Graded inspection · Jan 2025 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in West Northamptonshire
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good | |||
| Personal development | Good | |||
| Leadership and management | Good | |||
| Sixth form provision | Good |
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry328 applications · 220 places offered · 214 named it first
- 2026 1.5; West Northamptonshire median median 2.0
- 2025 1.5; West Northamptonshire median median 1.8
- 2024 1.6; West Northamptonshire median median 1.6
- 2023 1.7; West Northamptonshire median median 1.7
- 2022 1.7; West Northamptonshire median median 1.7
- 2021 1.7; West Northamptonshire median median 1.8
- 2020 2.0; West Northamptonshire median median 1.9
- 2019 2.0; West Northamptonshire median median 1.6
- 2018 1.9; West Northamptonshire median median 1.9
- 2017 1.8; West Northamptonshire median median 2.0
- 2016 2.0; West Northamptonshire median median 2.0
- 2015 1.8; West Northamptonshire median median 1.9
- 2014 2.0; West Northamptonshire median median 2.0
- This school
- West Northamptonshire median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 220 | 328 | 1.5 | 214 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2025 | 225 | 343 | 1.5 | 225 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2024 | 220 | 355 | 1.6 | 240 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2023 | 222 | 371 | 1.7 | 245 | 1.10 |
| Sep 2022 | 227 | 384 | 1.7 | 239 | 1.05 |
| Sep 2021 | 226 | 377 | 1.7 | 248 | 1.10 |
| Sep 2020 | 226 | 441 | 2.0 | 268 | 1.19 |
| Sep 2019 | 230 | 458 | 2.0 | 298 | 1.30 |
| Sep 2018 | 228 | 439 | 1.9 | 263 | 1.15 |
| Sep 2017 | 226 | 416 | 1.8 | 259 | 1.15 |
| Sep 2016 | 229 | 447 | 2.0 | 254 | 1.11 |
| Sep 2015 | 226 | 396 | 1.8 | 228 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2014 | 203 | 409 | 2.0 | 223 | 1.10 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 231 | 51.4 | 55% | 81% | – |
| 2024/25 | 232 | 52.0 | 55% | 83% | – |
| 2023/24 | 232 | 52.3 | 59% | 78% | +0.27 |
| 2022/23 | 230 | 54.3 | 68% | 87% | +0.21 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Sponne SchoolThis schoolThis schoolGraded · no overall grade20251.5applications per place 51.4Attainment 8
- 6.7 km · West NorthamptonshireRequires improvement202336.2Attainment 8
- 6.8 km · West NorthamptonshireNot yet inspected
- 9.0 km · West Northamptonshire20262.0applications per place 44.8Attainment 8
- 11.0 km · West NorthamptonshireStandards maintained20252.6applications per place 52.0Attainment 8
- 11.1 km · West Northamptonshire20261.4applications per place 44.6Attainment 8
- 11.2 km · West NorthamptonshireStandards maintained20258.9applications per place 54.7Attainment 8
- 12.0 km · West NorthamptonshireGraded · no overall grade20251.6applications per place 45.2Attainment 8
- 13.1 km · West Northamptonshire20262.2applications per place 46.0Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 136488 · 941/4004
- Trust
- Tove Learning Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,373 pupils · 1,410 on roll
- Free school meals
- 13.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 March 2011
- Replaced
- Sponne School Technology College (URN 122051)
- Address
- Brackley Road, Towcester, NN12 6DJ
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources