UKSchoolSearch
OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 136488

Sponne School

Academy converter · Towcester · NN12 6DJ

Ages 11–18 · 1,410 pupils · West Northamptonshire

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

52.3

Overall absence

6.4%

Admissions demand

1.09 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-01-21

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.27
−20+2
Attainment 852.3
English & maths grade 5+59%
English & maths grade 4+78%
EBacc entry22%

EBacc APS: 4.6

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence6.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)16.1%
Unauthorised1.7%
Authorised absence
4.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.9%
Enrolments in measure
1,178

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.09 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

240

Places offered

220

1st-preference offers

215

Total preferences (any rank)
355
Preferred offers (top 3)
220
Applications from outside LA
13
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill103%

1,410 pupils · 1,373 places

Pupils on roll
1,410
Boys / girls
702 / 708
School capacity
1,373
Capacity fill
1,410 / 1,373 (103%)
Free school meals
13.4%
FSM pupils
155
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: TOVE LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
TOVE LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
Tove Learning Trust
Headteacher
Mr Graham Forbes

Location

Address
Brackley Road
Postcode
NN12 6DJ
Town
Towcester
County
Northamptonshire
Local authority
West Northamptonshire
District
West Northamptonshire
Constituency
South Northamptonshire
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Towcester, West Northamptonshire, 1,410 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 13.4%.

Open schools in Towcester
17
Secondary schools in Towcester
2
Academies among open schools in Towcester
47% (8)
Open schools in NN12
20
Secondary in NN12
2
Open schools in West Northamptonshire LA
209
Secondary in West Northamptonshire LA
18

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in TowcesterNear NN12

  • Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    Towcester · NN12 6JA · West Northamptonshire

    Ages 4–11

    • KS272%
    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM7.5%
    • Demand1.02

    0.4 miles away

  • Marie Weller Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Primary

    Towcester · NN12 6LZ · West Northamptonshire

    Ages 4–11

    • Absence6.9%
    • FSM14.3%
    • Demand1.00

    1.0 miles away

  • Tiffield Academy

    Free schools special

    Towcester · NN12 8AA · West Northamptonshire

    Ages 4–18

    • FSM28.4%

    2.1 miles away

  • The Gateway School

    Academy special converter

    Northampton · NN12 8AA · West Northamptonshire

    Ages 11–16

    • Absence27.5%
    • FSM67.6%

    2.1 miles away

  • On Track Education Silverstone

    Other independent special school

    Northamptonshire · NN12 8UB · West Northamptonshire

    Ages 11–16

    • Att89.4
    • EM5+0%

    2.3 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Graham Forbes
Telephone
01327350284
Website
http://www.sponne.org.uk

Official links