Parkfield Primary School, Taunton
Parkfield Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Taunton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 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 104% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Somerset (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Parkfield Primary School in detail
Parkfield Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of all members of our school community, I would like to take this opportunity and welcome you to Parkfield Primary School. At Parkfield Primary School we believe each child should have the right to reach their full potential in all aspects of the school curriculum and be provided with an education appropriate to the world beyond the classroom."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Parkfield Primary School 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 fell from 84% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Parkfield Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 56 families put Parkfield Primary School as their first choice and 165 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Parkfield Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Parkfield Primary School are Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School, Taunton (0.4 miles, Good, 86% reading, 81% maths); North Town Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths); St George's Catholic School (0.7 miles, Good, 81% reading, 69% maths); and Bishops Hull Primary School (0.9 miles, 76% reading, 76% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Parkfield Primary School.
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School, TauntonNorth Town AcademySt George's Catholic SchoolBishops Hull Primary School
What parents say
128 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Parkfield Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 84% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (84%).
Who goes there
9.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 27.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (72%) and Asian (12%).
In 2026, 39 pupils (8.9%) received SEN support and 10 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Taunton Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park Field School (outside), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Parkfield Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 332 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, Parkfield Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Parkfield Primary School are The Castle School (0.4 miles) and Bishop Fox's School (1 mile).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from February 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Parkfield Primary creates a warm, supportive environment where children feel valued and safe. Staff teach reading exceptionally well, helping pupils become confident, fluent readers quickly. The school offers a rich range of activities and trips that broaden children's experiences and develop their talents, while strong emphasis on respect and British values prepares them well for life in modern Britain.
Key Strengths
- Highly effective approach to teaching early reading with quick identification of pupils needing extra help
- Well-designed broad and balanced curriculum with strong teaching of early English and mathematics
- Excellent personal development provision with emphasis on respect for diversity and British values
- Strong behaviour and attendance rates well above national average
- Extensive range of extra-curricular clubs and activities for all interests
Areas for Improvement
- In a small number of subjects, pupils do not have enough opportunities to recap and recall previous learning, limiting depth of knowledge over time
- Strategies for checking pupils' previous learning are not as well-established in all subjects as they are in others
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear procedures in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Creative arts clubs, sporting activities, residential visits, themed weeks, fundraising events
Parkfield Primary School has maintained good standards since its last inspection in 2020. Pupils are happy, eager to learn, and benefit from a broad, ambitious curriculum with strong teaching in early reading and mathematics.
At a Glance
9.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
128 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 84% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 78% to 84% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
31.1
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
32.0
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
Social & online
Keep up with Parkfield Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Parkfield Primary School.
- AO Sports Coaching at Parkfield PS Holiday ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
- Stagecoach TauntonAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Parkfield Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Parkfield Primary School 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
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 16 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 Parkfield Primary School
Will you get a place at Parkfield Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Parkfield Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Parkfield Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Parkfield Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Somerset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Parkfield Primary School 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
104%
Over capacity
436 pupils
420 places
16 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(6)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
39
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
11.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
436
Total Pupils
232
Boys
204
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
21.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,970
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,023
Per pupil
£2391k
Total funding
£76k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
9.8%
Persistent absence
377
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
Parkfield Primary School
Questions parents ask about Parkfield Primary School
What are SATs results like at Parkfield Primary School?
Of the pupils at Parkfield Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 73% did so in maths.
What is Parkfield Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Parkfield Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Parkfield Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Parkfield Primary School is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Parkfield Primary School?
Parkfield Primary School was full in 2025, at 104% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Parkfield Primary School?
Classes at Parkfield Primary School average 31.1 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 Parkfield Primary School?
Parkfield Primary School has around 436 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Parkfield Primary School?
4.7% of sessions were missed at Parkfield Primary School in 2024/25. 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Parkfield Primary School?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming Parkfield Primary School 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 Parkfield Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: AO Sports Coaching at Parkfield PS Holiday Club (registered, not yet graded) and Stagecoach Taunton (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 Parkfield Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 16 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 Parkfield Primary School?
Parkfield Primary School is at Parkfield Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4RT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)