{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox school | name = Pyrland School | coordinates = {{coord|51.0375|-3.1003|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}} | established = September 2010 | closed = | type = Academy | religious_affiliation = Church of England | president = | head_label = Head | head = Mark Lawrence | r_head_label = | r_head = | chair_label = | chair = | founder = | address = Cheddon Road | city = Taunton | county = Somerset | country = England | postal_code = TA2 7QP | ofsted = Requires Improvement | urn = 136193 | staff = | enrolment = 728 | gender = Co-educational | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 16 | houses = | colours = Black, grey and purple | publication = | free_label1 = Academy sponsors | free_text1 = Richard Huish College | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | website = https://www.thetauntonacademy.co.uk }} '''Pyrland School''' (formerly The Taunton Academy<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/23663451.taunton-academy-renamed-pyrland-school-september/ | title=School in Taunton to have new name when students return next term | date=19 July 2023 }}</ref>) is a school with academy status in Taunton, Somerset, England.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8648000/8648389.stm | publisher= BBC News | date= 28 April 2010 | title= In depth: New schools in Somerset | access-date= 25 June 2010}}</ref> The school was formed by the merger of The St Augustine of Canterbury Church of England/Roman Catholic VA School and Ladymead Community School.<ref name="approval">{{cite news | url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/7939479.stm | title= Academy plan clears major hurdle | date= 12 March 2009 | publisher= BBC News | access-date= 25 June 2010}}</ref> Its original sponsors were Somerset County Council and the Diocese of Bath and Wells, however the school transferred to the Richard Huish Trust in 2015 and is now sponsored by Richard Huish College.<ref name="diocese">{{cite web | url= http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/downloads/CYP%20Schools/taunton_academy/background_vp_aaa.pdf | publisher= Diocese of Bath and Wells | title= The Taunton Academy Vice Principal | date= April 2010 | accessdate= 25 June 2010 | url-status= dead | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110722110544/http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/downloads/CYP%20Schools/taunton_academy/background_vp_aaa.pdf | archivedate= 22 July 2011 }}</ref> It was opened on 9 September 2010 by Peter Price, the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Initially the academy admitted pupils aged 11 to 16 and will be based in the existing schools' buildings. In September 2011, the academy opened a sixth form for 100 students. In 2013, the academy moved to new and refurbished buildings on the former Ladymead site on Cheddon Road, with the former St Augustine site being closed.<ref name="goahead">{{cite news | url= http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/4859087.Taunton_Academy_gets_Government_go_ahead/ | date= 20 January 2010 | accessdate= 25 June 2010 | title= Taunton Academy gets Government go-ahead | newspaper= Somerset County Gazette | first= Phil | last= Hill}}</ref> This plan was temporarily put on hold following the government's major review of the Building Schools for the Future programme in July 2010,<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10518826 | publisher= BBC News | date= 6 July 2010 | access-date= 6 July 2010 | title= Somerset schools boss has hopes' for axed projects}}</ref> and was subject to review by the Department for Education.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.education.gov.uk/news/news/bsf-review | publisher= Department for Education | title= Major review of Building Schools for the Future – schools most in need targeted | date= 5 July 2010 | accessdate= 7 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.education.gov.uk/news/news/~/media/Files/lacuna/news/bsf/BSFLAwidelistofSchools060710v2.ashx | format=MS Word | accessdate= 9 July 2010 | publisher= Department for Education | title= Impact on BSF schools by local authority}}</ref>
==History== The expression of interest to become an academy was submitted by the sponsors to the Department for Children, Schools and Families in February 2009.<ref name="dcsfsub">{{cite web | url= http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/foischeme/_documents/DfES_FoI_740.pdf | title= The Taunton Academy, Somerset, Expression of interest | publisher= Department for Children, Schools and Families | date= 23 February 2009 | accessdate= 25 June 2010 | url-status= dead | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120612014642/http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/foischeme/_documents/DfES_FoI_740.pdf | archivedate= 12 June 2012 }}</ref> The submission document confirmed that both schools had a set of problems. St Augustine had 274 pupils on roll against its capacity of 610, was in the lowest band for deprivation with 21.2% of pupils receiving free school meals against the local authority average of 7.9%, had 38% of pupils achieving five or more GCSE qualifications including English and Mathematics against the local authority average of 46.7% and national average of 47%, and for three years between 2006 and 2009 had set deficit budgets of between 8% and 14%.<ref name="dcsfsub"/> Ladymead had 746 pupils on roll against a capacity of 880, had 11.4% of pupils receiving free school meals, and had 41% of pupils achieving five or more GCSE qualifications including English and Mathematics.<ref name="dcsfsub"/>
The application was approved by education minister Jim Knight in March 2009.<ref name="approval"/> By June 2009, the plans looked to be under threat as parental consultation by governors at Ladymead showed strong opposition to the new academy.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/4465607.North_Taunton_Academy___Ladymead_and_St_Augustine_s_split_over_plans/ | date= 30 June 2009 | accessdate= 25 June 2010 | title= North Taunton Academy — Ladymead and St Augustine's split over plans | newspaper= Somerset County Gazette | first= Phil | last= Hill}}</ref> However, the final go-ahead was given in January 2010, when the government agreed to the academy's funding.<ref name="goahead"/>
== Ofsted Inspections == In 2015 the school was transferred to the Richard Huish Trust with a 'requires improvement' rating, by 10 January 2017 the rating had dropped to 'inadequate'.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-14 |title=Pyrland School ratings and reports |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136193 |website=reports.ofsted.gov.uk}}</ref> On 29 November 2022 a formal notice was served on the Richard Huish Trust advising that the school appeared to be 'coasting'. On 3 May 2023 a second notice was served as the Trust was failing to make the necessary improvements towards minimal standards, the notice advised that the school's funding agreement may be terminated by the Secretary of State.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pyrland School (Somerset): warning notice |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/termination-warning-notice-to-the-taunton-academy |website=GOV.UK |date=24 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.thetauntonacademy.org Official website]
{{Schools in Somerset}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Taunton Academy}} Category:Academies in Somerset Category:Educational institutions established in 2010 Category:2010 establishments in England Category:Schools in Taunton Category:Secondary schools in Somerset Category:Church of England secondary schools in the Diocese of Bath and Wells