The Five Islands Academy is an all-through mainstream school in St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, for children and young people aged 3 to 16. In January 2026, 35 of its 243 pupils (14.4%) were getting SEN support and 6 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–16
- 243 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Isles of Scilly.
14.4% get SEN support
35 of 243 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
6 of 243 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health7
- Autism6
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 3 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 243 (places for 285)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rachel Lewin
- Part of
- Truro & Penwith Academy Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 3.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Isles of Scilly
- School reference (URN)
- 144638
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Isles of Scilly council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, October 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Church Road, Old Town, St Mary's, TR21 0NA
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Cape Cornwall School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 31 miles
- Nancealverne School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 37 miles
- Pensans Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 37 miles
- Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change Independent · Ages 16–25 53 miles
Questions about The Five Islands Academy
How many pupils at The Five Islands Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 35 of the 243 pupils (14.4%) were getting SEN support and 6 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Five Islands Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (7 pupils), autism (6 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Five Islands Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at The Five Islands Academy?
Through Isles of Scilly council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to The Five Islands Academy?
You can ask for The Five Islands Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does The Five Islands Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Cape Cornwall School, about 31 miles away.
Where is The Five Islands Academy?
Church Road, Old Town, St Mary's, TR21 0NA, in Isles of Scilly.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.