Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Somerset
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding | |||
| Personal development | Outstanding | |||
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
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 entry707 applications · 237 places offered · 336 named it first
- 2026 3.0; Somerset median median 1.4
- 2025 2.5; Somerset median median 1.3
- 2024 2.2; Somerset median median 1.2
- 2023 2.3; Somerset median median 1.2
- 2022 2.1; Somerset median median 1.3
- 2021 2.2; Somerset median median 1.3
- 2020 2.3; Somerset median median 1.4
- 2019 2.2; Somerset median median 1.4
- 2018 2.1; Somerset median median 1.5
- 2017 2.4; Somerset median median 1.6
- 2016 2.2; Somerset median median 1.6
- 2015 2.3; Somerset median median 1.7
- 2014 2.3; Somerset median median 1.5
- This school
- Somerset 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 | 237 | 707 | 3.0 | 336 | 1.42 |
| Sep 2025 | 237 | 583 | 2.5 | 365 | 1.54 |
| Sep 2024 | 233 | 517 | 2.2 | 307 | 1.32 |
| Sep 2023 | 234 | 537 | 2.3 | 323 | 1.38 |
| Sep 2022 | 238 | 500 | 2.1 | 269 | 1.13 |
| Sep 2021 | 236 | 523 | 2.2 | 302 | 1.28 |
| Sep 2020 | 237 | 554 | 2.3 | 333 | 1.41 |
| Sep 2019 | 240 | 529 | 2.2 | 295 | 1.23 |
| Sep 2018 | 238 | 507 | 2.1 | 267 | 1.12 |
| Sep 2017 | 239 | 578 | 2.4 | 306 | 1.28 |
| Sep 2016 | 240 | 525 | 2.2 | 278 | 1.16 |
| Sep 2015 | 240 | 540 | 2.3 | 286 | 1.19 |
| Sep 2014 | 239 | 538 | 2.3 | 285 | 1.19 |
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.) | 239 | 52.7 | 57% | 74% | – |
| 2024/25 | 239 | 53.4 | 58% | 80% | – |
| 2023/24 | 234 | 55.3 | 59% | 84% | +0.60 |
| 2022/23 | 239 | 53.1 | 54% | 74% | +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
- The Castle SchoolThis schoolThis schoolOutstanding20233.0applications per place 52.7Attainment 8
- 2.1 km · SomersetRemains Good20233.0applications per place 49.7Attainment 8
- 2.6 km · SomersetSpecial measures Graded · no overall grade2025
- 4.4 km · SomersetSpecial measures Inadequate20231.3applications per place 42.2Attainment 8
- 9.4 km · SomersetGood20231.3applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
- 13.6 km · SomersetGood20241.7applications per place 49.5Attainment 8
- 13.7 km · SomersetGraded · no overall grade20241.1applications per place 41.6Attainment 8
- 14.0 km · SomersetRequires improvement2023
- 14.9 km · SomersetRemains Good · improving20242.6applications per place 37.2Attainment 8
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 136916 · 933/4358
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,188 pupils · 1,207 on roll
- Free school meals
- 13.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 July 2011
- Replaced
- The Castle School (URN 123886)
- Address
- Wellington Road, Taunton, TA1 5AU
- Local authority
- Somerset
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources