Schoolfile
Search

Academy converter · Medway

The Howard School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,471Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • BoysPupils
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 141466URN

Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 0BX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Feb 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.2per place
1.2 below Medway median (3.4)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in MedwaySelective

523 applications for 243 places · 14th of 19 in Medway
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
47.3of 90
7th of 19 in Medway
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 24 February 2026Published 18 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingExceptional
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 24 February 2026
    Report card · 1 Exceptional, 4 Strong standard, 2 Expected standard
  2. 24 November 2021
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
2.2applications per place, Year 7
1.2 below Medway median (3.4) close to England median (2.2)

523 applications · 243 places offered · 229 named it first

  1. 2026 2.2; Medway median median 3.4
  2. 2025 2.4; Medway median median 3.3
  3. 2024 2.1; Medway median median 3.3
  4. 2023 1.9; Medway median median 3.1
  5. 2022 1.5; Medway median median 3.2
  6. 2021 1.5; Medway median median 3.3
  7. 2020 1.7; Medway median median 3.0
  8. 2019 2.0; Medway median median 3.0
  9. 2018 2.0; Medway median median 2.7
  10. 2017 1.9; Medway median median 2.7
  11. 2016 2.0; Medway median median 2.6
  12. 2015 1.9; Medway median median 2.5
  13. 2014 1.9; Medway median median 2.8; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Medway median in 0 of 12 years.
  • This school
  • Medway median

Dashed bars: as The Howard School (URN 118929), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262435232.22290.94
Sep 20252465772.42410.98
Sep 20242505162.12220.89
Sep 20232354511.91760.75
Sep 20222774161.51660.60
Sep 20213024491.52220.74
Sep 20202704701.72310.86
Sep 20192635202.02460.94
Sep 20182504882.02190.88
Sep 20172484691.92430.98
Sep 20162555002.02410.95
Sep 20152534801.92340.92
Sep 2014 *2554801.92390.94

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

219 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)47.37th of 19 in Medway
Grade 5 or above in English and maths36%7th of 19 in Medway
Grade 4 or above in English and maths60%
  • This school
  • Medway median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.24
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)21947.336%60%–
2024/2527045.233%64%–
2023/2425842.534%60%+0.24
2022/2323142.631%57%+0.24

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
141466 · 887/5457
Trust
The Howard Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,725 pupils · 1,471 on roll
Free school meals
23.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 October 2014
Replaced
The Howard School (URN 118929)
Address
Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 0BX
Local authority
Medway

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources