SchoolScoresBishop Fox's School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of BISHOP FOX'S SCHOOL
Bishop Fox Drive, Taunton, TA1 3HQ
01823 289211 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 April 2013.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 30 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
219 pupils in this year group.
45% — 4 points above the Somerset average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 45% | 40% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 46.9 | 43.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
194 pupils in this year group.
93% — about the same as the Somerset average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 3% | 17% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 57% | 17% | 13% |
| Further education college | 26% | 47% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 6% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 5% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 93% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Somerset. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 224 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 287 |
| Of those, offered a place | 208 (72%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 672 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.3
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 37% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.2% | 22.8%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.8% | 15.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 69% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 21.4% | 9.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 67% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 9.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 19.1% | 24.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 28% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 26.2 | 38.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 9.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 69% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.7 | 17.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 28% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0% | 14.2%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Richard Huish College 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B- average A level grade
- King's College Taunton 0.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 35% A*/A at A level
- Queen's College 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 33% A*/A at A level
- The Castle School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Taunton School 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 41% A*/A at A level
- Taunton Preparatory School 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Pyrland School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion) · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- Monkton Wood Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion) · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- King's College Prep 2.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bishop Fox's School's Ofsted rating?
Bishop Fox's School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 April 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 30 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Bishop Fox's School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 45% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Is Bishop Fox's School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 287 families put Bishop Fox's School as their first choice for 224 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 208 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 136851.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.