Holcombe Grammar School
104%
Capacity
1,036
Pupils
4.1x
Demand
About Holcombe Grammar School
Holcombe Grammar School is clearly a popular choice among Medway families. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 733 applications for just 179 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.09. Of those applicants, 137 put Holcombe as their first preference, and 81 of those were offered a place. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the sheer volume of applications — more than four times the number of places — signals strong local demand. The school is a boys' secondary with a mixed sixth form, rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent ungraded inspection in March 2024, which confirmed it 'remains Good'. This is a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014, when it was rated Inadequate overall. The leadership and management, as well as sixth-form provision, were both rated Good in that 2014 inspection.
Academically, Holcombe performs solidly against the local backdrop. Its Progress 8 score of 0.15 is above the Medway local authority average of -0.1, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than their peers across the borough. The Attainment 8 score sits at 59.9, and 86.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school's EBacc entry rate is very high at 96.4%, though only 25.5% achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the South East region, Holcombe ranks 188th out of 461 schools by Progress 8, placing it in the 40th percentile nationally. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.24, which is below average, and the average points per entry is 31.15, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, sports hall, gymnasium, tennis courts, and a sixth-form centre. There is also a chapel on site. Clubs and activities are plentiful, with options ranging from coding and debate to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, orchestra, and model UN. Holcombe has a dedicated sixth form and provides support for a variety of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. With 12.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake. For families considering Holcombe, the key takeaway is that it is a heavily oversubscribed boys' school with strong KS4 results above the local average, but with A-level outcomes that are more modest. It suits families who prioritise a structured, all-boys environment through to GCSE, with a good range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Holcombe, Chatham, Medway, ME4 6JB |
| Headteacher | Lee Preston |
| Local Authority | Medway |
| Number of Pupils | 1,036 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,036 / 1,000 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Mar 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Oct 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.15)
1192nd of 3,141
Nationally
188th of 461
In South East
9th of 18
In Medway
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.9
'22/23
34.3
'23/24
31.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2390%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 115 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)90%
- FE college8%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
98% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 153 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
25%
Russell Group
29%
Top-third HE
4%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)58%
- Employment26%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Not sustained3%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics50
- Business Studies:Single38
- Sociology34
- Chemistry32
- Economics29
- Computer Studies / Computing28
- Law28
- Biology23
- Psychology21
- Physics20
- English Language and Literature19
- Media/Film/Tv Studies17
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed179
733
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
137 families put this school as their 1st choice (19% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Source: holcombegrammar.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British41.4%
- Asian8.5%
- Mixed7.9%
- White (other)3.4%
- Black1.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
20
Total schools
17
Oversubscribed
14
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Holcombe Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Holcombe, Chatham
Medway, ME4 6JB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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