Taunton Deane Partnership College has closed (Tuesday 31 March 2026).
It merged with another school. The school at this address is now Willow Vale School.
Taunton Deane Partnership College, Taunton
Taunton Deane Partnership College is a pru school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Taunton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Taunton Deane Partnership College in detail
Taunton Deane Partnership College in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Taunton Deane Partnership College. We are a Pupil Referral Unit. When students are not able to have their needs met in a mainstream school, they come to TDPC. We then work with them, their families, schools and other professionals to support them into their next steps."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 57% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college and 21% into work.
Who goes there
69.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 32 pupils (74.4%) received SEN support and 10 (23.3%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Taunton Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Milton Close (se-bound), 190 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 469 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.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school is ambitious for all its pupils and creates an environment where children feel supported to behave well and try new things. Parents particularly appreciate how the school knows their children well and helps them improve their social skills, making them more confident and able to get along better with others. The school provides a broad curriculum combining academic study with opportunities to help pupils re-engage with school life.
Key Strengths
- Strong support for pupils with SEND, with staff identifying additional needs and putting appropriate support in place quickly
- Primary pupils develop well as confident readers, writers and mathematicians through daily practice in phonics, reading, mathematics and writing
- Excellent safety procedures and thorough approach to managing behaviour, with pupils learning about real risks such as vaping and knife crime
- Effective attendance strategies based on understanding individual pupil circumstances
- Parents highly value the school's support in improving children's social skills and confidence
Areas for Improvement
- Re-engagement curriculum not delivered consistently well across the school because key learning is not identified and sequenced properly
- Some older pupils do not develop secure phonics knowledge, affecting their ability to read and write confidently
- Activities for secondary pupils are not sufficiently targeted to ensure all pupils learn the skills needed to re-engage with school life
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school having very thorough procedures in place to deal with behaviour issues and liaising with other services when necessary to ensure pupils are safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Forest school, hospital education unit, careers education, work-related learning
Taunton Deane Partnership College is a pupil referral unit serving pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities across five sites in Taunton. The school has maintained good standards and is ambitious in helping most pupils succeed, whether through staying in mainstream school or preparing them for the next stage of their education.
At a Glance
69.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Keep up with Taunton Deane Partnership College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Taunton Deane Partnership College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Taunton Deane Partnership College is in Somerset; for families living there:
Apply to Somerset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
51%
Available places
36 pupils
71 places
35 spare places
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(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
32
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
97.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
43
Total Pupils
26
Boys
17
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
2.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,313
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Taunton Deane Partnership College
What is Taunton Deane Partnership College's Ofsted rating?
Taunton Deane Partnership College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Taunton Deane Partnership College?
No fixed boundary. When Taunton Deane Partnership College is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Taunton Deane Partnership College?
Taunton Deane Partnership College has around 43 pupils on roll. 70% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Taunton Deane Partnership College?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming Taunton Deane Partnership College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Where is Taunton Deane Partnership College?
Taunton Deane Partnership College is at Byron Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2JD.