North Town Academy, Taunton
North Town Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Taunton, part of Richard Huish Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 17th-highest of the 36 schools in Taunton with published results, and 9,159th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 103% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Somerset (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
North Town Academy in detail
North Town Academy in its own words
In its own words: "North Town Primary School and Nursery is a fun and friendly, multi-cultural and inclusive school. All children receive an excellent education and are proud of their school. Our ethos allows children to become confident, successful learners in a welcoming, engaging, safe and holistic environment."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, basketball, multi-sports and choir.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £5.50 per session.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at North Town Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Somerset and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (78% in reading, 70% in maths).
Getting a place at North Town Academy
For September 2026 entry, 62 families put North Town Academy as their first choice and 107 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to North Town Academy are St Andrew's Church School (0.4 miles, Good, 76% reading, 56% maths); Parkfield Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths); St George's Catholic School (0.6 miles, Good, 81% reading, 69% maths); and St James Church School (0.6 miles, Good, 68% reading, 66% maths).
North Town Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
St Andrew's Church SchoolParkfield Primary SchoolSt George's Catholic SchoolSt James Church School
The trust
North Town Academy is one of 6 schools run by Richard Huish Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
11.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 27.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (64%), Asian (10%) and Mixed (8%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Taunton Rail Station, about 600 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kings Arms (nw-bound), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 443 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, North Town Academy issued 23 suspensions, 4.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to North Town Academy are The Castle School (0.4 miles), Bishop Fox's School (1.1 miles) and Pyrland School (1.3 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from April 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2013 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
11.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 78% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 63% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.9
Avg class size
27.3
Infant (KS1)
31.8
KS2
14
Total classes
8 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with North Town Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near North Town Academy.
- Player Ready Taunton170m away · Not yet graded
- AO Sports Coaching at Parkfield PS Holiday Club980m away · Not yet graded
- Stagecoach Taunton980m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to North Town Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. North Town Academy is in Somerset; for families living there:
Apply to Somerset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 26
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 18 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
6 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
Your chances of a place at North Town Academy
Will you get a place at North Town Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against North Town Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for North Town Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to North Town Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Somerset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at North Town Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Somerset got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
103%
Over capacity
434 pupils
420 places
14 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Taunton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Taunton
Across Somerset council
Places available
6,414
Applications
4,928
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
60
SEN Support
21
EHC Plans
17.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
470
Total Pupils
224
Boys
246
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
23.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,271
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2355k
Total funding
£70k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
6.3%
Persistent absence
384
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
North Town Academy
Questions parents ask about North Town Academy
What are SATs results like at North Town Academy?
Of the pupils at North Town Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 73% did so in maths.
What is North Town Academy's Ofsted rating?
North Town Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for North Town Academy?
No fixed boundary. When North Town Academy is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at North Town Academy?
North Town Academy was full in 2025, at 103% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at North Town Academy?
Classes at North Town Academy average 29.9 pupils (2025/26). 8 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to North Town Academy?
North Town Academy has around 470 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at North Town Academy?
3.8% of sessions were missed at North Town Academy in 2024/25. 6.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to North Town Academy?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming North Town Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does North Town Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of North Town Academy: Player Ready Taunton (170m away, registered, not yet graded), AO Sports Coaching at Parkfield PS Holiday Club (980m away, registered, not yet graded) and Stagecoach Taunton (980m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near North Town Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 18 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 6 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 North Town Academy?
North Town Academy is at Staplegrove Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1DF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)