (Product Design)11
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
373 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed225
343
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
225 families put this school as their 1st choice (66% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:10
After-school care
15:15-16:15
Source: sponne.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.5%
- Mixed4.3%
- White (other)4.1%
- Asian1.9%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sponne School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Brackley Road, Towcester
West Northamptonshire, NN12 6DJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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