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The Howard School

Secondary · Boys · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 0BX · thehoward-that.org.uk · 01634 388765

On the mapSearch near ME8 0BX

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
45.2
average Attainment 8 score. Medway 46, England 46
Demand for places
0.9
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,471
85% of 1,725 places
Local authority
Medway
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
23.8%
First language not English
13%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Howard Academy Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 229 families put the school first and 243 places were offered; 92% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 166 (Places 277)166September 2023: 176 (Places 235)176September 2024: 222 (Places 250)222September 2025: 241 (Places 246)241September 2026: 229 (Places 243)229Places 243
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262432290.992%
September 2025Sept 2025246241190%
September 2024Sept 20242502220.998%
September 2023Sept 20232351760.7100%
September 2022Sept 20222771660.6100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 45.2, and 33% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Medway it was 46, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade D+ (24.8 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 39.7 (England 46.3)39.72017/18: 42.1 (England 46.5)42.12018/19: 42.8 (England 46.7)42.82021/22: 43.0 (England 48.8)43.02022/23: 42.6 (England 46.3)42.62023/24: 42.5 (England 45.9)42.52024/25: 45.2 (England 46.0)45.2England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●45.246.0
▼33.0%45.4%
●64.1%64.8%
▼28.9%40.5%
▼3.864.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form41.1−8.5
Sixth form college0.4—
Further education40.3+10
Other education0.40
Apprenticeship4.70
Employment3.5−1.2
Not in a lasting destination2.7−4
Activity not captured7+3.5

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 21.6 (England 30.5)D2016/17: 23.2 (England 31.1)D+2017/18: 25.4 (England 32.1)C-2018/19: 23.9 (England 32.9)D+2021/22: 30.0 (England 37.9)C2022/23: 24.5 (England 34.2)D+2023/24: 24.5 (England 34.4)D+2024/25: 24.8 (England 35.0)D+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
90 studentsD+ (24.8)Below average -0.31
90 studentsD+ (25)Below average -0.31
88 studentsMerit+ (29.5)Average +0.02
0%AAB or better
97.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24111D+ (24.5)-0.27
2022/2393D+ (24.5)—
2021/22103C (30)—
2018/1995D+ (23.9)-0.28
2017/1893C- (25.4)-0.28
2016/17137D+ (23.2)-0.28
2015/16149D (21.6)-0.39

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University34.9−3.4
Further education3.1+0.5
Apprenticeship11.6+3.8
Employment34.9−4.2
Not in a lasting destination14+7
Activity not captured1.6−3.6

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected The Howard School on 24 February 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
24 Feb 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingExceptional
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Nov 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Nov 2008Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood

What parents said

95% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (329 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
95%
Positive
92%
Replies
329
21% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▲94% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe▲94% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▲94% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▲91% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well▲91% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▲89% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲89% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 81% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲80% agreeEngland 43%

based on 59 parents (18%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲86% agreeEngland 63%

based on 86 parents (26%) with SEND

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