Ofsted: Good trending_up High Demand emoji_events #2 in Isle of Wight public Top 35% UK

The Island Free School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

person Mr Steph Boyd (Headmaster)

corporate_fareISLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL

location_onVentnor, PO38 1BG

language Visit Website phone 01983857641

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

622

trending_up

Attainment 8

45.8

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GCSE Rank

#2 in Isle of Wight

#1,891 of 4,024 nationally

summarize

The Island Free School is a Free schools secondary school in Ventnor, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Highly competitive: 1.8× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

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School Summary

The Island Free School is a free schools in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ISLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL. The school has approximately 613 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.8, placing the school #2 in Isle of Wight and #1,891 of 4,024 nationally. 47.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 17.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.8× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 1.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

45.8

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

47.10%

Grade 4+ E&M

73.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)17.9%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)63.90%

Triple Science Entry24.40%

EBacc Slot Score13 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

56.20%

Grade 4+ E&M

72.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)20.9%

Entering EBacc93.40%

EBacc APS4.78

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.1

Grade 5+ E&M

50.80%

Entering EBacc92.60%

EBacc APS4.6

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc98%

EBacc APS4.90

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc92%

EBacc APS4.6

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.4

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc92%

EBacc APS4.48

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

88.5%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84.4%

Apprenticeships1.6%

Employment2.5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5.7%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Secondary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	GCSE Attainment	Progress 8 Rank
2026	#2,187 / 4,024	#2	#1,891	#1
2025	#586 / 3,948	#1	#981	#1
2024	#972 / 4,450	#1	#1,259	#993
2023	#619 / 4,321	#1	#956	#857
2022	#1,143 / 4,199	#1	#1,744	#1,458
2019	#1,624 / 2,711	#3	#1,171	#2,272

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 June 2023

Inspection Report

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20 June 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2017-06-20

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.3%(8 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 619 pupils. During this period, there were 11 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.8%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	619	11	1.8%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	623	1	0.2%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	620	14	2.3%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	623	12	1.9%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	627	12	1.9%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	623	7	1.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	622	6	1.0%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	624	2	0.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	621	5	0.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	622	7	1.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	624	4	0.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	620	3	0.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	621	2	0.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	624	3	0.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	619	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	619	0	0.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	622	2	0.3%	4.2%	4
2018/19 (Summer term)	618	1	0.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	620	2	0.3%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	624	3	0.5%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	499	0	0.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	499	1	0.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	500	1	0.2%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	375	0	0.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	374	0	0.0%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	375	0	0.0%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 29 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 17 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

89%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

27%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree64%

agree29%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree55%

agree31%

disagree9%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree56%

agree19%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

not applicable16%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes23%

no77%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree49%

agree36%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree68%

agree27%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree32%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree68%

agree27%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree35%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree82%

agree17%

disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree59%

agree30%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes94%

no6%

Top Secondary Schools in Isle of Wight

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Good

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Lift Ryde

Good

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Christ The King College

Expected standard

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emoji_events #5 in LA

Ryde School with Upper Chine

N/A

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Carisbrooke College

Requires improvement

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View all schools in Isle of Wight arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Isle of Wight

Priory School

Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy

Lift Ryde

Christ The King College

Ryde School with Upper Chine

Carisbrooke College