Schools by area › West Northamptonshire › Sponne School
Sponne School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Brackley Road, Towcester NN12 6DJ · sponne.org.uk · 01327 350284
On the mapSearch near NN12 6DJ
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 52
- average Attainment 8 score. West Northamptonshire 44.7, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 6.44 mi
- 10.36 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · West Northamptonshire Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,410
- 37 over 1,373 places · 103%
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 13.4%
- First language not English
- 3.7%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Tove Learning Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 6.44 mi (10.36 km) from the school. Source: West Northamptonshire Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 214 families put the school first and 220 places were offered; 97% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 220 | 214 | 1 | 97% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 225 | 225 | 1 | 96% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 220 | 240 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 222 | 245 | 1.1▲ | 91% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 227 | 239 | 1.1▲ | 93% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 6.44 mi10.36 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 52, and 55.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across West Northamptonshire it was 44.7, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (34.8 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲52 | 46 | ||
| ▲55.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲82.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼34.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.70 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 53 | −2.1 |
| Further education | 34.5 | +3.8 |
| Other education | 0.9 | −2.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.7 | −0.2 |
| Employment | 1.3 | −3.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.4 | +2.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.2 | — |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 129 students | C+ (34.8) | Average +0.07 | |
| 129 students | C+ (34.9) | Average +0.08 | |
| 44 students | Dist- (31.5) | Average +0.05 | |
| 14 students | Dist- (31.7) | Average -0.11 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 122 | C+ (34.3) | -0.15 |
| 2022/23 | 136 | C (31.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 136 | B- (36.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 130 | C+ (32) | -0.21 |
| 2017/18 | 144 | C (31.1) | -0.11 |
| 2016/17 | 160 | C (28.9) | -0.05 |
| 2015/16 | 135 | C (29.2) | -0.08 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 57.5 | −1.6 |
| Further education | 1.6 | −1.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.9 | +1 |
| Employment | 29.1 | +2.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.7 | −0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.1 | +0.2 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Sponne School on 21 January 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 21 Jan 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Oct 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Oct 2012Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Jan 2010Requires 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
84% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (373 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 84%
- Replies
- 373
- 26% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 82% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 93 parents (25%) with SEND