Schools by area › Isle of Wight › The Island Free School
The Island Free School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Free school
Newport Road, Ventnor PO38 1BG · theislandfreeschool.org · 01983 857641
On the mapSearch near PO38 1BG
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jun 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 51
- average Attainment 8 score. Isle of Wight 41.5, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.8
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 613
- 98% of 625 places
- Local authority
- Isle of Wight
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 21.9%
- First language not English
- 1.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 204 families put the school first and 111 places were offered; 54% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 111 | 204 | 1.8▲ | 54% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 114 | 195 | 1.7▲ | 57% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 118 | 202 | 1.7▲ | 58% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 122 | 264 | 2.2▲ | 45% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 121 | 202 | 1.7▲ | 57% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 51, and 56.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Isle of Wight it was 41.5, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲51 | 46 | ||
| ▲56.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲72.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲93.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.78 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 37.7 | +6 |
| Sixth form college | 2.5 | +0.9 |
| Further education | 41.8 | −7 |
| Other education | 2.5 | −6.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.6 | — |
| Employment | 2.5 | +0.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.7 | +3.3 |
| Activity not captured | 5.7 | +1.6 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 15 June 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for The Island Free School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 14 Jun 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2017
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jun 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (197 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Replies
- 197
- 32% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on the 37% who had a child bullied
based on 45 parents (23%) with SEND