The Spires College
151%
Capacity
1,131
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About The Spires College
The Spires College is a mixed state secondary and sixth form in Torbay, one of nine schools of its type in the local authority. Its Progress 8 score of -1.12 places it eighth out of those nine, putting it well behind the local authority average of -0.4. For context, the top-performing schools in the area are Torquay Girls' Grammar School, Torquay Boys' Grammar School, and Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy, all of which achieve positive Progress 8 scores. The Spires College is also ranked 3057th nationally out of 3141 schools on the same measure, placing it in the bottom 50% of schools across England. In the South West region, it sits at 298th out of 306 schools. The school is led by headteacher Alex Newton and has no religious character. It is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 245 applications for 117 places, with 68 first-preference offers made.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated its overall effectiveness as Good, matching its previous inspection in 2017. However, the breakdown shows some variation: while quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were all rated Good, personal development was judged as Requires improvement. At Key Stage 4, the school's Attainment 8 score is 35, and the percentage of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths (basics95Pct) is 24.5%, compared with 38.8% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 15.1%, and only 5.8% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. Progress 8 scores are negative across all subject areas, with English at -1.24, maths at -1.27, and the EBacc subjects at -1.22. The school does have a sixth form, but no separate exam data is provided for that phase.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including music rooms, a sixth form centre, tennis courts, science labs, an astro turf pitch, and a sports hall. Sports on offer include tennis, football, rugby, cricket, and gymnastics, among others. There is an extensive list of clubs such as Drama, Debate, Choir, Duke of Edinburgh, Art Club, Eco Club, Gardening, Young Enterprise, Orchestra, Coding, and Model UN. The school has a range of SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 39.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. Given its oversubscription and low academic rankings, it is likely to suit families who prioritise a Good Ofsted rating and a wide extracurricular offer over high exam performance, and who are comfortable with a school that is well below average on progress measures.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Westlands Lane, Torquay, Torbay, TQ1 3PE |
| Headteacher | Alex Newton |
| Local Authority | Torbay |
| Number of Pupils | 1,131 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,131 / 750 (151% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 1 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.12)
3057th of 3,141
Nationally
298th of 306
In South West
8th of 9
In Torbay
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2315%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 146 pupils).
- FE college53%
- School sixth form (stay)15%
- Not sustained14%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment7%
84% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
21Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed117
245
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
68 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Source: thespirescollege.com. 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British78.1%
- White (other)4.3%
- Mixed4.1%
- Asian4.0%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
13
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
10
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 The Spires College
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
Westlands Lane, Torquay
Torbay, TQ1 3PE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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