Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #29 in Somerset public Top 33% UK

Pyrland School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Lisa Webber

corporate_fareRICHARD HUISH TRUST

location_onTaunton, TA2 7QP

language Visit Website phone 1823348200

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

872

trending_up

Attainment 8

35.8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#27 in Somerset

#3,338 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

Pyrland School is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Taunton, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Pyrland School is an academy sponsor led in Taunton, Somerset, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of RICHARD HUISH TRUST. The school has approximately 996 pupils on roll, of whom 29% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 35.8, placing the school #27 in Somerset and #3,338 of 4,663 nationally. 25.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.3% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Inadequate, behaviour and attitudes Inadequate, personal development Inadequate, and leadership and management Inadequate.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 8 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 47.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

35.8

Grade 5+ E&M

25.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.3%

Entering EBacc5.00%

EBacc APS2.91

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.68

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14.30%

EBacc APS3.17

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6%

EBacc APS2.70

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.46

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.45

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.58

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7%

EBacc APS3.06

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.65

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc5%

EBacc APS2.93

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)70%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 January 2025

Inspection Report

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25 January 2024

Inspection Report

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13 September 2022

Inspection Report

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25 September 2018

Inspection Report

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14 November 2017

Inspection Report

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07 June 2017

Inspection Report

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10 January 2017

Inspection Report

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03 July 2014

Inspection Report

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30 April 2014

Inspection Report

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13 November 2013

Inspection Report

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17 April 2013

Inspection Report

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06 February 2013

Inspection Report

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01 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

7 Evaluations

2025-01-28

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Inadequate

Development

Inadequate

Leadership

Inadequate

2022-09-13

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2018-09-25

Serious Weaknesses S5 Reinspection Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2017-11-14

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-06-07

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-01-10

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2014-07-03

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

46.7%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

11.4%(114 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

4pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 996 pupils. During this period, there were 465 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 46.7%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	996	465	46.7%	7.3%	4
2024/25 (Autumn term)	986	482	48.9%	7.8%	4
2023/24 (Summer term)	964	530	55.0%	7.4%	8
2023/24 (Spring term)	958	581	60.6%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	957	530	55.4%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	873	423	48.5%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	872	260	29.8%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	870	385	44.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	817	285	34.9%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	811	168	20.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	815	213	26.1%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	775	147	19.0%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	782	41	5.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	777	140	18.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	733	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	733	124	16.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	730	173	23.7%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	695	36	5.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	700	58	8.3%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	700	78	11.1%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	652	67	10.3%	3.4%	3
2017/18 (Spring term)	647	50	7.7%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	650	74	11.4%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	598	70	11.7%	3.0%	3
2016/17 (Spring term)	609	62	10.2%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	599	84	14.0%	3.1%	4

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 52 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 25 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 23 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

82.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

81.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree25%

agree48%

disagree14%

strongly disagree12%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree23%

agree37%

disagree28%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree28%

agree21%

disagree16%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

not applicable28%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes24%

no76%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree18%

agree41%

disagree14%

strongly disagree27%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree42%

agree39%

disagree8%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree29%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree33%

agree47%

disagree12%

strongly disagree9%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree36%

agree48%

disagree12%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree40%

agree39%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know11%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree38%

agree35%

disagree13%

strongly disagree8%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes78%

no22%

Top Secondary Schools in Somerset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

The Castle School

Outstanding

location_on Taunton, TA1 5AU

emoji_events #1 in LA

Sexey's School

Good

location_on Bruton, BA10 0DF

emoji_events #2 in LA

Huish Episcopi Academy

Inadequate

location_on LANGPORT, TA10 9SS

emoji_events #3 in LA

The Blue School

Good

location_on Wells, BA5 2NR

emoji_events #4 in LA

Haygrove School

Good

location_on Bridgwater, TA6 7HW

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Kings of Wessex Academy

Good

location_on Cheddar, BS27 3AQ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Somerset arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Somerset

The Castle School

Sexey's School

Huish Episcopi Academy

The Blue School

Haygrove School

The Kings of Wessex Academy