The Castle School
Ofsted: OutstandingAcademy converter · Secondary
Taunton · TA1 5AU · Somerset
Ages 11–19
- Att855.3
- P80.6
- EM5+59%
- Absence6.7%
1.3 miles away
OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 136851
Bishop Fox's School
Academy converter · Taunton · TA1 3HQ
Ages 11–16 · 1,123 pupils · Somerset
Ofsted
School remains Good
Attainment 8
46.6
Overall absence
8.6%
Admissions demand
1.19 · Balanced demand
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
School remains Good
Inspection date
2023-05-25
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Progress 8+0.17
−20+2
Attainment 846.6
English & maths grade 5+44%
English & maths grade 4+67%
EBacc entry29%
EBacc APS: 4.1
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence8.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)22.4%
Unauthorised3.7%
- Authorised absence
- 4.9%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 3.6%
- Enrolments in measure
- 1,100
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Admissions demand
Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.
Demand ratio
1.19 · Balanced demand
1st preferences
265
Places offered
222
1st-preference offers
210
- Total preferences (any rank)
- 485
- Preferred offers (top 3)
- 222
- Applications from outside LA
- 1
- Offers to outside-LA applicants
- 0
- Admissions policy (GIAS)
- Non-selective
Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill94%
1,123 pupils · 1,200 places
- Pupils on roll
- 1,123
- Boys / girls
- 589 / 534
- School capacity
- 1,200
- Capacity fill
- 1,123 / 1,200 (94%)
- Free school meals
- 23.2%
- FSM pupils
- 261
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Academy converter
Age range
Ages 11–16
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
2 / 6
- Nursery
- Sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
- Governance
- Academy trust: BISHOP FOX'S SCHOOL
- Academy trust
- BISHOP FOX'S SCHOOL
- Headteacher
- Ms Kerry Tonkin
Location
- Address
- Bishop Fox Drive
- Postcode
- TA1 3HQ
- Town
- Taunton
- County
- Somerset
- Local authority
- Somerset
- District
- Somerset
- Constituency
- Taunton and Wellington
- Urban/rural
- Urban: Further from a major town or city
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Taunton, Somerset, 1,123 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, special school, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 23.2%.
Nearby secondary schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
Pyrland School
Ofsted: Not judgedAcademy sponsor led · Secondary
Taunton · TA2 7QP · Somerset
Ages 11–16
2.2 miles away
Monkton Wood Academy
Ofsted: InadequateAcademy sponsor led · Secondary
Taunton · TA2 8PD · Somerset
Ages 11–18
- Absence13.1%
- FSM24.5%
- Demand0.86
2.4 miles away
New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.
Contact
- Headteacher
- Ms Kerry Tonkin
- Telephone
- 01823289211