Taunton School

Since 2022, James Johnson, previously head of senior school at Ardingly College in West Sussex. Educated at Radley College, UCL, where he read English, and Trinity College Dublin, where he did an MPhil in Anglo-Irish literature. After a PGCE at the

No entrance exam – entrance is based on an interview (in person, where possible), report and reference. ‘You have to be academically competent and a student we can work with,’ says the deputy head academic. Years 9, 10 and 12 are the usual entrance

Up to a third leave after GCSEs, some for the local sixth form college. At 18, pretty much all progress to university, half to the Russell Group. Popular destinations include Imperial, Cardiff, Exeter, Edinburgh, Queen Mary London, Lancaster, Reading

In 2025, 53 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 39 per cent A*/A at A level (69 per cent A*-B). IB average score 33.3.

Taunton is one of the only schools in the country to offer four different pathways for sixth formers. Pupils at the senior school can choose from A levels, the IB and BTECs, while on the north side of the campus Taunton School International (for 16

Known as educational progress here, the eight-strong team offers support for pupils with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ASD and ADHD. ‘We don’t see ourselves as a SEND specialism school but we’re really proud of the support we provide,’ says the deputy head

Breadth is the name of the game at Taunton, whether it’s playing chess, joining the investment club, taking part in a drama festival or doing DofE, the Ten Tors Challenge and CCF (CCF is compulsory in year 10 but voluntary after that). The regular

Make no bones about it, this is a very sporty school, with a host of awards, prizes and sporting achievements to its name over the years. Superbly equipped, with everything on site, including three indoor sports venues, eight netball courts, two

The school has eleven houses (six day and five boarding) and half of pupils board (full and a handful of weekly boarders). We visited Weirfield, a boarding house for 64 girls, at break time and found exuberant pupils happily chatting and making

Of all the school’s attributes, pastoral care stands first and foremost. In 20 years of visiting schools this writer had never heard so many plaudits about the quality of care. We heard stories of teachers and non-teachers going the extra mile to

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Day pupils come from up to an hour away, with the school running coaches and minibuses from as far afield as Exeter, Minehead, Sidmouth and Weston-super-Mare. Some UK boarders are from military families while others come from the south west, south

Scholarships available for students entering year 9 and year 12 (academic, art, DT, drama, computer science, music, sports and all-rounder). The school spends just under £3 million a year on means-tested remissions. ‘We are pretty generous in our

Down-to-earth, diverse and caring, this is a top-notch all-rounder school where youngsters can get stuck into their studies, sport, the performing arts and all manner of co-curricular pursuits. Pupils and parents wax lyrical about the place – and