Rainham Mark Grammar School
Gillingham, ME8 7AJ · Medway · Grammar school
Check the area around this school
4th 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 514 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.4/10 among them, against 8.6/10 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 | 34% | 1.80 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 88.9 · 96 | 30% | 2.92 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.28 · 71 | 25% | 1.80 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 63.1 · 94 | 10% | 0.96 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Rainham Mark Grammar School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 87.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 62.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.28 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.4 out of 10 among them, against 8.6 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2022.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join TEFL, LAMDA, and Maths and Physics Olympiads clubs, with an after-school club also available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,568 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,242. 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 specific support is available for pupils aiming for Olympiad-level achievement? How has the 2022 inspection rating influenced recent improvements in teaching?
What Ofsted said about Rainham Mark Grammar School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils feel safe, valued, and prepared for life in modern Britain. Leaders have established a clear vision focused on improving the quality of education and personal development, with staff feeling supported and behaviour remaining calm and orderly.
Strengths
- Teachers are described as "passionate and highly knowledgeable," with a curriculum that prepares pupils well for sixth form.
- Pupils benefit from an "effective programme of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education" covering topics like consent and addiction.
- "Pupil leadership and mentoring opportunities are a strength," with sixth-form students providing academic and emotional support to younger peers.
- The arts are highlighted as a particular strength, with productions acting as events that "bring the whole school together as a community."
- Trustees and governors "understand their roles well" and are determined to bring about sustainable improvements.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure new curriculum initiatives and staff training become "more consistent" across all lessons.
- Leaders must urgently identify pupils needing help with reading in Year 7 to ensure they "catch up with their peers."
- Leaders should ensure all pupils receive a personal careers interview before age 16, as this is a statutory requirement currently not met by all.
- Leaders should think strategically about how to increase participation in extra-curricular clubs, as "not all pupils are aware of what is on offer."
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with clear policies, regular staff training, and quick action taken when children need help.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 63.4 |
| 2024/25 | 62.7 |
| 2025/26 | 63.1 |
| 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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