The Howard School
89%
Capacity
1,534
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About The Howard School
The Howard School, a boys' secondary in Medway, stands out for its strong academic performance relative to the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.24 is significantly above the Medway average of -0.1, meaning pupils here make about a quarter of a grade more progress per subject than the typical student in the area. This places the school 7th out of 18 schools in the local authority rankings, putting it in the top 40% of Medway secondaries. The school's Attainment 8 score of 42.5 and the fact that 59.7% of pupils achieve a grade 4 or above in English and maths (the basics 9-4 measure) further underline its solid academic standing. While it doesn't match the top grammar schools in the area, it clearly outperforms the typical Medway state school, making it a strong choice for families seeking a non-selective boys' school with proven results.
Digging deeper into the data, the school's Progress 8 banding is officially rated as 'Above average', with particular strength in open subjects (Progress 8 open score of 0.45) and English (0.2). Maths progress is essentially flat at -0.02, so it's not a standout area, but the overall picture is positive. At Key Stage 5, the picture is more mixed: the sixth form's value added score of -0.27 is rated 'Below average', with an average points per entry of 24.49 (equivalent to a D+ grade). The best three A-levels average out at a C- grade. This suggests that while the school does well getting pupils through to Year 11 with strong progress, the sixth form may not add as much value for those continuing into post-16 study. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management also rated Good.
The Howard School is a large, oversubscribed boys' school with a capacity of 1,725 and currently 1,534 pupils on roll. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 577 applications for 246 places, with 241 first-preference applications, making it a popular choice. The school has a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, science labs, and a sixth form centre. It offers a wide array of sports and clubs, from rugby and martial arts to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN. The SEND provision is comprehensive, covering ten different needs from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder. With 19.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a diverse community. This school will suit families who want a large, well-established boys' school with strong GCSE outcomes and a wide extracurricular offer, but who are aware that the sixth form's value-added is below average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Derwent Way, Gillingham, Medway, ME8 0BX |
| Headteacher | Jasbinder Johal |
| Local Authority | Medway |
| Number of Pupils | 1,534 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,534 / 1,725 (89% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (24 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 20 Dec 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.24)
988th of 3,141
Nationally
156th of 461
In South East
7th 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
29.9
'22/23
24.5
'23/24
24.5
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
2022/2353%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 245 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)53%
- FE college29%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship5%
93% 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
2022/2338%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 115 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
4%
Russell Group
6%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- Employment39%
- University (HE)38%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education2%
- Other 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- Business Studies:Single28
- Sociology21
- English Language19
- Geography18
- Mathematics13
- Biology12
- Chemistry12
- Physics12
- History10
- Art and Design (Fine Art)9
- English Language and Literature8
- Art and Design (Graphics)7
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed246
577
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
241 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.7%
- Mixed6.2%
- Asian3.9%
- White (other)2.9%
- Black0.7%
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.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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 The Howard 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
Derwent Way, Gillingham
Medway, ME8 0BX
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