Taunton School Honoured for Excellence in Inclusive Sports Programme

Taunton School in Somerset has earned national acclaim for its pioneering and inclusive approach to school sports, securing the Inspiring Sporting Activities award at the 2025 Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education. This prestigious recognition highlights the school’s dedication to fostering sporting excellence across all skill levels through customised pathways and a culture that encourages wide participation.

Judged by a panel of education experts with over 400 years of combined experience, Taunton School was praised for designing a sports programme that not only boosts physical wellbeing but also cultivates personal growth and essential life skills among its students.

Daniel Pettifer, Director of Sport at Taunton School, expressed his pride in the achievement: “We are thrilled to receive this award. It reflects the unwavering passion and commitment of our entire sporting community — including students, parents, coaches, and sports leaders. This collective effort has been key to our success.”

He added, “The award stands as proof of how our values are actively lived out, creating a sports culture that students genuinely embrace. That shared dedication truly sets us apart.”

Taunton School offers three clear sporting pathways—core development, potential high performance, and high performance—available to students from Years 9 to 13. These inclusive pathways welcome all abilities, ages, and experience levels, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The senior school alone fields 130 representative teams and participates in over 1,000 fixtures each year across 30 different sporting disciplines. Earlier in 2025, Taunton School was also ranked 14th in the UK by School Sport magazine’s Top 200 Sporting Schools.

Founded in 1847, the co-educational day and boarding school is located on a sprawling 56-acre campus in Somerset, serving children aged 0 to 18.