Taunton School
Taunton School
Taunton School
Taunton School
Taunton School Taunton, Somerset Visit
school
Taunton School
Taunton
619 pupils, ages 13-18
Mixed
Day and Boarding

Taunton School

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Our View of Taunton Senior School

Down-to-earth, inclusive and as excellent in academics as it is in sports and the creative arts, this all-through co-ed ticks pretty much every box, unless it’s name-dropping you’re looking for. There’s no sense of pretentiousness or one-upmanship here and pupils are all the better for it, validated by four different pathways after GCSEs, each one as respected as the other. And with seamless movement from the prep that shares the same site, pupils can enjoy a one-stop education where they’re valued as individuals and looked after as well as they are at home.

Where is Taunton Senior School?

Taunton School is located in a leafy residential area of Taunton not far from Somerset County Cricket Club’s grounds – at night, you can see the floodlights twinkling. The 56-acre campus incorporates a mix of old and new buildings that are tasteful and functional rather than imposing. Sports grounds are to the front and the rear, with a few extra pitches across the road. There are separate sections for the prep and for the senior school, as well as an amazing new sixth-form centre and an impressive library. A newish dining hall is not too shabby either.   

London Paddington is just one hour 50 minutes away which makes weekend exeats convenient for London families. Day pupils are served by 11 bus routes that run as far as Exeter, Glastonbury, Sidmouth and Yeovil.

Headmaster

Although the pre-prep, prep and very successful international schools each have their own heads, James Johnson has oversight of all the Taunton schools and works with tireless purpose. Engaging and full of energy, he is passionate about what Taunton offers. It’s ‘unpretentious but aspirational’, he says, a place where inclusivity and diversity are more important than grandeur. Mr Johnson comes from a family of teachers and he was head of senior school at Ardingly College before joining Taunton in September 2022. He says he wants the school to ‘add more value than anyone else’ and is acutely aware of the area’s competitive market but sees that as a challenge: ‘We must be excellent. There is no room for complacency.’  Indeed, the school rarely sits on its hands and has just embarked on the building of two new boarding houses, one for boys and one for girls, with the plan being to integrate pupils from the international schools into both so they get more of a ‘British’ experience. There are over 60 nationalities represented at the school – a diversity which adds to the wonderful sense of inclusivity and breadth of options. As Mr Johnson says, the school is ‘a rare combination of ambition and lack of pretentiousness’.

Taunton Senior School Admissions Process

Children do not have to undergo any formal testing to get a place, but a one hour, online cognitive ability screening assessment gives the school the necessary information before arrival. Prospective pupils visit, have a face-to-face interview if possible, after which they can opt to come for a taster day and if they’re considering boarding can come for a sleepover to experience what it’s like.   

Nearly all of the Taunton Prep School pupils join the senior school, with around 20 or so new children coming from other feeder schools. After GCSEs, around 35 pupils will leave, usually for sixth-form colleges, while 60 or 70 new students will start. To join the sixth form, pupils are expected to get five GCSE passes at grades 9-5.

Academics and destinations

The school gets outstanding results – in 2024, 92 per cent gained a grade 9-4 at GCSE, in A-level 52 per cent gained A*-B, at IB 76 per cent achieved a grade 5-7 and 81 per cent achieved a D*-D distinction at BTEC. Taunton School is unusual in offering so many pathways at 16+ and it works hard to find the right route for each child. Generally, class sizes are around 20 for core GCSE subjects and the average size in the sixth form is between 10 and 12.  

Pupils are expertly guided by the careers department, which helps them explore all the options for when they finish school – be that university, the armed forces, apprenticeships or internships. The vast majority (94 per cent) go to university or colleges, both in the UK and overseas. In the past 10 years, Taunton Senior School has sent more than 40 students to Oxbridge. 

Co-curricular

The school is well known for its sporting prowess, regularly taking on competitive teams and winning, but the focus is on inclusiveness, with everyone getting an opportunity to shine. The usual sports are all on offer, such as rugby, cricket and football, as well as a broad range of the not-so-usual, including rowing, boxing, taekwondo and rock climbing. High-performance pathways support and develop the gifted, of whom there are plenty in multiple disciplines, from shooting, golf and riding to tennis, rugby and cricket (many academy players also play county cricket and as the county ground is a stone’s throw away, logistics are easy).      

D&T and art are strengths at this school. The D&T rooms are modern and fully equipped with laser cutters, 3D printers and spray booths. There’s a hi-tech music studio too, and pupils have individual music lessons and can take part in weekly teatime concerts, among other regular performances.  

Drama is inclusive, with open auditions that don’t just favour the leavers. Taunton Senior School stages a drama and a musical every year. Pupils talked about how they like it that teachers share out the big roles so everyone gets a chance to be in the spotlight.

There are a massive 150 clubs on offer, including the Combined Cadet Force which is the largest in the south west with 50 per cent of pupils participating.

Boarding at Taunton Senior School

The five boarding houses are all on site and in close proximity which makes for a very sociable community of some 400-plus boarders – although house loyalty is strong, especially when it comes to house singing. On our visit, the big news for one of the boys’ houses was a triumph in the annual pancake race which has been running since 1914. Pupils are in and out of their houses all day, and they all have a real home-from-home feel, with chippy nights, darts competitions and sibling-style, intra-year group relationships. Weekends are full of activities, from Big Brunch Sunday and house football competitions to theatre outings. Boarding house parents monitor each pupil’s workload to ensure they’re not overwhelmed – suggesting, perhaps, that they forgo a trip if they could benefit from some downtime. They even reach out to recent leavers to check in with them and invite them back for visits.


At the moment, around half the boarders come from overseas and the majority of the UK pupils board full-time; flexi boarding is offered three nights per week with an optional fourth night.

Taunton Senior School community

The school is just the right size so that no one gets lost and, between form tutors, houseparents (there are six day houses as well as the five boarding houses), peer mentors, a mental health nurse and therapy dogs, pupils’ pastoral care is in very safe hands.   

The parent body is diverse and the parents’ association puts on events throughout the year to raise funds and give families an opportunity to mix socially.

And finally....

A school with fantastic assets and a grounded outlook, Taunton Senior School is unique in being able to cater for children from six months to 18 years old and, with its international arm, from all over the world. It makes for a vibrant and diverse community, and the absence of repeated testing means pupils and parents can relax and enjoy the Taunton journey.

Gallery See All

Actors in costume on stage
Group of Taunton school pupils in blue blazers and striped ties
Senior boys at the start of a sprint race on green grass
Girl and boy working in class with book and silver laptop
Girl in cream top paining in the art room
Taunton School main building
Inside Taunton School chapel
Girl in red white and dark blue top in an exercise bike
Rugby players in white tops with grey skies behind
  • Academic results

    GCSE results
    A level results
    Download results as PDF
  • Subjects offered

    GCSE

    Art & Design
    Biology
    Business Studies
    Chemistry
    Classical Civilisation
    Computer Science
    Design and Technology
    Drama and Theatre Studies
    Economics
    English Language
    English Literature
    French
    Geography
    German
    History
    Information Technology
    Latin
    Mathematics
    Music
    Physical Education
    Physics
    Religious Studies
    Spanish
    EAL
    Combined Science
    Global Perspectives
    Key Skills

    A Level

    Art & Design
    Biology
    Business Studies
    Chemistry
    Classical Civilisation
    Computer Science
    Design and Technology
    Drama and Theatre Studies
    Economics
    English Literature
    French
    Further Mathematics
    Geography
    German
    History
    Information Technology
    Latin
    Music
    Philosophy
    Photography
    Physical Education
    Physics
    Psychology
    Spanish
    IELTS

    IB

    Higher
    Biology
    Business Studies
    Chemistry
    Design and Technology
    Economics
    English Literature
    French
    Geography
    German
    History
    Italian
    Latin
    Mathematics
    Music
    Philosophy
    Physics
    Psychology
    Spanish
    Visual Arts
    Standard
    Biology
    Business Studies
    Chemistry
    Design and Technology
    Economics
    English Literature
    French
    Geography
    German
    History
    Italian
    Latin
    Mathematics
    Music
    Philosophy
    Physics
    Psychology
    Spanish
    Visual Arts
    Spanish ab initio
    Italian ab initio
  • Fees and bursaries

    Day fees per term

    Year 7-
    Year 8 -
    Year 9 £9,320
    Year 10£9,320
    Year 11£9,320
    Year 12£9,320
    Year 13£9,320
    Boarding fees per term

    Year 7-
    Year 8 -
    Year 9 £16,380
    Year 10 £16,380
    Year 11£16,380
    Year 12£16,380
    Year 13£16,380


  • SEND

    This school currently supports the following kinds of learning needs, health needs and physical disabilities:
    The Educational Progress Department at Taunton School comprises of a full time Head of Department, three part-time teachers, two teaching and learning assistants, two graduate resident assistants and an administrator, all of whom have at least degree level qualifications, many of whom have specialist qualifications in addition.

    The department offers support in the form of in class support, small group taught lessons and 1:1 lessons. The team work closely with teaching staff, parents and the students themselves to ensure bespoke support is implemented both day to day and in formal examinations. The school's ethos is one of inclusion and independence. Their key aim is to help every student develop the skills they need in order to work independently, so it is often the case that students begin with a high level of support and gradually reduce it throughout their time at the school. This means that when they move on to higher education they are equipped to use a variety of techniques from mindfulness to assistive technology to achieve their potential.


    This school currently provides the following support for pupils' mental health needs
    Any of the students can approach any of the staff and are actively encouraged to do so. All of the staff are trained in mental health first aid and safeguarding.

    The school has a dedicated team of counsellors and mental health nurses who work full-time at Taunton School and are onsite at the health centre which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • Transport links

    School Transport
    School daily bus network

    Public Transport
    Nearest mainline train station: Taunton
    Journey time to London by train: 105 minutes
    Nearest international airport: Bristol (35 miles)


  • FAQs

    How many boarders does Taunton School have?

    There are a total of 450 boarders across eight different boarding houses between Taunton Senior School and Taunton Prep School.

    Does Taunton School have any famous alumni?

    Known as ‘Old Tauntonians’, there are a host of famous Taunton School former pupils. These include entrepreneur and CEO, Alexandra Drobysheva, banker and entrepreneur, Petr Baron, and senior sustainability leader, Simon Dawes. There are also a host of notable sportspeople who spent time at Taunton School, including hang-glider for Team Britain at the 2023 World Championships, Jeremy Soper.

School Updates

  • Taunton School welcomes new female president of its alumni association

    Taunton School has elected Victoria Price as the new President of its Old Tauntonian Association (OTA).
    Taunton School welcomes new female president of its alumni association
  • Taunton School has appointed Rachel Aldington as its new Director of Swimming.

    Rachel is currently a Lead Swimming Coach at Millfield School and a Head Coach of Somerset, working with young athletes who swim at regional, national and international levels.
    Taunton School has appointed Rachel Aldington as its new Director of Swimming.
  • Taunton student first girl to finish Ten Tors

    A student from Taunton was the first girl to finish the Ten Tors Challenge on Sunday 11th May 2025 out of 2,400 people.
    Taunton student first girl to finish Ten Tors
  • Taunton student gains place on coveted National Youth Theatre programme

    Zachary, who is in Year 11, was awarded the place in recognition of his commitment to and talents in drama and following a rigorous audition process in which he performed a monologue, answered questions, and interacted with other aspiring actors in a group workshop on top of other activities.
    Taunton student gains place on coveted National Youth Theatre programme
  • Taunton School successful at historic swimming tournament

    Taunton School’s senior students have achieved exceptional success at the Meade King Cup, a historic swimming competition.
    Taunton School successful at historic swimming tournament
  • Taunton School student receives prestigious engineering scholarship

    Nathan, who is currently in Year 11, received the highly competitive scholarship because of his exceptional work and natural flair for Design & Technology.
    Taunton School student receives prestigious engineering scholarship
  • Taunton School becomes designated Pentathlon GB Hub

    Taunton School has become an official Pentathlon GB Training and Development Hub, one of only a handful in the UK.
    Taunton School becomes designated Pentathlon GB Hub
  • Taunton School achieves exceptional results in national and regional music competitions

    Taunton School has seen its students achieve a range of fantastic results across a variety of recent music competitions and events.
    Taunton School achieves exceptional results in national and regional music competitions
  • Two Taunton School Students receive University of Oxford offers

    Lizzy, a Year 13 student who is currently studying A-Level History, Maths and English, has received an offer to study History at New College. Julia, a gap-year student who left Taunton School last year after studying the International Baccalaureate, has received an offer to study Experimental Psychology at Lady Margaret Hall.
    Two Taunton School Students receive University of Oxford offers
  • Taunton students enjoy international rugby success

    Three students from Taunton School have been selected to attend international age-grade camps with England and Scotland.
    Taunton students enjoy international rugby success
  • Taunton School unveils new AstroTurf pitches

    Taunton School has unveiled two new full-size AstroTurf pitches as part of its wider campus development plan.
    Taunton School unveils new AstroTurf pitches
  • Taunton School renews sponsorship of cricketer, Tom Abel

    Taunton School has become the official sponsor of Somerset County Cricket Club player and former student, Tom Abell.
    Taunton School renews sponsorship of cricketer, Tom Abel
  • Taunton School announces development of new boarding houses

    Taunton School has announced the development of a brand-new boarding facility with a capacity to host more than 140 students, with construction set to begin in March 2025 and completion anticipated in February 2027.
    Taunton School announces development of new boarding houses
  • Taunton School students reach national finals in debating and philosophy

    Students from Taunton School have reached the national finals of two debating and philosophy competitions.
    Taunton School students reach national finals in debating and philosophy
  • Taunton School raises money for life-changing educational opportunities with annual Charity Ball

    Taunton School has raised more than £18,000 for its bursaries and assisted places programme at its annual Charity Ball.
    Taunton School raises money for life-changing educational opportunities with annual Charity Ball
  • Taunton students selected for U16 England hockey teams, while teacher plays for England in World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024

    Taunton students selected for U16 England hockey teams, while teacher plays for England in World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024
    Taunton students selected for U16 England hockey teams, while teacher plays for England in World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024
  • Taunton School unveils exceptional new facilities

    Taunton School has unveiled a renovated 20m pool, a golf simulator, and an updated playground as part of its wider campus development plan.
    Taunton School unveils exceptional new facilities
  • Taunton School Brothers Extend Lead as International Skiing Champions

    Jack and Lucas Cox, aged 17 and 11 respectively, have taken part in separate skiing competitions in France and have emerged victorious from both.
    Taunton School Brothers Extend Lead as International Skiing Champions
  • Taunton School students enjoy national sporting success in hockey, netball and taekwondo

    Three senior students from Taunton School have been selected to compete in their sport at national level.
    Taunton School students enjoy national sporting success in hockey, netball and taekwondo
  • WATCH: Celebrating 175 Years of Taunton School

    WATCH: Celebrating 175 Years of Taunton School
  • WATCH: Taunton School Student Testimonials

    WATCH: Taunton School Student Testimonials
  • WATCH: A tour of Taunton School

    WATCH:  A tour of Taunton School
  • See Taunton School in our Senior Boarding Schools Guide

    See Taunton School in our Senior Boarding Schools Guide
  • See Taunton School in our All-through Schools Guide

    See Taunton School in our All-through Schools Guide

Essentials

Address
Staplegrove Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6AD

Contact
enquiries@tauntonschool.co.uk
01823 703703

Website
tauntonschool.co.uk

ISI Report

Fees

Term Dates


Open Days

Open days and how to visit View Open Days Register for open Day

Virtual Open Event
25 September 2025
In-Person Open Morning
04 October 2025
Sixth Form Open Evening
10 October 2025
Virtual Open Event
31 January 2026


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