SchoolScoresMonkton Wood Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of CABOT LEARNING FEDERATION
School Road, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, TA2 8PD
01823 412396 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Inadequate at the inspection that started on 13 March 2023. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
Category of concern: Special measures.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Inadequate |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Inadequate |
| Personal development | Inadequate |
| Leadership and management | Inadequate |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Not effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Taunton comparisons use the 4 of its 7 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 3 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Taunton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 1% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 29% | 79% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 1% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 19% | 79% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 1% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 12% | 69% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 50 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 2% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 18% | 46% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 68 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 2% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 22% | 68% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 2% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 19% | 47% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 1% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 17%said yes | 77% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 6%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Taunton figures pool parents at the Taunton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
246 pupils in this year group.
35% — 5 points below the Somerset average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 35% | 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. | 41.4 | 43.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 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.
267 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 123883), before it changed to its current form.
91% — 2 points below the Somerset average, and 2 points below 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. | 91% | 93% | 93% |
| School sixth form | 3% | 17% | 36% |
| Sixth form college | 43% | 15% | 13% |
| Further education college | 34% | 48% | 35% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 6% | 3% |
| Work | 6% | 6% | 4% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2023/24 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 264 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 184 |
| Of those, offered a place | 184 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 333 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.7
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 20 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.9% | 22.8%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 74% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.6% | 15.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 45% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.3% | 9.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 12% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3% | 9.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.5% | 24.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 8% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 61.1 | 38.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.9% | 9.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.16% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 90% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 19.3 | 17.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.1 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Taunton. Higher than 57% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 14.6% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Pyrland School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion) · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- King's College Prep 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- King's College Taunton 2.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 35% A*/A at A level
- Richard Huish College 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B- average A level grade
- Taunton School 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 41% A*/A at A level
- Taunton Preparatory School 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Bishop Fox's School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Castle School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Monkton Wood Academy's Ofsted rating?
Monkton Wood Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 March 2023.
How did Monkton Wood Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Monkton Wood Academy?
17% of the 72 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Monkton Wood Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Monkton Wood Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 184 families put Monkton Wood Academy as their first choice for 264 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 184 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 150130.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2023/24.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.