| Pyrland School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Cheddon Road ,, TA2 7QP England | |
| Coordinates | 51°02′15″N3°06′01″W / 51.0375°N 3.1003°W /51.0375; -3.1003 |
| Information | |
| Type | Academy |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | September 2010 |
| Department for Education URN | 136193Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Head | Mark Lawrence |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Age | 11 to 16 |
| Enrolment | 728 |
| Colour(s) | Black, grey and purple |
| Academy sponsors | Richard Huish College |
| Website | https://www.thetauntonacademy.co.uk |
Pyrland School (formerly The Taunton Academy[1]) is a school withacademy status inTaunton,Somerset, England.[2]The school was formed by the merger ofThe St Augustine of Canterbury Church of England/Roman Catholic VA School andLadymead Community School.[3] Its original sponsors wereSomerset County Council and theDiocese of Bath and Wells, however the school transferred to the Richard Huish Trust in 2015 and is now sponsored byRichard Huish College.[4] It was opened on 9 September 2010 byPeter Price, theBishop 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.[5]This plan was temporarily put on hold following the government's major review of theBuilding Schools for the Future programme in July 2010,[6]and was subject to review by theDepartment for Education.[7][8]
The expression of interest to become an academy was submitted by the sponsors to theDepartment for Children, Schools and Families in February 2009.[9]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 receivingfree school meals against the local authority average of 7.9%, had 38% of pupils achieving five or moreGCSE 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%.[9]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 moreGCSE qualifications including English and Mathematics.[9]
The application was approved by education ministerJim Knight in March 2009.[3] By June 2009, the plans looked to be under threat as parental consultation by governors at Ladymead showed strong opposition to the new academy.[10]However, the final go-ahead was given in January 2010, when the government agreed to the academy's funding.[5]
In 2015 the school was transferred to the Richard Huish Trust with a 'requires improvement' rating, by 10th January 2017 the rating had dropped to 'inadequate'.[11] On 29th November 2022 a formal notice was served on the Richard Huish Trust advising that the school appeared to be 'coasting'. On 3rd 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.[12]
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