Taunton School

What Taunton School does

Taunton School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school located in Taunton, Somerset, South West England, operating across the full 0-18 age range through five academic stages: Nursery (0-4), Pre-Prep (4-7), Prep (7-13), Senior (13-16), and Sixth Form (16-18). Founded circa 1847-1849 (currently celebrating its 175th anniversary), the school is operated by Taunton School Educational Charity, a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, and is governed by a Board of Governors with no external shareholders or venture capital backing. The school sits on a 56-acre campus with significant recent capital development including a new Dining Hall (2020), Sixth Form Centre and Library (2022), Green Heart (2023), and Pre-Prep and all-weather sporting improvements (2024), with a planned consolidation project to bring the main school and its international divisions onto one campus. The school has been recognised as Independent Schools of the Year 2022 and received an Outstanding ISI inspection in 2023.

The school's product offering is structured around academic stage and pathway. At Sixth Form, Taunton claims to be the only UK school offering four concurrent academic pathways: A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, BTEC, and International Foundation Programme. International students (60+ nationalities represented) are served via dedicated pathways including Young Learners (7-13), Pre-GCSE, GCSE Access, One-Year GCSE/Pre-IB, and Two-Year GCSE programmes. Co-curricular depth includes Music, Drama, Sport (with partnerships to Somerset County Cricket Club and Bristol Bears), Pentathlon Hub, Outdoor Education/CCF, Debating, and Horizons. A boarding community of 450+ pupils is offered across flexible options of 3, 5, or 7 nights, with ~50 boarders in Prep.

The business model is subscription-recurring tuition: termly day fees range from £3,730 (Reception) to £14,900 (One-Year GCSE/Pre-IB), with boarding premiums adding up to £18,625/term at Senior/Sixth Form level, and Nursery charged at £81 per daily session over 50 weeks. One-time registration fees (£150) and tiered acceptance deposits (£1,000 UK, £3,000 EU, one term's fee rest of world) supplement recurring revenue, alongside ancillary income from Summer School, Taunton School Enterprises (swim school, activity camps, events), and the Saturday Enrichment Programme. The school reports 96%+ university progression, 88.3% overall GCSE pass rate (vs. 68% national average), and 43% A*-A/9-7 GCSE pass rate (vs. 22% national average). Administration runs on the ISAMS school management system; no proprietary technology or AI capability is disclosed.

Name

Taunton School

Legal name

Taunton School Educational Charity

Website

https://tauntonschool.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1849

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Taunton School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in Somerset, England, serving students ages 0-18 across Nursery through Sixth Form, including international students from over 60 nationalities. Founded 175 years ago, it offers four unique Sixth Form academic pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Education (Day and Boarding)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)

Keywords

• Independent school education
• Day and boarding school
• International baccalaureate programmes
• Sixth form pathways
• Pre-university education

Headquarters

HQ city

Taunton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Day Tuition Fees: Termly tuition fees for day students across Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior and Sixth Form sections. Fees vary by year group from £3,730 (Reception) to £14,900 (One-Year GCSE).
2. Boarding Fees: Additional charges for boarding accommodation, ranging from 3-night flexi boarding to full 7-night boarding. Senior & Sixth Form 7-night boarding up to £18,625 per term.
3. Nursery Session Fees: Full day sessions at £81 per day for children aged 0-4 years. Nursery operates 50 weeks per year.
4. Registration & Acceptance Deposits: One-time registration fee of £150 for UK and international families. Acceptance deposits vary: £1,000 for UK, £3,000 for EU, one term's fee for rest of world.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Taunton School is an independent day and boarding school providing full-time education for ages 0–18 across Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior School, and Sixth Form, with a unique four-pathway Sixth Form (A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, BTEC, and International Foundation Programme). It also offers dedicated international academic pathways, flexible boarding (3/5/7 nights), Summer School, Saturday Enrichment, Co-Curricular activities, and a Futures Programme for university/careers guidance.

Product overview

Taunton School is an independent day and boarding school for ages 0-18, offering a comprehensive educational portfolio across multiple stages: Nursery (0-4), Pre-Prep (4-7), Prep (7-13), Senior (13-16), and Sixth Form (16-18). At Sixth Form, the school uniquely offers four academic pathways: A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, BTEC, and the International Foundation Programme. The school serves over 60 nationalities of international students through dedicated pathways including the Young Learners Programme (7-13), Pre-GCSE, GCSE Access, One-Year GCSE/Pre-IB, and Two-Year GCSE programmes. Additional offerings include Summer School (8-17), Saturday Enrichment, extensive co-curricular activities (Music, Drama, Sport, Outdoor Education), Futures Programme for careers guidance, and boarding for over 450 students with flexible options. The school is undergoing an ambitious campus development plan and holds recognition from Good Schools Guide, ISI, and is an IB World School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Taunton School International: International division of Taunton School serving students from ages 7-18 with specialized academic pathways for international students
• Taunton School Enterprises
• Summer School

Products and services

• Nursery (0-4 years) Early Years Education programme for children aged 0–4 years, featuring specialist teaching including MFL, music, swimming and dance from age 2. Full-day sessions at £81 per day, operating 50 weeks per year.
• Pre-Prep School (4-7 years) Reception to Year 2 programme for children aged 4–7 years, offering a safe and vibrant environment with specialist staff. Day fees £3,730 per term.
• Prep School (7-13 years) School for 330 boys and girls between 7 and 13 years with a happy boarding community of around 50 students, offering day and flexible boarding options (3, 5, or 7 nights). Day fees from £4,295 to £7,800 per term by year group.
• Senior School (13-16 years) School for ages 13–16 offering excellent facilities, outstanding pastoral care, and exceptional academic and co-curricular opportunities, with GCSE preparation pathways. Day fees £9,785 per term.
• Sixth Form (16-18 years) The only UK school to offer four academic pathways at Year 12: A-Level, International Baccalaureate, BTEC and International Foundation Programme, with 96%+ university progression rate.
• International Programme (7-18 years) International division welcoming students from over 60 nationalities for over 100 years, offering tailored academic pathways with EAL support.
• A-Levels Traditional A-Level programme offered as one of four academic pathways at Sixth Form level for students aged 16–18.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Full IB Diploma Programme offered as one of four academic pathways at Sixth Form level, authorised by the IB Organisation (IB school code 003299).
• BTEC BTEC vocational qualifications offered as one of four academic pathways at Sixth Form level for students aged 16–18.
• International Foundation Programme International Foundation Programme for international and UK students, one of four academic pathways at Sixth Form level. Day fees £14,000 per term.
• Boarding Options Boarding community of over 450 boarders with options including 7 nights, 5 nights weekly, and 3 nights flexi-boarding, available across Prep, Senior, and Sixth Form. Senior & Sixth Form 7-night boarding up to £18,625 per term.
• Summer School (8-17 years) Summer school programme with Junior Summer School (ages 8–12), Senior Summer School (ages 12–17), and Pre-Sessional Course offerings for external students.
• Saturday Enrichment Programme Fun and educational Saturday Enrichment Programme for external Years 3 to Year 6 pupils across creative and practical subjects.
• Young Learners Programme International programme for ages 7–13 studying at the Prep School, with curriculum varying depending on level of English.
• GCSE Access Pathway Programme for ages 13–15 (Year 9 and 10) with lower levels of English (CEFR B1 or below) offering intensive English coaching alongside academic subjects. Day fees £14,195 per term.
• One-Year GCSE/Pre-IB Programme Intensive one-year programme for ages 15–16 (Year 11) enabling students to gain pass grades for A-Levels, IB, BTECs or Foundation Programmes in just one year. Day fees £14,900 per term.
• Two-Year GCSE/Pre-IB Programmes Two-year programme (Years 10 and 11) for ages 14–16 enabling students to complete up to 10 GCSE subjects.
• Futures Programme First-class Futures Programme equipping Sixth Form students with careers education, university application support, and skills for higher education and beyond.
• Scholarships and Assisted Places Scholarship opportunities at 11+, 13+, 16+ and IB entry (Year 7, Year 9, and Sixth Form), plus means-tested assisted places.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96%+ of students progress to university including Russell Group and Oxbridge
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• French Partner SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Revival of traditional pen pal programme with partner French school, supporting international exchange and language learning.
• Bristol BearscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Professional rugby development partnership. Two Taunton School students have signed professional contracts with Bristol Bears.
• Somerset County Cricket ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Long-standing partnership with Somerset County Cricket Club for sporting development and community engagement. Students benefit from professional coaching and facilities.
• International Baccalaureate OrganizationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2023Official IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. IB school code: 003299.
• NCUK (Northern Consortium UK)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShortlisted for NCUK Partner Awards 2025. NCUK provides pathways to UK universities for international students.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• St Edward's School, Oxford: Oxford-based co-educational independent boarding school with significant international student body. Comparable scale, boarding emphasis, multiple academic pathways at Sixth Form, and similar university placement outcomes.
• Blundell's School: Tiverton, Devon-based co-educational independent day and boarding school. Comparable scale, comprehensive age-range offering (Nursery through Sixth Form), and similar boarding community size, serving the broader South West independent school market.
• Wellington College: Leading Berkshire-based co-educational independent boarding school with strong academic outcomes and a comprehensive Sixth Form offering. Comparable in scale, boarding emphasis, international student mix, and Russell Group/Oxbridge placement record.
• Millfield School: Large co-educational independent day and boarding school in Street, Somerset, with a strong reputation in sport and a comprehensive academic offering. Operates at similar scale to Taunton, with a large boarding community and similar age range.
• Canford School: Dorset-based co-educational independent day and boarding school. Comparable comprehensive offering, boarding community size, and South West regional positioning. Similar academic pathway breadth and outcomes-focused positioning.
• Sherborne School: Historic independent boarding school in Sherborne, Dorset/Somerset border, serving similar age range with comparable boarding community scale and academic pathway breadth. Strong regional competitor with shared catchment area in the South West.
• Marlborough College: Wiltshire-based co-educational independent boarding school with a long heritage, comprehensive Sixth Form offering, and similar academic outcomes profile. Comparable boarding scale and international student recruitment approach.
• King's College, Taunton: Located in the same town as Taunton School, King's College is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for ages 0-18. It is the closest direct competitor with a near-identical offering across nursery, pre-prep, prep, senior and sixth form, including boarding.
• Clifton College: Bristol-based co-educational independent day and boarding school for ages 0-18. Directly comparable operating model with comprehensive Nursery through Sixth Form coverage, boarding options, and strong academic outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• Brighton College: One of the UK's largest and most prominent independent schools, operating across multiple sites with a broader portfolio including Brighton College Prep, Pre-Prep and the Dubai/Vietnam international campuses. Comparable academic outcomes and boarding, but operates at greater scale and broader scope than Taunton.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tauntonschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taunton-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Taunton School