Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
119%
Capacity
1,528
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted across every category in its most recent 2023 inspection, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.9 is the standout academic metric here, placing it well above average nationally and ranking it first out of 18 schools in Medway. This score means pupils at this boys’ grammar school make nearly a grade more progress per subject across eight GCSEs than the average student nationally. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.1, so the gap is substantial. The school also achieves an Attainment 8 score of 70.3, and an EBacc average point score of 6.9, with 97.1% of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects. In the South East region, it ranks 14th out of 461 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the top 4% nationally.
At A-level, the school’s performance is similarly strong. The average points per entry is 42.45, equivalent to a B+ grade, and the value-added score of 0.34 is rated above average. Over a quarter of entries (26.6%) achieved at least AAB in two facilitating subjects. The sixth form is graded Outstanding in its own right, and with 215 pupils in the cohort, it is a substantial and well-subscribed provision. The school’s EBacc entry rate of 97.1% and basics pass rate of 99.5% at grade 4 or above underline a curriculum that prioritises breadth and academic rigour. The Progress 8 breakdown shows particularly strong progress in EBacc subjects (1.04) and maths (0.97), with English also well above average at 0.79. For families focused on measurable academic outcomes, this school delivers consistently exceptional results.
The school is significantly oversubscribed, with 786 applications for 232 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 397 first-preference applications for 226 offers. The oversubscription ratio of 3.39 reflects its popularity. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech and language communication needs. Clubs and sports are varied, with rowing, martial arts, coding, and Model UN among the options. This is a selective boys’ grammar school that suits academically ambitious families who value high expectations and strong outcomes across both GCSE and A-level, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process in Medway.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Maidstone Road, Rochester, Medway, ME1 3EL |
| Headteacher | Eliot Hodges |
| Local Authority | Medway |
| Number of Pupils | 1,528 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,528 / 1,280 (119% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 18 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.90)
124th of 3,141
Nationally
14th of 461
In South East
1st of 18
In Medway
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
45.5
'22/23
40.9
'23/24
42.5
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
2022/2389%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 195 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)89%
- FE college7%
- Not sustained2%
- Employment1%
97% 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
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 198 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
22%
Russell Group
28%
Top-third HE
2%
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)67%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship7%
- 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- Mathematics123
- Psychology69
- Biology57
- Chemistry54
- Physics39
- Economics38
- English Literature29
- Design and Technology (Product Design)25
- Geography24
- Physical Education / Sports Studies23
- Computer Studies / Computing21
- Mathematics (Further)21
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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed232
786
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
397 families put this school as their 1st choice (51% 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: sjwms.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British41.1%
- Asian19.1%
- Mixed9.5%
- White (other)4.7%
- Black0.5%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
16
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
9
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 Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical 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
Maidstone Road, Rochester
Medway, ME1 3EL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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