Schools by area › Torbay › The Spires College
The Spires College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Foundation school
Westlands Lane, Torquay TQ1 3PE · thespirescollege.com · 01803 400660
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Torbay 47.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,154
- 88% of 1,304 places
- Local authority
- Torbay
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 31.8%
- First language not English
- 7.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 199 families put the school first and 194 places were offered; 67% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 194 | 199 | 1▲ | 67% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 218 | 213 | 1 | 78% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 195 | 223 | 1.1▲ | 72% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 209 | 199 | 1 | 79% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 197 | 223 | 1.1▲ | 67% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.5, and 51.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Torbay it was 47.4, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (28 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲51.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼60.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼26.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.88 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 32.7 | −3.1 |
| Sixth form college | 0.5 | −0.2 |
| Further education | 54.5 | +3.1 |
| Other education | 0.5 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 1.4 | −2.7 |
| Employment | 0.9 | −2.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.1 | +3.7 |
| Activity not captured | 2.4 | +1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 students | C- (28) | Below average -0.27 | |
| 43 students | C- (27.8) | Below average -0.26 | |
| 27 students | Merit+ (28.5) | Average -0.13 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39 | C- (26.9) | -0.32 |
| 2022/23 | 38 | C (28.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 37 | C+ (34.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 45 | D+ (23.9) | -0.04 |
| 2017/18 | 59 | D+ (24.2) | -0.38 |
| 2016/17 | 57 | D- (17.6) | -0.57 |
| 2015/16 | 70 | D (21.2) | -0.18 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 41.2 | +6.8 |
| Further education | 1.9 | +0.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 9.8 | +8.2 |
| Employment | 33.3 | +2.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.8 | +1.2 |
| Activity not captured | 5.9 | −18.7 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 16 November 2022, Ofsted’s outcome for The Spires College was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 15 Nov 2022
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Apr 2017
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Apr 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Mar 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
78% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (148 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 78%
- Replies
- 148
- 13% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 81% who raised concerns
based on the 39% who had a child bullied
based on 40 parents (27%) with SEND