Sponne School Review 2026: Historic Roots, Modern Ambition

Founded in 1430 by Archdeacon William Sponne, Sponne School holds the distinction of being the oldest secondary school in Northamptonshire. While its roots lie in the fifteenth century, the school today is a forward-looking academy and the lead school of the Tove Learning Trust. It serves the market town of Towcester and its surrounding villages, combining a heritage of scholarship with specialist strengths in Science and Music. Mr Graham Forbes has led the school since September 2024, overseeing a large, busy campus that remains a focal point for the local community.

The school’s entrance on Brackley Road fronts a site that has expanded significantly over the decades to accommodate over 1,400 students. The atmosphere is purposeful and energetic. Visitors often note the "Sponne sound"; music is not merely a subject here but a defining cultural pillar. The Sponne Brass Band is nationally renowned, frequently competing at the highest levels of youth music, and the performing arts faculty creates a vibrant undercurrent to daily life.

The House system (Drake, Hall, Potter, Spencer, Steel) provides the pastoral backbone. It fosters a sense of belonging within the larger school population, sparking fierce but friendly competition in sports and the arts. The school motto, Inspiring Achievement, is visible in corridor displays that celebrate diverse successes, from Maths Olympiad gold medals to Formula 1 in Schools engineering awards.

Academic performance is consistently strong. In 2024, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.28, indicating that pupils make above-average progress from their starting points compared to peers across England.

Sponne School ranks 1,470th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), and ranks 1st among secondary providers in Towcester, placing it in the top tier locally.

At A-level, results remain solid. In 2024, 50% of grades were A*-B, with over 22% of students securing A*-A grades. Ranked 1,090th in England and 1st in Towcester for A-level outcomes, the sixth form consistently outperforms local averages, reflecting solid performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (middle 35% of schools in England).

Ofsted visited in January 2025 under the new inspection framework. Inspectors rated the school Good in all key areas, including Quality of Education and Behaviour and Attitudes, noting that subject curriculums are ambitious and prepare pupils well for their next stages.

The curriculum is broad but retains a sharp edge in the school's specialisms. As a lead school for the Science Learning Partnership, Sponne benefits from strong industry links and teacher expertise, particularly in physics and chemistry. Science lessons often utilise equipment and resources that smaller schools cannot access.

Music tuition is exceptional. The curriculum encourages performance from Year 7, and the uptake of peripatetic music lessons is significantly higher than the state school average. In the sixth form, students can pursue a wide range of A-levels, including Music Technology, Psychology, and Further Mathematics.

The 2024 cohort saw 43% of leavers progress to university. While this figure is lower than some selective grammars, it reflects the diverse pathways Sponne supports. A significant 35% of students moved directly into employment or higher-level apprenticeships, often leveraging the school's strong links with Northamptonshire's engineering and motorsport industries.

For those pursuing higher education, outcomes are impressive. In 2024, one student secured a place at Oxbridge (Cambridge). The school has a dedicated team supporting UCAS applications, ensuring students aiming for Russell Group universities receive specific guidance on personal statements and interviews.

Sponne School is a comprehensive academy and admissions are coordinated by West Northamptonshire Council. It is consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent intake, there were 343 applications for 225 places, a ratio of 1.5 applications per place.

The oversubscription criteria prioritise looked-after children and siblings, followed by children living in the defined catchment area of Towcester and surrounding villages (including Paulerspury, Silverstone, and Whittlebury). The final allocation is based on distance. Families living outside the immediate catchment often find it difficult to secure a place unless they have sibling priority.

Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

The school employs a vertical tutoring system within its Houses, meaning tutor groups include students from Years 7 to 11. This structure fosters a family atmosphere where older students mentor younger peers. A dedicated Student Services team manages day-to-day wellbeing, and the school has invested in mental health first aid training for key staff.

Behaviour is generally calm and respectful. The "Sponne values" are reinforced through assemblies and rewards, emphasising responsibility and community contribution.

The extracurricular programme is dominated by the school's two specialisms: Music and Science.

Music

The Sponne Brass Band is the flagship ensemble, offering students opportunities to tour Europe and perform at venues like the Royal Albert Hall. Beyond brass, there are jazz bands, choirs, and string ensembles.

STEM

Science and technology clubs are equally robust. The school participates in the F1 in Schools challenge, where student teams design and race miniature compressed-air cars. There are also coding clubs and a busy schedule of lectures from visiting academics and industry professionals.

Sports facilities include a floodlit all-weather pitch and a large sports hall. Rugby, netball, and athletics remain the core competitive sports, with teams regularly reaching county finals.

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:15pm. The school is located on Brackley Road, a short walk from Towcester town centre. A significant number of students travel by bus from surrounding villages; the school manages a complex transport network in conjunction with the local authority. Uniform is strictly enforced, consisting of a navy blazer with the school crest.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Parents should budget for uniform, music lessons, and optional trips.

Oversubscription is real. With 1.5 applications for every place, living within the catchment area is essentially a requirement for those without siblings at the school. Families moving to the area should verify their specific address against catchment maps.

Large campus feel. With nearly 1,400 students, the site can feel busy and large, particularly for Year 7s arriving from small village primaries. However, the vertical tutoring system helps mitigate this by creating smaller "families" within the school.

Mixed pathways. The high percentage of students entering employment (35%) is a strength for those seeking apprenticeships but may differ from the "university-for-all" culture of some grammar schools.

Sponne School manages to be both a community hub and a centre of excellence for music and science. It combines the pastoral care of a local comprehensive with the opportunities of a specialist academy. Best suited to students who will throw themselves into the brass band, the science lab, or the sports field, and who want a rounded education with strong local roots. The main challenge is securing a place.