Richard Huish College, Taunton

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Richard Huish College on 5 areas: 3 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed very effective processes to identify and assess learners' and apprentices' needs at the start of their courses."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have well-established processes for analysing and reflecting on the quality of their provision."

Achievement - Strong standard. "A very high proportion of learners achieve their qualifications."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders closely monitor the quality of teaching in subjects and departments and use this information well to inform strategic whole-college areas for improvement."

Participation and development - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a safe, respectful and welcoming college environment."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure the actions that they have taken have a sustained impact on improving the quality of all apprenticeships and increasing the proportion of apprentices who stay and pass their apprenticeship"; "Leaders should provide learners on level 2 study programmes with experience of a wide range of work-related activities and workplace settings so that they develop relevant employability skills"; "Leaders should provide apprentices with high-quality careers education throughout their apprenticeships so apprentices develop detailed knowledge of all potential future pathways"; "Leaders should ensure that adult learners have opportunities to extend their vocational learning significantly from their starting points"; "Leaders should provide adult learners and apprentices with relevant wider personal development opportunities beyond the requirements of their qualifications".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Based in Taunton, Richard Huish College delivers high quality education to more than 2,250 students a year and is one of only a few state Sixth Form Colleges in the country to offer a boarding option. It is a place where you can expand your horizons and develop among like-minded people."

Richard Huish College is one of 6 schools run by Richard Huish Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 991 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 35% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 39% into work. 23% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

The nearest railway station is Taunton Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Richard Huish College (n-bound), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Richard Huish College stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.