The Spires College is a secondary school in Torquay, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a foundation school and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
The Spires College currently has around 1131 pupils on roll, which is about 87% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 51.5% boys and 48.5% girls. Around 30.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 9.4%. Persistent absence is recorded at 30.8%. The school also includes resourced provision, supporting 20 pupils.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (85.8%).
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 95% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (90%) , including 36% who stay in school sixth forms and 53% progressing to further education , while 3% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Westlands Lane, Torquay, TQ1 3PE |
| Website: | http://thespirescollege.com |
| Telephone: | 01803400660 |
| School Type: | Foundation school |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Torbay |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Ms Alex Newton |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 113526 |
Ofsted inspection date: 19/04/2017
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1304 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1131 |
| Number of Boys: | 582 |
| Number of Girls: | 549 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 9.4% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 30.8% | 8.2% |
| White British | 85.80% | 970 |
| Other White | 6.00% | 68 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.20% | 14 |
| White and Asian | 1.10% | 12 |
| Indian | 1.10% | 12 |
| Other Mixed | 1.00% | 11 |
| Other Asian | 1.00% | 11 |
| White and Black African | 0.90% | 10 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.50% | 6 |
| Pakistani | 0.40% | 4 |
| Irish | 0.30% | 3 |
| African | 0.30% | 3 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.30% | 3 |
| Unclassified | 0.20% | 2 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.10% | 1 |
| Chinese | 0.10% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Caribbean | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Black | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellacombe Church of England Academy Ellacombe Church Road , TQ1 1TG | 3out of 4 | 510 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ellacombe School Ellacombe Church Road , TQ1 1TG | - not rated | 510 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary School Quinta Road , TQ1 3RN | 3out of 4 | 657 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary School Quinta Road , TQ1 3RN | - not rated | 657 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Homelands Primary School Westhill Road , TQ1 4NT | 3out of 4 | 672 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Spires College Westlands Lane , TQ1 3PE | 3out of 4 | 0 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Cuthbert Mayne School Trumlands Road , TQ1 4RN | - not rated | 1,244 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Torquay Community College Cricket Field Road , TQ2 7NU | - not rated | 1,543 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Torquay Academy Cricketfield Road , TQ2 7NU | 3out of 4 | 1,543 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Torquay Girls Grammar School 30 Shiphay Lane , TQ2 7DY | - not rated | 2,326 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey School Hampton Court , Fore Street TQ1 4PR | - not rated | 811 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| TLG Torbay Upton Vale Baptist Church , St. Marychurch Road TQ1 3HY | - not rated | 967 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| EF Academy Torbay EF House, Castle Road , TQ1 3BG | - not rated | 1,058 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Middleton Hall Higher Warberry Road , TQ1 1SA | - not rated | 1,088 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Eat That Frog C.I.C 91 Union Street , TQ1 3DG | - not rated | 1,106 yd | Special post 16 institution | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.