The Sky Academy, Taunton

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades The Sky Academy on 6 areas: 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "The curriculum builds on pupils' different starting points and individual special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "The school prioritises helping pupils to attend school as much as possible."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum that builds on pupils' existing knowledge, skills and understanding."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate a clear and commitment to inclusion."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Since the school joined the new trust, leaders have driven clear and effective improvements across the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school equips pupils well for life beyond school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to use the information they gather to evaluate the impact of improvement strategies more precisely and drive further development"; "Leaders should further strengthen the use of assessment to more accurately identify misconceptions and gaps in knowledge so that they can be addressed quickly".

In its own words: "Welcome to The Sky Academy and if this is your first contact with us, our team extends a warm welcome to you! At The Sky Academy we are dedicated to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student has the opportunity to experience educational success. Our Core Values are Resilience, Respect, Ambition and Belonging."

The nearest other special schools to The Sky Academy are Selworthy Special School (0.3 miles, Good); Park House School (0.6 miles, Good); Silver Bridge School (1.2 miles, Good); and Cambian Somerset School (2.2 miles, Good).

The Sky Academy is one of 36 schools run by Cabot Learning Federation, an academy trust.

Of the 20 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 55% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 35% to a further education college.

76.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

Almost every pupil at The Sky Academy has an education, health and care plan (105 of 105 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Taunton Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

29 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pickeridge Close (ne-bound), 120 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Sky Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 330 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.

In 2024/25, The Sky Academy issued 178 suspensions, 178 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.