The Spires College
Torquay, TQ1 3PE · Torbay · secondary school
Check the area around this school
5th of 8 secondary schools in Torbay we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.8/10 against 746 of them, against 4.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 45.7 · 52 | 30% | 1.56 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.15 · 38 | 25% | 0.96 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.1 · 45 | 10% | 0.45 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Spires College overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2023. In 2024/25, 51.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.15 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Yoga and Pilates, Fitness, and Climbing clubs.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,154 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,304. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How are the climbing and fitness clubs structured for different ability levels?
What Ofsted said about The Spires College
Overview
The Spires College continues to be a good school, where pupils are proud, happy, and feel safe. Leaders have established a calm, orderly atmosphere with respectful relationships, ensuring that low-level disruption is rare and bullying is addressed quickly.
Strengths
- Leaders have designed an "ambitious curriculum" with a "clear sequence" of knowledge, supported by subject leaders using "current educational research."
- Teachers "check pupils’ understanding effectively" and respond quickly to correct misconceptions, providing extra help for those at risk of falling behind.
- The school prioritises reading, with specialist phonics support for early learners, helping pupils "build their confidence in reading."
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified quickly and receive effective support, allowing them to "access the mainstream curriculum most of the time."
- Staff and governors hold leaders to account, with staff appreciating that leaders "understand the workload pressure on staff."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure parents of pupils with SEND have a "better understanding of, and confidence in," the support provided, as some are currently unclear and unhappy.
- Leaders need to improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils, who currently attend less well than their peers, resulting in missed learning and gaps in understanding.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders creating a "strong safeguarding culture" and ensuring staff receive up-to-date training to identify and report concerns quickly.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.6 |
| 2024/25 | 44.5 |
| 2025/26 | 45.1 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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