Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Rochester, ME1 3EL · Medway · Grammar school
Check the area around this school
1st 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 — 9.7/10 against 546 of them, against 9.7/10 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 96.3 · 97 | 30% | 2.92 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.9 · 96 | 25% | 2.40 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 69.9 · 97 | 10% | 0.97 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 93.5% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 69.5, compared with a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.9 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (9.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Art & Photography Booster, Drama Club, and Music - Rock Band. Sports include Badminton, Cricket, and Rugby. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,555 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,280. 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 who need extra help with homework? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider school day?
What Ofsted said about Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are “thoughtful, polite, courteous and respectful,” creating a culture where they feel “safe and happy.” Leaders are “highly ambitious” and maintain “consistently high expectations,” resulting in an “exceptional” standard of behaviour and academic achievement across all year groups.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “coherently planned, sensitivity sequenced and meticulously implemented,” ensuring pupils “master the curriculum, learn more and remember more.”
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities make “exceptional progress” as teachers adapt practice without narrowing the curriculum.
- Teachers possess “exceptionally strong” subject knowledge and use assessment effectively to identify gaps in learning.
- Character development is “embedded into the behaviour policy,” with pupils taught explicitly about virtues needed to “flourish in society.”
- Sixth-form students are “mature and articulate,” demonstrating “highly positive attitudes” and acting as “excellent role models.”
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with staff well-informed, regularly trained, and confident that concerns are dealt with promptly to ensure pupils “feel safe and they are safe.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 70.3 |
| 2024/25 | 69.5 |
| 2025/26 | 69.9 |
| 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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