Best Schools in Cowes

How many schools are there in Cowes?

Cowes has 4 open schools: 3 state primary and 1 state secondary or all-through.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Are there any Outstanding schools in Cowes?

None of the 4 graded schools in Cowes currently holds an Outstanding rating. 3 are rated Good, so 75% are Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

Source: Ofsted

Which primary schools in Cowes have the best SATs results?

Of the 3 primary schools in Cowes with 2025 Key Stage 2 results, the highest shares of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and maths were at Gurnard Primary School (78% in reading, 72% in maths); Northwood Primary School (64% in reading, 61% in maths); and Lanesend Primary School (58% in reading, 52% in maths). Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

Gurnard Primary SchoolNorthwood Primary SchoolLanesend Primary School

Source: DfE school performance data

Are there grammar schools in Cowes?

No. None of the state secondary schools in Cowes selects pupils by ability, so every state secondary here is comprehensive.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Do schools in Cowes have catchment areas?

Most state schools in Cowes have no fixed catchment boundary. When a school is oversubscribed, Isle of Wight allocates places on its published criteria - usually looked-after children first, then siblings, then home-to-school distance - so the practical cut-off moves each year. Each school's page here shows an estimate of its catchment radius.

How do I apply for a school place in Cowes?

Apply to Isle of Wight through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.