Bishop Fox's School is a mainstream secondary school in Taunton, Somerset, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 255 of its 1,123 pupils (22.7%) were getting SEN support and 62 (5.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,123 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Somerset.
22.7% get SEN support
255 of 1,123 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.5% have an EHC plan
62 of 1,123 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health93
- Speech, language and communication63
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia37
- Moderate learning difficulty33
- Autism20
- Hearing impairment5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,123 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Ms Kerry Tonkin
- Part of
- Bishop Fox's School
- Free school meals
- 23.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Somerset
- School reference (URN)
- 136851
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Somerset council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, April 2013; school remains Good (March 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2023).
Contact and getting there
Bishop Fox Drive, Taunton, TA1 3HQ
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Silver Bridge School Independent · Ages 6–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Holway Park Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- The Sky Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Inadequate 1.6 miles
- Monkton Wood Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Inadequate 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Bishop Fox's School
How many pupils at Bishop Fox's School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 255 of the 1,123 pupils (22.7%) were getting SEN support and 62 (5.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bishop Fox's School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (93 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (63 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bishop Fox's School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Bishop Fox's School?
Through Somerset council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Bishop Fox's School?
You can ask for Bishop Fox's School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Bishop Fox's School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Holway Park Community Primary School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Bishop Fox's School?
Bishop Fox Drive, Taunton, TA1 3HQ, in Somerset.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.