The Five Islands Academy, St Mary's
The Five Islands Academy is an all-through school for pupils aged 3 to 16 in St Mary's, part of Truro & Penwith Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. It was 86% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Capacity
- 86% full
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Isles of Scilly (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Isles of Scilly (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Five Islands Academy in detail
The Five Islands Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Our inclusive vision for learning is anchored in hope and inspired by our extraordinary environment, our creativity and the far-reaching horizons in every direction."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Primary children who live on Bryher boat daily to Tresco for schooling. All secondary age students attend school on St Mary’s; those who live on off islands boat and board weekly, staying in Mundesley House which offers a home-from-home arrangement. Class sizes are small, particularly in secondary, and the pastoral provision is exceptional."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at The Five Islands Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 53.2 in Isles of Scilly and 47 across England.
39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in Isles of Scilly and 47% in England.
That is up from 48.7 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 1.07: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, History and Biology.
Getting a place at The Five Islands Academy
In 2026, families in Isles of Scilly lodged 0 appeals against secondary school offers; 0 reached a hearing and none succeeded.
The trust
The Five Islands Academy is one of 41 schools run by Truro & Penwith Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 17 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 65% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college and 12% into work.
Who goes there
3.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 35 pupils (14.4%) received SEN support and 6 (2.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
The Five Islands Academy had 30 teachers in 2026, one for every 8 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Five Islands Academy.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Five Islands Academy issued 15 suspensions, 6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
3.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has improved from 0.72 to 1.07 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has remained stable at around 53.2 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 63% to 39% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 53.2 | 38.9% |
| Boys(8) | - | 52.1 | 37.5% |
| Girls(10) | - | 54.1 | 40% |
Show more breakdowns (1)
| Non mobile(17) | - | 54.1 | 41.2% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 17 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
1
Permanent exclusions
0.40%
Exclusion rate
15
Suspensions
5.98%
Suspension rate
8 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 251 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Latest from The Five Islands Academy
FIA Newsletter Issue 355 (2nd October 2026)
3 Oct 2026
FIA Newsletter Issue 354 (25th September 2026)
25 Sep 2026
FIA Newsletter Issue 353 (18th September 2026)
18 Sep 2026
FIA Newsletter Issue 352 (14th September 2026)
11 Sep 2026
FIA Newsletter Issue 351 (24th July 2026)
24 Jul 2026
FIA Newsletter Issue 350 (17th July 2026)
17 Jul 2026
From The Five Islands Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with The Five Islands Academy
Getting There
Ferry Terminals
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Five Islands Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Five Islands Academy is in Isles of Scilly; for families living there:
Apply to Isles of Scilly for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
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What the report includes for The Five Islands Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Five Islands Academy.
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- How many families in Isles of Scilly got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
86%
Available places
245 pupils
285 places
40 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - St Mary's
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for St Mary's
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
35
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
16.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
243
Total Pupils
130
Boys
113
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
8.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£42,902
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£12,738
Per pupil
£3206k
Total funding
£9k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.5%
Overall absence
17.8%
Persistent absence
241
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about The Five Islands Academy
What are GCSE results like at The Five Islands Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Five Islands Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53.2. 39% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Five Islands Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Five Islands Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2016 it was rated Inadequate.
What is the catchment area for The Five Islands Academy?
No fixed boundary. When The Five Islands Academy is oversubscribed, Isles of Scilly allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at The Five Islands Academy?
The Five Islands Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 86% of its 285 places.
How big are the classes at The Five Islands Academy?
Classes at The Five Islands Academy average 14.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Five Islands Academy?
The Five Islands Academy has around 243 pupils on roll. 4% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Five Islands Academy?
6.5% of sessions were missed at The Five Islands Academy in 2024/25. 17.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Five Islands Academy?
Apply through Isles of Scilly's coordinated admissions process, naming The Five Islands Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near The Five Islands Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
Where is The Five Islands Academy?
The Five Islands Academy is at Church Road, Old Town, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0NA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)