The Australian Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands consists of 27 small coral islands forming a typical horseshoe shaped atoll.  It is situated in the Indian Ocean at latitude 12.16 south, longitude 96.53 east, which puts the Islands on the same latitude as Darwin.  Cocos (Keeling) Islands are approximately 2936 kilometres North West of Perth and approximately 2961 kilometres due west of Darwin.  The nearest point on the mainland is Learmonth, 2149 kilometres away.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands School has two campuses and services the educational needs of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands community.  The community consists of settlements on two of the atoll’s islands.  West Island residents are predominantly expatriates and the school’s campus there operates a primary wing (K-6), and the Islands’ secondary facility (7-10).  All post compulsory students attend school on the mainland. On Home Island, some eight kilometres across the lagoon, the school operates a primary campus (K-6) which caters for the predominantly Cocos Malay community.  All teachers live on West Island and those with teaching responsibilities on Home Island make a daily return trip across the lagoon.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a unique environment; culturally, physically and educationally.  For 85% of students, English is a second language.  Classes on the Home Island primary campus cater for the special language needs of the Cocos Malay students.  The secondary part of the school (7 – 10) currently has 42 students all of whom enjoy a high degree of attention and resources, including a laptop each provided by the school