Holcombe Grammar School
Chatham, ME4 6JB · Medway · Grammar school
Check the area around this school
6th 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.
Narrow the comparison to the 605 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.2/10 among them, against 8.1/10 nationally. 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 81.6 · 95 | 30% | 2.84 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.15 · 60 | 25% | 1.51 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 59.8 · 92 | 10% | 0.92 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Holcombe Grammar School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 84.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 62.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.15 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.2 out of 10 among them, against 8.2 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Medway Victory Sea Cadets.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,060 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How accessible are Sea Cadet activities for all year groups?
What Ofsted said about Holcombe Grammar School
Overview
Holcombe Grammar School continues to be a good school, offering an inclusive and supportive environment where pupils feel happy and safe. The school is ambitious for all students, providing a high-quality curriculum and extensive opportunities for personal development, including strong sixth-form outcomes.
Strengths
- Pupils experience a “rights respecting” culture with “very high” attendance and feel “listened to and cared for”.
- Teachers are described as “real experts” with “strong subject knowledge” who skilfully use technical vocabulary.
- The school accurately identifies needs for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they access the same curriculum and achieve well.
- Personal development is a strength, with a valued curriculum covering citizenship, relationships, and mental health, supported by “weekly check-ins”.
- A “very comprehensive programme of careers information and guidance” helps sixth-form students prepare for university and employment.
Areas to improve
- The quality of teaching, assessment, and resources does not consistently support all pupils to learn as well as they could across all subjects.
- Sometimes, teaching does not check or deepen pupils’ understanding before moving on, meaning some pupils are not consistently learning the ambitious curriculum.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 59.9 |
| 2024/25 | 62.4 |
| 2025/26 | 59.8 |
| 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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