Sponne School

Sponne School
Established 15th Century
Type Academy of Music and Science
Head of School Mr Iain Massey
Location Brackley Road
Towcester
Northamptonshire
NN12 6DJ
England
Coordinates: 52°07′56″N 0°59′37″W / 52.1323°N 0.9935°W / 52.1323; -0.9935
DfE URN 122051 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Students 1358
Gender Mixed
Ages 11–19
Colours Red, Blue and White
Website School website

Sponne School in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England is the oldest secondary school in Northamptonshire, and one of the oldest in the country.[1] Part of the school was originally Towcester Grammar School, until Grammar schools were abolished in Northamptonshire. In 1968, the Grammar school was joined with the next-door Secondary Modern school, and the school was renamed Sponne, after Archdeacon William Sponne, who was Rector at the nearby St. Lawrence Church in the 15th Century and the original founder of the school.

Sponne School is a mixed gender Secondary School and Sixth Form College, with 1358 pupils on the roll, around 200 of whom are in the 6th Form.[2] It is registered as a specialist science and music academy. The current Executive Head Teacher is Jamie Clarke and the Head of School is Iain Massey. In October 2007, the school became a "Foundation" school and in November 2009, changed to Trust school status. Since October 2010, the school has started a consultation process and has been approved to become an Academy.[3]

The Sponne School time-table is run on a two-week rota, blue week and red week, due to of the two colours of the schools badge.

Physical layout

On the right end of the school is the Sports Hall and changing rooms, located opposite the E Block.

There are two residential houses in the school; they both used to be occupied by the care-takers. The house at the front of school is now the GUTP office. There is also a 4-acre (16,000 m2) field at the back of the school. It is repainted in the summer and the winter with two football pitches, a hockey pitch, 2 rugby pitches, a 400 m track and a 100 m track. It also has two long jump sandpits, and 2 discus circles. Adjacent to the field is a set of tennis courts.

Media attention

Sponne was one of the first schools in Britain to switch its dietary policies following celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's anti–obesity TV campaign. In July 2006, William Guntrip (13), set up a playground sweet shop to counteract what he considered to be 'overpriced health food'. Mr Guntrip was taking more than £50 a day, selling chocolate bars and fizzy drinks to other pupils during break times. He was allegedly threatened with expulsion and the story was picked up by the national media.[4]

Sixth form

Sponne School offers a Sixth Form for pupils in Year 12 and 13. The sixth form provides A-Level grade education and provides the same courses as a sixth form college. Uniform is smart casual. In Year 12, pupils may choose up to 5 AS Level subjects to study. The school holds a sixth form open evening for both internal and external candidates and provides prospective pupils with choice application forms. The subjects differ slightly from GCSE level and the school offers an extended range of courses, including economics and a full range of music and science courses. Pupils can stay on a second year as long as they earn a minimum of 60 UCAS points from their AS results. Pupils can then continue to work towards gaining points for university entry. At the end of year 12, pupils generally drop one subject; the majority of year 13 pupils take 3 subjects on to A2 level. Sixth form classes are much smaller than standard secondary school lessons, allowing teachers to provide a more in depth level of teaching.[5]

Notable pupils

England international and Nottinghamshire offspin bowler Graeme Swann attended the school between 1990 and 1997. Swann's older brother, Alec, also a first class cricketer for Lancashire, was at the school between 1988 and 1995. His father Raymond, who had previously played cricket for Northumberland and Bedfordshire, was a Mathematics and P.E. teacher at the school.

The Doncaster Rovers attacking midfielder Harry Forrester attended the school between 2003 and 2008. Elliot Parish is an English professional footballer who plays for Blackpool as a goalkeeper. Hannah Barnes, a cyclist who has represented Great Britain, attended the school.[6] International orchestral and opera conductor, Martyn Brabbins attended Sponne school in the 1970s.

Head Teachers

References

  1. ↑ Towcester Grammar School
  2. ↑ Ofsted report
  3. ↑ http://www.sponneschool.northants.sch.uk/uploads/file/Governors/Academy/Letter%20to%20parents%20Oct%202010.pdf
  4. ↑ School bans boy's snack empire | Metro.co.uk
  5. ↑ Sponne School Sixth Form | Sponne School Website
  6. ↑ "Towcester girl Hannah Barnes excited at prospect of returning home to Northamptonshire for The Women's Tour". Northampton Herald & Post. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
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