Taunton School maintains top ten position in national rankings for best schools for sport

Taunton School has been placed seventh in the latest Top 200 Sports Schools list – one of the few schools to hold on to their top ten position since the rankings were last compiled in 2020.

The list - which analyses the achievements of both state and independent schools across 20 different sports and more than 120 national events – is drawn up annually by School Sport Magazine.

The news follows another exceptional year of sporting success for the Somerset school. Last year, Taunton Prep School celebrated its best ever sporting year, winning national titles in swimming, hockey and shooting. They were also crowned World Biathle Champions in Madeira.

At senior level, three hockey players were selected to play for England and female hockey players celebrated their best year ever with a string of county and national successes across a number of age groups. In cricket, four students were selected to join county cricket academies.

“This is a wonderful achievement,” said Dan Pettifer, Taunton School’s Director of Sport. “We are extremely proud of our staff and students who have enabled us to maintain our position as the 7th best school for sport in the country. They are fully deserving of this honour. We also recognise the hugely important role that parents play in supporting their children's commitment to sport! Looking forwards, we are excited to build on this success.”

Taunton School’s high ranking reflects the breadth of sports on offer, the high level of participation amongst students and its success in national competitions.

As part of an ongoing £20 million school development plan, Taunton School is set to lay two new hockey pitches by 2026, allowing the school to host competitions at national level.

Taunton School was also named recently as one of the top 100 cricketing schools in the UK with both the Prep and Senior Schools included in The Cricketer Schools Guide 2023.