Thomas Knyvett College
65%
Capacity
687
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About Thomas Knyvett College
Thomas Knyvett College, a mixed state secondary in Spelthorne for pupils aged 11 to 16, received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in November 2023. This marks a decline from its previous Good rating in 2013. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.39, which the Department for Education bands as 'Below average'. This means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly half a grade less per subject across their eight best GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 43.1, and just 41.1% of pupils secured a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. In the local context, this performance places Thomas Knyvett 51st out of 66 secondary schools in Surrey, with a Progress 8 score well below the local authority average of 0.26.
Ofsted’s report card is mixed. While leadership and management were judged Good, the quality of education, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes all require improvement. The school’s EBacc entry rate is low at 20.5%, and only 10.6% of pupils achieved the full EBacc combination at grade 5 or above. Parent View data, based on 30 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 73% of parents would recommend the school. Responses on specific areas are more divided: 63% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 84% felt their child does well. However, only 50% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and 40% felt the school supports wider personal development. On SEND support, 67% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the school provides the necessary help, though 17% strongly disagreed.
The school operates at roughly 65% of its 1,058 capacity, with 687 pupils on roll. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 164 applications for 150 places, though only 58 of those were first-preference offers. Facilities include science labs, music rooms, a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and art studios. The school offers a wide range of clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Eco Club, alongside sports such as rugby, rowing, and martial arts. SEND provisions cover autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 35.2%, Thomas Knyvett serves a diverse intake. It may suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and are comfortable with a school that is actively working through an improvement journey, as reflected in its Ofsted rating and below-average academic outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Stanwell Road, Ashford, Spelthorne, TW15 3DU |
| Headteacher | Shyam Dhokia |
| Local Authority | Surrey |
| Number of Pupils | 687 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.2% |
| School Capacity | 687 / 1,058 (65% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 20 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.39)
2431st of 3,141
Nationally
352nd of 461
In South East
4th of 5
In Spelthorne
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
2022/234%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 138 pupils).
- FE college78%
- Employment6%
- School sixth form (stay)4%
- Sixth form college4%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship1%
93% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
30 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
2025/26Oversubscribed150
164
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
58 families put this school as their 1st choice (35% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:00
Source: thomasknyvett.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British52.3%
- Asian15.4%
- Mixed9.7%
- White (other)9.6%
- Black0.3%
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.
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 Thomas Knyvett 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
Stanwell Road, Ashford
Spelthorne, TW15 3DU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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