Using the site of a former British military hospital from 1967 to 1972, the school permanently settled in 20 Borrett Road, Mid-Levels from 1972 to 2017.

However, due to redevelopment work, the school temporarily moved to two campuses in Sha Tin District in December 2017.

The first principal of Island School was the Reverend Geoffrey Speak who was appointed from St Paul's College in 1967.

Speak, a graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge, combined the principalship with managing the ESF between 1967 and 1971, during a rather inauspicious time.

In 1967 the Cultural Revolution was in its throes with bombs detonated in Central, water was rationed to four hours every fourth day and with Prime Minister Wilson's devaluation the prospect of working in Hong Kong became less financially appealing.

Chris Forse, former Deputy Head and Island School Historian, referred to Rivers-Moore as a man who combined his "integrity with liberal benevolence in roughly equal proportions".

Driver had been the President of the National Union of Students in South Africa and had been detained by Police in this role for his opposition to apartheid.

During his tenure, Dr. Niven raised the prestige of the school internationally, tripling Oxbridge entries while gaining membership of the elite Headmasters Conference.

Mr. James was an innovator, introducing the new British National Curriculum, vocational education and the decision to begin the International Baccalaureate at 16–18.

He enhanced the responsibilities of the Sixth Form enabling "students to become surrogate teachers and leaders of the school".

Mrs Hughes's tenure began in difficult circumstances with a pay dispute between the teachers and the ESF which resulted in some curtailing of the extracurricular program and support for parent-run activities like the school fair.

Her tenure has been characterised by its attention to meeting the modern imperatives of quality assurance and in the increasing role of "student voice" at Island School.

Mrs. Hughes left the position in June 2009, and was replaced by Mr Christopher Binge, who had been the secondary principal at the La Châtaigneraie campus of the International School of Geneva.

This newly built campus includes a performing arts centre, an indoor swimming pool, a sports hall, basketball courts, sky gardens, a black box theatre, and creative studios.

As students move on to Years 9, 10 & 11, Island Futures is divided into four different areas: entrance, elements, explorations and escape.