Christ The King College: Joint Faith Secondary with Island-Wide Reach

Via Veritas Vita (The Way, The Truth and The Life) has guided students at this unique joint Church of England and Catholic secondary since 2008. The only school of its kind on the Isle of Wight, Christ The King College serves families across the island from its modern Wellington Road campus in Newport. With 1,047 students aged 11 to 18, including a sixth form of around 200, the college occupies a distinctive position as both the island's sole faith-based secondary and its largest provider of post-16 education outside the Isle of Wight College. The November 2023 Ofsted inspection rated the school Requires Improvement overall, though behaviour, personal development, leadership, and sixth form provision were all judged Good.

The college was formed through the amalgamation of Archbishop King Catholic Middle School and Trinity Church of England Middle School, creating an ecumenical institution that operates under the auspices of both the Portsmouth Catholic Diocese and the Church of England Diocese of Portsmouth. This joint character is not merely administrative. The school actively integrates traditions from both denominations, with worship and religious education drawing on Catholic and Anglican practice in roughly equal measure.

Mr Andrew Montrose arrived as Headteacher in January 2023, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in faith schools across the North West of England. His previous role was Deputy Headteacher at St Peter's RC High School in Manchester, where he spent eight years. His leadership has emphasised both faith and high standards, with a particular focus on strengthening the college's distinctive joint character.

The campus itself is notably modern. A complete rebuild under the government's Priority Schools Building Programme brought all students under one roof for the first time, replacing a previous two-site arrangement. The new building incorporates purpose-built science laboratories, art rooms, and dedicated dance and music studios. A sports hall, drama studio, ICT suites, and an auditorium provide additional specialist facilities. A multi-use games area on the site of the former temporary sports hall serves both curriculum PE and extracurricular sport.

Staff turnover among the senior leadership team has been low. Lisa Brinton joined as Director of English in 2013 and moved into senior leadership in 2017. Stuart Gurney, who holds the Designated Safeguarding Lead role, joined senior leadership in 2016. This stability provides continuity alongside the more recent change at headteacher level.

GCSE Results

GCSE outcomes place Christ The King College in the lower 40% of schools in England (60th to 100th percentile), though the school ranks 1st among Isle of Wight secondaries on FindMySchool's GCSE metric. The Attainment 8 score of 41.3 sits below the England average of 45.9. Progress 8 stands at -0.29, indicating students make slightly less progress than similar pupils nationally.

The EBacc average point score of 3.47 falls short of the England average of 4.08, while 8.8% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English Baccalaureate subjects. These figures reflect a comprehensive intake that includes students from across the island's ability range, with faith commitment rather than academic selection determining admissions.

The school has acknowledged disappointment with some outcomes. Following the November 2023 Ofsted inspection, school leaders stated they fundamentally disagreed with the overall Requires Improvement judgement, though Ofsted did not uphold the subsequent complaint. The inspection found that while the curriculum is well-designed and teaching is strong in some areas including the sixth form, delivery is inconsistent across subjects. Teachers do not always assess pupils' starting points accurately or check understanding effectively, limiting achievement in some classes.

A-Level and Sixth Form Results

The sixth form tells a different story. A-level outcomes place the college in the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), with an England rank of 1,237th. This represents solid performance, particularly for a non-selective sixth form drawing primarily from its own Year 11 cohort.

In 2024, 49.3% of A-level grades fell at A*-B, marginally above the England average of 47.2%. The proportion achieving A*-A stood at 22.8% (England average: 23.6%). Individual subject results showed particular strength in Physics, where 60% of grades were A*-A, and Mathematics, where 57.1% reached the same standard. Classics, Fine Art, and Physics all achieved 100% pass rates at A-C.

BTEC results were notably strong, with 73% of students attaining the top grades of Distinction to Distinction* and a 100% pass rate across all programmes. The sixth form was rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023, with inspectors finding that where teaching is strong, including in the sixth form, pupils achieve well.

The curriculum follows a traditional academic framework at Key Stage 3 and 4, with setting by ability in core subjects. The school uses Sparx Maths and Sparx Science digital platforms to support learning, providing personalised practice and tracking student progress.

A broad range of GCSE options is available, with students typically taking nine or ten subjects. The EBacc pathway is offered but take-up is lower than the England average, reflecting the college's emphasis on individual pathways over a single academic template.

Teaching quality varies. The inspection identified inconsistency as the primary barrier to improved outcomes. In stronger departments, lessons are well-structured, teachers have clear expectations, and assessment informs next steps effectively. In weaker areas, teachers do not always identify what students already know or check whether new concepts have been understood. School leaders have prioritised professional development and internal monitoring to address this variation.

Religious education is distinctive. All students study RE throughout their time at the school, with the curriculum designed jointly by Catholic and Church of England diocesan advisors. The subject explores Christian tradition alongside world faiths, with explicit attention to the ecumenical character of the college.

The sixth form offers exclusively Level 3 programmes, with approximately 30 A-level subjects alongside three BTEC pathways. A-level options include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, English Literature, English Language, History, Geography, Government and Politics, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy and Ethics, Classical Civilisations, Latin, French, Spanish, Art, Graphics, Photography, Film Studies, Media Studies, Drama, Music, Music Technology, Computer Science, Design Technology, and Business Studies. The Extended Project Qualification is also available.

BTEC courses cover Health and Social Care, IT, and Sport. The Health and Social Care BTEC is particularly popular, providing a direct pathway into nursing, social work, and related professions.

Entry requirements stipulate five GCSEs at grade 4 or above for standard sixth form entry. Students without grade 4 in English or Mathematics may still enrol on three courses if they meet subject-specific recommendations, with GCSE resit support provided through weekly revision sessions and the My Tutor online programme.

Approximately 60% of Year 11 students continue into the sixth form. The college also welcomes external applicants from across the Isle of Wight, making it accessible to students from non-faith schools seeking a sixth form with a strong pastoral ethos.

In 2024, 45% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with 40% of university applicants securing places at Russell Group institutions. This represents a significant improvement on previous years. Imperial College London, Bristol, Exeter, and Southampton feature among recent destinations.

The remaining leavers pursue diverse pathways. Around 25% entered employment directly, while 4% continued to further education and 1% began apprenticeships. The school highlights the range of these destinations, including Camp America placements, Royal Navy recruitment, and apprenticeships spanning nursing, engineering, and travel.

No Oxbridge acceptances are recorded in the available data, though applications are supported through dedicated UCAS guidance. The careers team provides employer connections and work experience opportunities, with particular strength in local healthcare and public sector placements given the island's employment landscape.

Christ The King College admits 180 students to Year 7 each year under a distinctive three-category system developed jointly with both dioceses. Category A reserves 80 places for Catholic families, determined by criteria agreed with the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth. Category B reserves 80 places for Church of England families, with criteria set by the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth. Category C provides 20 places for children of families from other Christian traditions or no faith background.

For both faith categories, a Certificate of Catholic Practice or confirmation of regular Anglican worship is typically required. The school's supplementary information form must be completed alongside the Isle of Wight Council common application. Within each category, looked-after children, siblings, and distance from school determine priority.

Year 7 admissions data shows the school as oversubscribed, with 351 applications for 199 offers in the most recent year, a ratio of 1.76 applications per place. However, the subscription status applies to the faith categories; some applicants may not qualify under the faith criteria regardless of distance.

Sixth form applications open in early November each year, with Mrs Amanda Holloway serving as Admissions Officer. External applicants register through the Compass portal, while internal students apply through their existing accounts. Open events typically run in the autumn term; families should contact the school directly for specific dates, as these are confirmed annually.

Pastoral support draws on the college's faith foundation. Stuart Gurney, Senior Assistant Headteacher, holds the Designated Safeguarding Lead role and oversees attendance, educational trips, complaints, and primary-to-secondary transition. Each year group has dedicated pastoral leadership, with Richard Clark coordinating behaviour management and discipline across the school.

The inspection rated Behaviour and Attitudes as Good. Pupils behave well, and the school is generally calm and orderly. Across each key stage, students benefit from effective and caring pastoral support. Personal Development was also rated Good, reflecting the college's attention to spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education.

The SENCO role is held by Louise Clark, who manages provision for students with additional needs alongside literacy initiatives and extracurricular coordination. The student-teacher ratio of 16:1 is typical for a school of this size.

Sixth form students receive individualised pastoral care through the dedicated team led by Hayley Conway-Hughes, Head of Sixth Form and Assistant Headteacher. The combination of academic monitoring and personal support reflects the college's stated aim of education in a strong community underpinned by Christian values.

Sport

Physical education facilities include the sports hall, MUGA, and grass pitches for football and rugby. BTEC Sport is offered at sixth form level, providing a vocational pathway for students with sporting interests. The school hosts a social netball league that serves the wider Newport community, though elite sports programmes are limited by the island's geography and population.

Creative Arts

The rebuilt campus includes purpose-built art rooms, a drama studio, and dedicated music and dance studios. Art, Graphics, Photography, Drama, Film Studies, Media Studies, and Music are all available at A-level. The auditorium hosts school productions and assemblies.

Enrichment

The Eco School initiative engages students in environmental projects. Sixth form Super Curricular activities extend beyond examination syllabuses, though specific clubs and societies are not detailed on the school website. The Extended Project Qualification allows students to pursue independent research alongside A-levels.

The school day runs from approximately 8:30am to 3:00pm. The Wellington Road campus is located in central Newport, accessible by bus from across the island. Car parking is available on site. The school does not publish details of breakfast or after-school clubs for secondary students, though sixth formers have access to independent study facilities throughout the day. Families requiring wraparound care should contact the school directly.

Inconsistent teaching quality. The November 2023 Ofsted inspection identified curriculum delivery as the key area requiring improvement. While some departments achieve strong outcomes, others do not assess starting points accurately or check understanding effectively. Families should ask about specific subject results when visiting.

Faith commitment expected. The joint Catholic and Church of England character is genuine and pervasive. Daily worship, regular religious education, and explicit Christian values form the foundation of school life. Families uncomfortable with faith-based education in either tradition should look elsewhere, though the 20 Category C places do accommodate families of other faiths or none.

Island geography. As the only faith secondary on the Isle of Wight, Christ The King draws students from across the island. Some travel times are substantial. The flip side is that the school serves a genuine community of families who have actively chosen faith education.

Sixth form strengths contrast with GCSE outcomes. The sixth form rated Good by Ofsted and achieves solid A-level results. GCSE performance is weaker. Families joining at Year 7 should be aware of this variation and monitor progress through Key Stage 4.

Christ The King College occupies a unique position on the Isle of Wight as the only joint Catholic and Church of England secondary. The modern campus, stable leadership team, and Good-rated sixth form represent genuine strengths. GCSE outcomes lag behind, and the Requires Improvement rating reflects real inconsistency in teaching quality. However, for families committed to faith-based education on the island, there is no alternative of equivalent character.

Best suited to families across the Isle of Wight who want their children educated within Christian traditions and are willing to engage with both the opportunities and the current limitations. The school's improvement trajectory under Mr Montrose will be worth monitoring. For sixth form entry, the college offers a strong academic and pastoral environment with proven university progression, making it a credible choice even for students from non-faith backgrounds seeking an alternative to the Isle of Wight College.