State School
#1 in Best Secondary Schools in Isle of Wight
The Island Free School - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)
The Island Free School
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The Island Free School
- Secondary
- Ventnor PO38 1BG
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Ofsted report
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| Effectiveness of leadership and management | Good |
| Overall effectiveness at previous inspection | Not Previously Inspected |
| Quality of teaching, learning and assessment | Good |
| Personal development, behaviour and welfare | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
Quick insights from ofsted Powered by AI
This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Academic Progress: Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs, make good progress across the curriculum.
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils are proud, work hard, behave exceptionally well, and are respectful and friendly.
Qualifications and Training: High expectations from staff with ongoing support and training to refine their skills.
Current Educational Practices: Regular monitoring and support ensure effective teaching practices.
Strengths and Challenges: Minor inconsistencies in teaching being effectively tackled.
Opportunities for Involvement: Parents praise the school's values and ethos.
Communication: Leaders track pupils' progress well and adjust support based on changing needs.
Parent Satisfaction: The vast majority of parents are very supportive of the school.
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Leaders and governors have a good understanding of their roles and address issues effectively.
Actions for Quality Improvement: Ongoing efforts to improve teaching quality and raise standards.
Managing Bullying and Safety: Bullying is very rare; pupils know how to stay safe online and report concerns.
Promoting Welfare and Safety: Excellent promotion of pupils' personal development and welfare.
Extracurricular Offerings: Wide range of extra-curricular activities contribute well to personal and social development.
Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars: All pupils participate in activities that deepen academic understanding.
Career Counselling Services: Guidance on careers needs higher profile; current efforts are in early stages.
Preparation for Sixth Form: Visits to local sixth-form colleges arranged to aid future progression.
Managing and Supporting SEND: Effective support ensures good progress for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us
The Island Free School is a top rated, Secondary, Co-Ed school located in Isle of Wight County, South East.
It has 623 students from age 11-16 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 14 : 1.
At this school, 60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.
This school rated Good by recent Ofsted inspection.
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A small school with a formal academic curriculum is called The Island Free School.
All students take English Literature, the English Baccalaureate, and at least two other elective courses.
At the start of Year 9, students start their Key Stage 4 programme.
We complement our academic programme with a music specialisation and extracurricular activities that emphasise athletics and the creative arts.
In Key Stage 3, all students receive assistance in learning an instrument.
In order to prepare for passing their Bronze Award, all students are registered in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme and given support to participate in cross-curricular activities like sport, music, drama, and dance during Key Stage 3.
Throughout their time at the school, every student receives exceptional pastoral care and is supported by a personal mentor.
Each staff member mentors half of the tutor group, resulting in a teacher to student ratio of approximately 1:12.
Throughout their time at the school, the 12 or 13 students in the learning mentor's care are guided.
If all students are to reach their potential, a strong partnership between the family and school must be established, and this staff member is key to doing so.
Each student receives a thorough preparation for both their optional subjects and the English Baccalaureate.
The KS3 experience is shortened for students, and they start their KS4 programme of study in Year 9 after selecting their options at the conclusion of Year 8.
This gives them three years to complete their GCSE programme of study, enabling them to have a deeper understanding of each topic in time for the exams.
From KS2 to KS4, every student makes expected or better-than-expected progress in all subjects.
To foster a true feeling of shared responsibility, all parents, employees, and members of the community are encouraged to participate actively in school life as students, coaches, and role models for our students.
Each student is given the chance to grow into an intellectual, independent, free-thinking person.
On the Isle of Wight, The Island Free School is the top-choice institution for parents.
Read more
All students take English Literature, the English Baccalaureate, and at least two other elective courses.
At the start of Year 9, students start their Key Stage 4 programme.
We complement our academic programme with a music specialisation and extracurricular activities that emphasise athletics and the creative arts.
In Key Stage 3, all students receive assistance in learning an instrument.
In order to prepare for passing their Bronze Award, all students are registered in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme and given support to participate in cross-curricular activities like sport, music, drama, and dance during Key Stage 3.
Throughout their time at the school, every student receives exceptional pastoral care and is supported by a personal mentor.
Each staff member mentors half of the tutor group, resulting in a teacher to student ratio of approximately 1:12.
Throughout their time at the school, the 12 or 13 students in the learning mentor's care are guided.
If all students are to reach their potential, a strong partnership between the family and school must be established, and this staff member is key to doing so.
Each student receives a thorough preparation for both their optional subjects and the English Baccalaureate.
The KS3 experience is shortened for students, and they start their KS4 programme of study in Year 9 after selecting their options at the conclusion of Year 8.
This gives them three years to complete their GCSE programme of study, enabling them to have a deeper understanding of each topic in time for the exams.
From KS2 to KS4, every student makes expected or better-than-expected progress in all subjects.
To foster a true feeling of shared responsibility, all parents, employees, and members of the community are encouraged to participate actively in school life as students, coaches, and role models for our students.
Each student is given the chance to grow into an intellectual, independent, free-thinking person.
On the Isle of Wight, The Island Free School is the top-choice institution for parents.
Gallery
Secondary Exam Result
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.28 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 51.4 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 60% | 31.44% | 30.03% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 78% | 44.44% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 98% | 31.67% | 25.06% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 25% | 11.33% | 10.91% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 37% | 15.44% | 15.51% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.90 | 2.82 | 2.83 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 97% | 96.29% | 90.53% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 121 | 142 | 144 |
| Pupils staying in education | 88% | 91.43% | 84.16% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 42% | 35.14% | 32.73% |
| School sixth forms | 38% | 28% | 29.8% |
| Sixth form colleges | 2% | 0.86% | 10.22% |
| Other education destinations | 7% | 27.57% | 11.43% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 2.14% | 2.8% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 5% | 3% | 3.59% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.01 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 48.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 51% | 31.44% | 32.85% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 74% | 45.22% | 45.33% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 92% | 32.89% | 24.94% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 26% | 14.78% | 13.02% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 41% | 19.89% | 17.19% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.6 | 2.91 | 2.97 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 98% | 83% | 90.4% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 119 | 125 | 141 |
| Pupils staying in education | 91% | 80.86% | 86.29% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 55% | 37.14% | 34.03% |
| School sixth forms | 29% | 26.86% | 30.82% |
| Sixth form colleges | 5% | 2.29% | 10.38% |
| Other education destinations | 3% | 14.71% | 11.08% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 1% | 1.99% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 4% | 1.29% | 2.13% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | -0.4 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 48 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 46% | 23.67% | 29.3% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 78% | 41.33% | 43.41% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 92% | 28% | 25.8% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 16% | 6.44% | 11.47% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 30% | 11.89% | 16.49% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.48 | 2.61 | 2.88 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | - | 91% | 90.2% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | - | 113 | 135 |
| Pupils staying in education | - | 87.4% | 84.08% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | - | 24.4% | 33.25% |
| School sixth forms | - | 29.2% | 31.27% |
| Sixth form colleges | - | 0.4% | 8.45% |
| Other education destinations | - | 33.4% | 11.14% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | - | 1.4% | 3.4% |
| Pupils staying in employment | - | 1.8% | 2.75% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | - | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | - | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | - | 18% | 29.22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | - | 28.11% | 42.62% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | - | 16.33% | 24.73% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | - | 4.78% | 11.33% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | - | 7.44% | 16.01% |
| EBacc average points score | - | 1.99 | 2.84 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | - | 76.8% | 84.87% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | - | 113 | 140 |
| Pupils staying in education | - | 54.8% | 73.88% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | - | 22.8% | 28.31% |
| School sixth forms | - | 29.8% | 31.6% |
| Sixth form colleges | - | 0.4% | 9.08% |
| Other education destinations | - | 0.6% | 5.87% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | - | 0% | 2.96% |
| Pupils staying in employment | - | 0% | 2.05% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | - | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | - | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | - | 20.88% | 29.55% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | - | 30.38% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | - | 13% | 25.25% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | - | 6.38% | 14.71% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | - | 7% | 16.26% |
| EBacc average points score | - | - | - |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | - | 57.2% | 85.29% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | - | 120 | 145 |
| Pupils staying in education | - | 54.8% | 58.19% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | - | 23% | 30.58% |
| School sixth forms | - | 28.4% | 32.22% |
| Sixth form colleges | - | 1% | 8.95% |
| Other education destinations | - | 0% | 5.7% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | - | 3.4% | 4.78% |
| Pupils staying in employment | - | 2.4% | 2.45% |
Best Schools 2025
The Island Free School Rankings
夜来香研究所 ranks nearly 20,000+ schools according to their exam results, teaching quality, resources & many more indicators. (How Do We Calculate Rankings?)
How Do We Calculate Rankings?
Our school rankings are meticulously determined through a rigorous process:
This meticulous process ensures our rankings provide accurate and meaningful insights for your school choices.
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 21st Oct 2024 - 1st Nov 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 7th Apr 2025 - 21st Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 30th Jul 2025 - 29th Aug 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 2nd Sep 2024 - 20th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 2nd Nov 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 22nd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 29th Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
14 : 1
Student teacher ratio at The Island Free School
Local authority ratio 19 : 1
