The Howard School
Gillingham, ME8 0BX · Medway · secondary school
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7th of 19 secondary schools in Medway we can score, 20 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 4.6/10 against 904 of them, against 4.8/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 85 | 35% | 2.99 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 36.1 · 28 | 30% | 0.83 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.24 · 68 | 25% | 1.70 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 47.3 · 57 | 10% | 0.57 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Howard School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 33.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.24 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Debate Society, Chess Club, Coding Club, and Esports. Sports include Football, Cricket, Rugby, and Golf. Arts options cover Drama, Band, and Photography. Trips have included Italy, Iceland, and New York. Both a breakfast club and an after-school club are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,471 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,725. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to reach the national median in Attainment 8? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the new Ofsted framework affect
What Ofsted said about The Howard School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils feel "happy and safe" and are "well prepared for life after school." Leaders have established a culture of high attendance and excellent behaviour, supported by "highly effective" teaching and an "exceptional" personal development programme.
Strengths
- Personal development is "exceptional," with teachers delivering a "transformational" programme that fosters tolerance and prepares pupils for informed decision-making.
- Attendance is a "strong standard," with rates above national averages due to a culture where "attendance is everyone’s business."
- Behaviour is excellent; pupils are "polite and respectful," disruption is "very rare," and the school does not accept discrimination.
- Teaching is "highly effective," with subject experts who "skilfully adapt learning" to fill knowledge gaps and support pupils with barriers.
- Inclusion is a "strong standard," with leaders identifying needs quickly and using additional funding "very effectively" to support individual pupils.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should "embed changes to the sixth-form curriculum, enabling all students to achieve consistently high outcomes."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing "an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.5 |
| 2024/25 | 45.2 |
| 2025/26 | 47.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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