The Spires College is a mainstream secondary school in Torquay, Torbay, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 226 of its 1,154 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 64 (5.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,154 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Torbay.
19.6% get SEN support
226 of 1,154 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.5% have an EHC plan
64 of 1,154 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia102
- Autism62
- Speech, language and communication49
- Social, emotional and mental health37
- Hearing impairment10
- Moderate learning difficulty7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,154 (places for 1,304)
- Headteacher
- Ms Alex Newton (Principal)
- Part of
- Westlands School Trust
- Free school meals
- 31.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Torbay
- School reference (URN)
- 113526
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Torbay council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, April 2017; school remains Good (November 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
Westlands Lane, Torquay, TQ1 3PE
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Eat That Frog C.I.C Independent · Ages 16–25 0.6 miles
- Lift Barton Hill Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Combe Pafford School Special school · Ages 8–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- Preston Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ellacombe Church of England Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 15.1%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.3 miles
- All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 24.4%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.4 miles
- Homelands Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.4 miles
Questions about The Spires College
How many pupils at The Spires College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 226 of the 1,154 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 64 (5.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Spires College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (102 pupils), autism (62 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (49 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Spires College?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at The Spires College?
Through Torbay council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to The Spires College?
You can ask for The Spires College to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does The Spires College have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Lift Barton Hill, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is The Spires College?
Westlands Lane, Torquay, TQ1 3PE, in Torbay.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.