Best secondary schools in Isle of Wight (2026)
Isle of Wight has 7 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is The Island Free School, in the top 27% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 42.5, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Isle of Wight has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 27% in England |
The Island Free School Ventnor |
50.5 | 51.0 | 56% | No rating | |
2 Bottom 49% in England |
Cowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academy Cowes |
44.7 | 42.7 | 38% | No rating | |
3 Bottom 44% in England |
Lift Ryde Ryde |
44.1 | 43.8 | 41% | Good | |
4 Bottom 32% in England |
Christ The King College Newport (Isle of Wight) · Church of England/Roman Catholic |
42.4 | 44.8 | 42% | Requires improvement | |
5 Bottom 22% in England |
Carisbrooke College Newport (Isle of Wight) |
41.4 | 41.4 | 30% | Requires improvement | |
6 Bottom 13% in England |
The Bay Church of England School Sandown · Church of England |
38.0 | 38.3 | 27% | Good | |
7 Bottom 9% in England |
Medina College Newport (Isle of Wight) |
35.2 | 35.2 | 30% | Requires improvement |
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Isle of Wight?
On exam results over the last three years, The Island Free School is the top-ranked secondary school in Isle of Wight, in the top 27% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.