Rainham Mark Grammar School vs The Rochester Grammar School
Both are grammar schools in Medway, 4.1 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Rainham Mark Grammar School | The Rochester Grammar School | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Mixed | Girls |
| Pupils on roll | 1,551 | 1,171 |
| Free school meals | 10.4% | 10.5% |
| Ofsted rating | Good | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2024/25 | 62.7 | 68.4 |
| A-level average points — 2024/25 | 36.64 | Not published |
| 11+ test board | GL Assessment | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | pass/fail then criteria order | pass/fail then criteria order |
| Places offered — 202627 | 233 | 204 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 1.21 | 1.18 |
Qualifying scores
Rainham Mark Grammar School
No fixed pass mark. The Medway Test aggregate score (max 700 — English and maths standardised scores double-weighted, plus reasoning) is compared to a threshold set fresh each year: the score level that includes roughly the top 25% of Medway Year 6 children. The threshold is published by Medway Council with results in October. Passing makes a child eligible; each school's oversubscription criteria then apply.
The Rochester Grammar School
No fixed pass mark. The Medway Test aggregate score (max 700 — English and maths standardised scores double-weighted, plus reasoning) is compared to a threshold set fresh each year: the score level that includes roughly the top 25% of Medway Year 6 children. The threshold is published by Medway Council with results in October. Passing makes a child eligible; each school's oversubscription criteria then apply.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Rainham Mark Grammar School
- Looked after children and previously looked after children
- Children with exceptional medical/social needs
- Siblings of children on roll at the school
- Children living in Medway (LA area)
Source: school admissions policy.
The Rochester Grammar School
- Looked after children and previously looked after children
- Children with exceptional medical/social needs
- Siblings of children on roll at the school
- Children living in Medway (LA area)
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Rainham Mark Grammar School is a mixed school and The Rochester Grammar School is a girls school, so for many families the starting point is which one can admit their child. The figures on this page are the published ones — they describe intakes and results, not what either school would be like for your child. The right choice depends on your family's own priorities and circumstances.
Other Medway comparisons
- Chatham Grammar vs Fort Pitt Grammar School
- Chatham Grammar vs Holcombe Grammar School
- Chatham Grammar vs Rainham Mark Grammar School
- Chatham Grammar vs Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
- Chatham Grammar vs The Rochester Grammar School
- Fort Pitt Grammar School vs Holcombe Grammar School
- Fort Pitt Grammar School vs Rainham Mark Grammar School
- Fort Pitt Grammar School vs Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
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