Taunton School Review 2026: 175 Years of Progressive Education

The Victorian clock tower has marked the hours at Taunton School since 1870, standing sentinel over nearly two centuries of innovation. Within that imposing Gothic structure, a school founded on radical principles in 1847, when it welcomed dissenters barred from traditional institutions, continues to evolve. Today, across its 56-acre campus on the edge of Somerset, Taunton educates over 1,200 pupils from age four to eighteen in an environment where academic ambition coexists with genuine breadth. The co-curricular programme alone comprises more than 150 clubs and activities, a provision ISI inspectors in 2024 recognized as "a significant strength." International pupils from over 60 nationalities integrate seamlessly into this close-knit community. The school's non-selective admissions and four distinct academic pathways at sixth form, A-levels, International Baccalaureate, BTECs, and Foundation Programmes, reflect an educational philosophy that celebrates individual potential rather than narrow academic ranking. More than 96% of sixth form leavers progress to university (FindMySchool ranking), with meaningful numbers securing Russell Group and Oxbridge places annually.

The moment you enter Taunton's campus, the atmosphere is one of purposeful calm. Boys and girls move between the Grade II listed main building and contemporary facilities with easy confidence. The school balances institutional formality, chapel services, house systems, formal dinners, with genuine informality. Staff know students as individuals; pastoral care centres on house systems where boys and girls of all ages live alongside each other, creating genuine mentoring relationships. The house structure, particularly important in the boarding community, provides a sense of belonging that parents consistently report as transformative for their children.

Recent investment reflects the school's commitment to modernisation. A £4 million dining hall opened by Princess Anne in 2020 has become a genuine social hub where the entire school community gathers. The newly designed "Green Heart", a pedestrianised outdoor haven connecting boarding houses, teaching blocks, and the Chapel, provides students spaces to relax and socialise away from the classroom. The Health Centre, accessible 24/7 to all pupils, is staffed by seventeen qualified professionals including nurses, mental health specialists, and a chartered physiotherapist. This provision extends beyond the merely medical; the team actively supports pupil wellbeing through early intervention and coordinated pastoral response.

Headmaster James Johnson, appointed in 2022 after leading the Senior School at Ardingly, has shaped a leadership team committed to the school's "four pillars": a culture of ambition, a mindset for life, a sense of belonging, and a global community. Three core values, humility, engagement, and kindness, permeate daily life. The school positions itself as aspirational yet unpretentious, ambitious yet grounded. Students report genuinely feeling valued; the school's Christian foundation (though non-denominational) emphasises service and compassion. The Chapel, rebuilt in 1906 by William Wills, 1st Baron Winterstoke, operates as a genuine spiritual centre rather than ceremonial relic; students are welcome daily for quiet reflection, and services blend traditional liturgy with contemporary relevance.

GCSE Performance

Taunton's 2024 GCSE cohort achieved 42% of grades at 9-7 (A*-A), compared to the England average of 54%. This positioning places the school in the top 25% in England (FindMySchool ranking). Ranked 567th in England for GCSE outcomes, Taunton sits firmly in the national strong performance band, with strong consistency year on year. The school's approach emphasises mastery over acceleration; students are encouraged to develop deep understanding rather than chase the highest grades at the expense of breadth.

Subject offerings span 26 options, allowing genuine choice. Science is taught as separate disciplines from Year 7. Languages include French, Spanish, and Mandarin. The curriculum balances academic rigour with practical application, particularly evident in Design and Technology where students access laser cutters, 3D printers, and professional-grade CAD software.

A-Level and Sixth Form Pathways

Unique among UK schools, Taunton offers four distinct A-level pathways: A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, BTECs, and the International Foundation Programme. This flexibility allows students to study according to their strengths rather than fitting into a single model.

A-Level results for 2024 showed 56% of grades at A*-B, above the England average of 47%. The school ranks 729th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the middle band of schools. However, the 39% achieving A*/A demonstrates meaningful distinction at the highest grades. Students report strong subject teaching; physics, chemistry, mathematics, and humanities are recognised as particular strengths. Recent alumni have progressed to music study at the Royal College of Music, RNCM, Trinity Laban, and Berklee College.

The International Baccalaureate, introduced in 2009, established the school as "the highest IB newcomer in the UK" according to the Financial Times. One student achieved the maximum 45 points in 2010, and the IB remains a substantial pathway with strong results. BTEC qualifications, offering practical vocational routes, appeal to students seeking applied learning. The International Foundation Year bridges language skills and academic preparation for international students entering British university education.

Leavers destinations reflect this breadth. In 2024, 49% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with meaningful representation at Russell Group institutions. One student secured an Oxbridge place in 2024.

Teaching is characterised by clarity, high expectations, and genuine subject enthusiasm. The school invests in continuous professional development; staff are encouraged to remain current in their subject specialism and teaching practice. Class sizes in the main school average 28 in lower years, dropping to smaller sets for GCSE and A-level, typically 10-15 students, allowing more focused teaching.

The curriculum philosophy balances traditional subjects with contemporary skills. All students learn a modern language from the start. Science is taught as separate disciplines rather than combined science, allowing greater depth. Design and Technology facilities include specialist workshops, and the dedicated Science block houses modern laboratories. The school offers 26 subjects at A-level, providing genuine choice; unusually, students can study Classical Greek, Russian, History of Art, and Philosophy alongside traditional options.

Teaching staff include qualified specialists with recent industry or academic experience. The Music department, for instance, includes a School Organist and multiple visiting specialist teachers alongside core staff. Drama benefits from dedicated performance spaces and staff with professional experience in theatre and film. The overall approach is intellectually demanding without being narrowly academic; teachers genuinely know their subject and care about pupil understanding.

Sixth Form Entry Routes

The substantial sixth form brings approximately 300 students to Years 12-13. About 60% of pupils continue from the main school; external students join from other schools across the region and internationally. Sixth form entry requires a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 5 or above, though individual subject requirements vary. The four-pathway model allows students to select their preferred route (A-levels, IB, BTEC, or Foundation). This flexibility means students genuinely choose their sixth form experience rather than conforming to a single model.

University Progression

More than 96% of sixth form leavers progress to university or further education. The 2024 cohort (134 leavers) showed 49% progressing to university, 18% entering employment (reflecting strong BTEC/vocational routes), and 1% to further education. These figures reflect the school's deliberate diversification of pathways; many BTEC students transition directly to apprenticeships or employment rather than university.

University destinations include substantial Russell Group representation. The school publishes limited specific detail on university outcomes, reflecting a philosophy that celebrates all destinations rather than fixating on prestige rankings. Leavers secure places at well-regarded universities across the UK, with notable representation at Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, and Bath.

Oxbridge outcomes remain modest but meaningful. Recent years have seen single-digit Oxbridge entries, reflecting the school's broad intake and non-selective admissions policy. The focus is on preparing students for universities where they will thrive, not on maximising top-tier admissions. Student services include a dedicated Futures Programme providing careers guidance, university application support, and skills development for post-18 pathways.

The co-curricular programme is genuinely the heart of Taunton's identity. ISI inspectors in 2024 explicitly recognised this provision as "a significant strength" of the school. With more than 150 clubs, societies, and activities, the breadth is remarkable. This is not quantity for its own sake; clubs range from elite competitive teams (swimming, rowing, CCF) to niche interests founded by students themselves. Many clubs are student-led, reflecting genuine passion rather than administrative requirement.

Music: A Defining Strength

Music is central to school life. The Music School, housed in its own purpose-built building adjacent to the Chapel, provides rehearsal spaces, teaching rooms, practice facilities, and a full Recording Studio with professional equipment. Three grand pianos and a Nord Stage 4 digital stage piano support serious classical training; the Music Technology Room provides Logic and Sibelius software for contemporary music creation. A specialist Percussion room, Chamber music room, and dedicated Keyboard facility enable students pursuing music at the highest levels.

The performance calendar features over 100 events annually. Core ensembles include the Taunton School Chorus, Chapel Choir (which features in regular services), Advanced Vocal Ensemble, Community Choir, Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Wind Band, Dance Band, Funk Band, Brass Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Chamber music provision is "rapidly growing," suggesting increasing student take-up. Several Rock Bands cater to contemporary interests.

Recent productions include The Addams Family (50-person cast with full band) performed at The Brewhouse in Taunton. The annual calendar includes Concerto Competition, large-scale termly concerts, Choral Concert, Advent and Christmas services, musical productions, UK and overseas tours, Pro Corda Festival Competition, Evening Recitals, Teatime Concerts, masterclasses, and contemporary music evenings. Recent guest leaders have included Daniel Pailthorpe (co-principal flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra), Dr Jonathan James (London Symphony Orchestra animator), and Clive Hughes (formerly of the Smith Quartet).

Students have gained representation in the National Children's Choir, British Youth Music Theatre, and Somerset County Youth Orchestra. Recent alumni study music at the Royal College of Music, RNCM, Trinity Laban, Berklee College, and Durham University. The department culture is genuinely inclusive; students are encouraged to perform, compose, or simply enjoy music at whatever level engages them.

Drama: Accessible Excellence

Drama benefits from exceptional facilities: a fully equipped 220-seater Theatre (regular home for student productions), a dedicated Drama Hall, and specialist studios. The department produces 6+ major productions annually, far exceeding typical school provision. Students work with visiting theatre professionals and regularly attend shows at major UK theatres. Year 8 participates in a whole-school production; sixth form creates additional opportunities for directors, designers, technicians, and performers.

The department culture actively welcomes explorers as well as experienced performers. Recent shows span Shakespeare, contemporary comedy, musical theatre, and new work. Departments maintain strong links with regional theatres; visiting companies lead workshops and the school regularly performs at venues beyond campus. The Prep School adds additional production complexity with three whole-year group productions and over 70 pupils participating in the Taunton Drama Festival annually.

Sport: Elite and Inclusive

Sport provision encompasses both competitive excellence and genuine inclusivity. The senior school fields 120+ representative teams across 20+ sports. Three carefully designed pathways ensure every student finds engagement: elite pathways for aspiring athletes, intermediate competitive routes, and recreational options for those seeking fitness and friendship.

Facilities are exceptional. Two swimming pools enable year-round training; the recently renovated 20m main pool hosts water polo at national level, and the second pool accommodates teaching and recreational swimming. The floodlit AstroTurf pitches (two double floodlit pitches), opened in 2024, enable hockey fixtures throughout winter evenings. The Gwyn Williams Recital Room seats up to 80 for smaller performances. Eight netball courts, four floodlit tennis courts, two squash courts, a climbing wall, and dedicated athletics area provide outstanding breadth. The 2024 golf simulator facility and multi-use games area reflect ongoing investment.

Traditional sports include rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, and tennis. Emerging sports include rowing, equestrian, squash (junior girls team finished 7th in England in 2024), cross-country and athletics, and badminton. Students train with Level 4 coaches; the school has developed partnerships with professional clubs including the Bristol Bears Academy for rugby. Outdoor education includes competitive participation in Ten Tors, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, and Ten Tors challenges.

The Long-Distance Swimming Club is genuinely distinctive. Training year-round in school pools and local waters, students build stamina and technique toward a Year 8 objective: swimming the English Channel. This programme develops resilience, physical conditioning, and genuine camaraderie alongside aquatic skill.

Sport remains genuinely inclusive. Competitive fixtures run continuously; an active house competition system ensures participation opportunities for students of all abilities. The Culture emphasises "GRIT", encouraging students to embrace that perseverance and passion lead to long-term achievement. Weekend fixtures are central to school life, with Saturday afternoon typically dedicated to matches.

STEM, Debate, and Broader Opportunities

The Debating and Public Speaking Society carries the school's 175-year tradition from its founding as a Dissenters' institution committed to reasoned discourse. Students compete in the English-Speaking Union's Schools' Mace, Oxford Union School Debating Competition, and the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships. A growing Model United Nations Club adds diplomatic simulation. These programmes develop critical thinking, persuasion, and confidence.

STEM provision includes computer programming, robotics, and Design and Technology opportunities. The Design and Technology department provides laser cutters, 3D printers, and professional CAD software. Science blocks house modern laboratories supporting practical investigations. Outdoor Education and the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), one of the Southwest's largest, engage over 50% of sixth form. CCF activities range from sailing and climbing to mountaineering and scuba diving, culminating in highlights such as RAF Chinook helicopter flights.

The "Horizons Programme" provides structured framework for the broader co-curricular offer. More than 150 clubs, societies, and teams sit within this intentional structure designed to help students develop core competencies, leadership skills, and individual agency. Student-founded clubs demonstrate genuine student voice; the school actively encourages entrepreneurship and self-directed learning.

Prep school provision is equally rich: over 60 co-curricular activities, 15 instrument options available, 12 competitive sports at national level, and substantial representation in music concerts and drama festivals. Activities include pottery, model-making, chess, judo, drama, horse-riding, golf, jazz and modern dance, climbing, table tennis, and cookery. This breadth ensures every pupil finds genuine engagement.

Day fees for Year 7-8 are £7,430 per term (approximately £22,290 annually); Year 9 day fees reach £9,320 per term (approximately £27,960 annually). Full boarding for Year 7-8 costs £12,640 per term (approximately £37,920 annually); Year 9-13 full boarding reaches £16,380 per term (approximately £49,140 annually). Flexible options include 5-night weekly boarding and 3-night flex boarding at reduced rates.

The school offers robust financial assistance. Means-tested bursaries support talented pupils who would otherwise be unable to afford fees; applications are submitted in confidence to the Headmaster. Scholarships recognise merit in academic, music, art, sport, or all-round achievement, carrying fee remissions (typically 10-25%). A 10% sibling discount applies when multiple children attend simultaneously; children of Old Tauntonians (alumni) receive 10% fee remission.

Registration is £125 (UK families) or £150 (international families); acceptance deposits are £750 (UK), £3,000 (EU), or one term's fee (rest of world), redeemed against first invoice. Military families receive generous CEA rates reducing parental contribution.

The school is non-selective at entry to Year 7 and Year 9 (the latter accommodating external pupils). This commitment to inclusivity, regardless of academic background, fundamentally shapes the school's character. Applications are coordinated through the standard admissions process; entry is based on submitted forms and school reports rather than entrance examinations.

Year 12 entry (sixth form) involves more competitive selection, particularly for the International Baccalaureate pathway. Minimum GCSE requirements (5 grades at grade 5 or above) apply; subject-specific requirements vary. The four-pathway model allows prospective students to select their preferred sixth form experience, supporting genuine choice.

Admissions include international pupils through Taunton School International (TSI), a distinct arm welcoming overseas students aged 7-18. TSI provides specialist support including English for Academic Purposes and pastoral transition. Over 60 nationalities integrate into school life; the school actively celebrates diversity and develops genuine global citizenship.

The house system anchors pastoral provision. Each house contains a cross-section of year groups (Years 9-13 for senior school), creating genuine mentoring and support networks. Housemasters and Housemistresses live on site; the house becomes home. Tutors work in small groups (typically 6-8 students) providing academic oversight and personal support. The approach genuinely personalises attention; staff know students as individuals and recognise their development through their school journey.

Pastoral staff work closely with the Health Centre to coordinate physical and emotional wellbeing. The Centre's team includes mental health nurses and a qualified counsellor; safeguarding is woven throughout the school culture. The commitment to pupil safety is explicit; staff receive training on recognising and responding to concern. The school's Designated Safeguarding Lead oversees procedures and ensures every pupil feels empowered to speak up.

Boarding pupils receive additional transition support. Houses typically welcome 40-70 residents; facilities include comfortable common rooms, recreational spaces, and kitchens enabling student autonomy. Boarding staff maintain close contact with parents, updating families on their child's wellbeing and integration. Exeats (weekend leave) allow family contact; the school balances residential immersion with genuine home connection.

School hours run 8:50am to 3:20pm for day pupils; boarders remain on campus with evening activities and supervised study. Transport services are available through school-arranged coaches serving the region. The campus sits on the outskirts of Taunton town, providing a combination of rural setting (Quantock Hills are 11 miles away) and accessibility. London is 1 hour 40 minutes by direct train; Bristol Airport is 45 minutes' drive away.

Facilities include two on-site shops: Griffins (essentials, snacks, boarding supplies) and a Uniform Shop with a thriving "Nearly New" resale section. Catering is in-house (a rarity among regional schools), using locally-sourced meat, vegetables, and dairy. Students have substantial choice for breakfast, lunch, and tea, with cooked and continental options. Health and fitness support extends to gym access through the well-equipped fitness suite.

Entry competition at sixth form. While Year 7-9 are non-selective, sixth form (particularly the IB pathway) remains competitive. External applicants face selection; the four-pathway model means not every entrant secures their first choice. Families should verify whether their child meets subject-specific requirements and select an appropriate pathway.

Boarding intensity. For full boarders, the experience is genuinely immersive; boys and girls live at school for weeks at a time. This cultural immersion suits some brilliantly and develops independence, resilience, and global perspective. Others may prefer greater family contact. The school offers flexible boarding options (5-night weekly or 3-night flex) for families wanting partial boarding.

Non-selective admissions philosophy. While this creates a genuinely inclusive community, it means the peer group is academically mixed. Top performers sit alongside those with learning differences or EAL backgrounds. The school deliberately celebrates this diversity, but families seeking an academically elite peer group should recognize Taunton's inclusive ethos.

Academic pace. Results are respectable but not exceptional; this reflects the non-selective intake. Families expecting top 5% results should recognise that Taunton prioritises wellbeing, breadth, and individual flourishing over narrow academic ranking. The school's philosophy is that thriving students achieve better than pushed students.

Taunton School offers a rare combination: mainstream accessibility with significant challenge, breadth alongside specialism, tradition alongside innovation. The school genuinely lives its founding principles, welcoming diverse pupils and celebrating individual potential. The 2024 ISI inspection validated this approach, recognizing exceptional co-curricular provision and a nurturing, vibrant community where leaders foster mutual respect and emphasise diversity. For families seeking a boarding or day education that develops well-rounded, confident young adults prepared for global citizenship, Taunton delivers. The investment in facilities, staff expertise, and pastoral care is evident daily. Most suits those seeking a progressive, inclusive independent school with genuine breadth and where pastoral care centres on knowing students as individuals. Entry to sixth form is more competitive, and those seeking maximum academic selectivity may look elsewhere. But for families prioritising genuine community, diverse friendship groups, and an educational experience designed to develop character alongside exam success, Taunton remains a genuinely distinctive choice.