Ryde School with Upper Chine
Same Isle of Wight area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Priory School is a private secondary-stage school in Whippingham, Isle of Wight, with a published age range of 4-18.
Private school Co-ed Ages 4-18 Sixth form No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-18
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
Priory School
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-18
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Priory School's history runs from its 1993 foundation in Shanklin, formed from Upper Chine School, to the move in 2012 to the former Queen Victoria school site at Whippingham. The co-educational day community is non-denominational, with a Christian ethos under the patronage of Our Lady of Walsingham. That combination of island history and explicit ethos gives the school a character beyond its compact senior phase.
Senior provision covers Years 7 to 11, with a maximum teaching class size of 16. The curriculum is designed to accommodate academic and practical interests, while early preparation for GCSE and close knowledge of each pupil run through the academic approach. Community service, an Eco-Council and Eco-Fashion Week give ethical and environmental commitments a practical place in daily life.
Sailing, cycling, horse riding, golf and fencing connect co-curricular life with the Isle of Wight, alongside charity projects linked to local organisations. Priory remains a day-school setting at Beatrice Avenue, Whippingham, and prospective families can arrange a tour through the open-house admissions approach.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 66.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 48.2 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Isle of Wight and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 48.2
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 66.7%
- EBacc APS
- 4.56
- EBacc entry
- 51.9%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Isle of Wight and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 4-18
- Principal
- Mr David Lloyd
- Pupil roll
- 172 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Beatrice Avenue, Whippingham, Isle of Wight
- Postcode
- PO32 6LP
- Area
- Isle of Wight
School leadership
- Principal
- Mr David Lloyd
School contact
- School phone
- 01983861222
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01983861222
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 4-18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- Senior day tuition £6,990-£7,383.60 per term, including VAT, 2026/27.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 48.2 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 70.4% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 66.7% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 4.56 EBacc APS
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 10 March 2026
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2026 records an inspection beginning 10 March 2026. The report says the relevant standards were met.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
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Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
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Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
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Shortlist comparisons
Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Priory School handle admissions?
Priory School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Priory School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Priory School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Priory School?
Priory School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 10 March 2026.