Cambian Somerset School, Taunton
Cambian Somerset School is a special school for pupils aged 10 to 18 in Taunton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cambian Somerset School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Cambian Somerset School are The Sky Academy (2.2 miles); Selworthy Special School (2.3 miles, Good); Somerset Progressive School (2.3 miles); and Silver Bridge School (2.4 miles, Good).
The Sky AcademySelworthy Special SchoolSomerset Progressive SchoolSilver Bridge School
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cambian Somerset School (as of September 2025): 58% would recommend the school, 75% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (75%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (33%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Cambian Somerset School has an education, health and care plan (44 of 44 in 2026).
Cambian Somerset School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Taunton Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at building strong relationships with pupils who have previously struggled in education, helping them feel safe and valued. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with interesting trips and activities that link to real-world learning. Staff know pupils well and work hard to help them prepare for their next steps, whether into further education, apprenticeships or employment.
Key Strengths
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils help them feel safe and blossom in learning
- Improving attendance and tailored individual curriculum paths matched to each pupil's academic and pastoral needs
- Excellent behaviour and pupil conduct, with pupils learning to be tolerant, respectful and self-managing
- Comprehensive preparation for life beyond school including careers work, trips, and transition support to colleges
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff teaching outside their main areas of expertise do not consistently spot pupil misconceptions, particularly in reading, leading to repeated errors
- Provision stated in some learning plans lacks clarity and precision, meaning some pupils do not receive all the support needed to achieve their targets
- Staff need further professional development to teach the whole curriculum securely across all subject areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Castle visits, stately garden visits for art inspiration, train travel learning, dance, sport, Wimbledon tennis visits, pantomime trips, pool table activities, presentations about pupil passions
Cambian Somerset School is a special school for pupils aged 10-18 with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs. The school provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where pupils achieve well from their starting points and are well-prepared for life after school.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Cambian Somerset School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
44 pupils
45 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Taunton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Taunton
Across Somerset council
Places available
4,902
Applications
4,659
Got 1st preference
92.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
44
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Cambian Somerset School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
44
Total Pupils
35
Boys
9
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cambian Somerset School
Questions parents ask about Cambian Somerset School
What are GCSE results like at Cambian Somerset School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Cambian Somerset School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Cambian Somerset School's Ofsted rating?
Cambian Somerset School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025.
Does Cambian Somerset School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in February 2025, Cambian Somerset School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Cambian Somerset School?
Cambian Somerset School has around 44 pupils on roll.
Does Cambian Somerset School have specialist SEN provision?
Cambian Somerset School is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Cambian Somerset School?
Cambian Somerset School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Cambian Somerset School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cambian Somerset School?
Cambian Somerset School is at Creech Court, Mill Lane, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 5PX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)