About the school
The Spires College is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form located on Westlands Lane in Torquay, Devon. It is a bilateral school, meaning it admits both selective students, who reach the required standard in the Torbay 11 plus, and non-selective students, who do not take or do not pass the test.
The Spires College was previously known as Westlands School and took its current name in September 2015. It educates around 1,100 pupils aged 11 to 18, holds a specialist unit for students with a hearing impairment, and offers a broad curriculum across academic and vocational pathways.
Because it is bilateral, The Spires College offers a number of academically selective Year 7 places alongside its non-selective places. The selective places are allocated on the Torbay grammar schools entrance test, provided by GL Assessment, with admissions coordinated by Torbay Council.
School type
Co-Educational Bilateral (Selective & Non-Selective)
Exam date
Around September 19, 2026 (Torbay 11+ test)
Exam board
Torbay 11+ (GL Assessment) – English & Maths
Address
Westlands Lane, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 3PE
Age range
11–18 (Years 7–13)
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Admissions information
The Spires College selective places are allocated on the Torbay 11 plus, provided by GL Assessment, while non-selective places do not require a test. Here is everything you need to know about the admissions process and exam structure.
The Spires College is a bilateral school, so it offers both selective and non-selective Year 7 places. For its selective places, the school uses the Torbay grammar schools entrance test, provided by GL Assessment, which assesses English and Mathematics at Key Stage 2 level. Families seeking a non-selective place do not need to sit the test. Admission is coordinated by Torbay Council.
The Torbay 11 plus consists of two papers, each lasting around 50 to 60 minutes – one English and one Maths – both multiple-choice and marked electronically using Optical Mark Recognition. Raw scores from both papers are statistically standardised, including an adjustment for age, to create a total score used to identify children eligible for the selective places.
Registration for the Torbay 11 plus is completed online during the registration window, which opens in spring 2026 (the school and Torbay Council publish the exact dates). Families seeking only a non-selective place do not register for the test. Parents must name The Spires College on the Torbay Council Common Application Form by 31st October 2026.
The Torbay 11 plus takes place in September of Year 6, with results released in mid-October, before the Common Application Form deadline. Meeting the selective standard does not guarantee a selective place, as these are limited; non-selective places are allocated separately using the school’s criteria. School allocations are confirmed on national offer day, 1st March 2027.
Key admissions details
The Spires College has a Published Admission Number of 210 places for Year 7, of which 60 are academically selective places.
The Spires College allocates its places using Torbay Council’s coordinated scheme. Its 60 selective places are offered to children who meet the required standard in the Torbay 11 plus, ranked by score, while its non-selective places are offered using the school’s published criteria. After higher-priority groups such as looked-after children and siblings, distance from the school is used, with children living closer to the school prioritised when it is oversubscribed.
Whether you are aiming for one of the selective places or a non-selective place, our tutors understand the Torbay 11 plus used by The Spires College. Book a free assessment today and let us build a personalised preparation plan for your child starting wherever they are right now.
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Not exactly. The Spires College is a bilateral school in Torquay, meaning it admits both selective students who reach the required standard in the Torbay 11 plus and non-selective students who do not take or pass the test. It was formerly known as Westlands School and took its current name in 2015.
The Spires College has a Published Admission Number of 210 places for Year 7, of which 60 are academically selective places. The selective places are limited and competitive, so thorough preparation for the Torbay 11 plus is important if you are aiming for one.
The Spires College uses the Torbay grammar schools entrance test, provided by GL Assessment, for its selective places. It consists of two papers of around 50 to 60 minutes – one English and one Maths – both multiple-choice and marked electronically. Non-selective places do not require a test.
Only if you are seeking one of the 60 selective places, which require the Torbay 11 plus. Families seeking a non-selective place do not need to sit the test; those places are allocated using the school’s published criteria, including distance from the school.
Registration for the Torbay 11 plus opens in spring 2026, with the exact dates published by the school and Torbay Council. Families seeking only a non-selective place do not register for the test, and the Common Application Form is due by 31st October 2026.
Yes. The Spires College offers a broad enrichment programme across sport, music, drama and clubs, alongside an ambitious curriculum and strong pastoral support, with a calm and orderly atmosphere noted by Ofsted.
Yes, all our tuition is available both in-person at our Edgbaston, Birmingham centre and online via live video sessions. Online tuition gives families across Torquay and the wider Torbay area access to our expert tutors without the need to travel. The quality and personalisation of sessions is identical in both formats.
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