The Robert Napier School
94%
Capacity
1,011
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About The Robert Napier School
The Robert Napier School’s headline Progress 8 score of -1.0 sits well below the Medway local authority average of -0.1 for secondary schools, placing it 16th out of 22 schools in the area. This is a significant gap that suggests pupils here, on average, make considerably less academic progress between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs than their peers across the borough. The school ranks in the bottom 50 nationally on this measure, and its Attainment 8 score of 27.9 is also low. However, context matters: the school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, with 48.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, nearly five times the national average. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2024 judged it as Requires Improvement across all areas, including behaviour, leadership, and the quality of education, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2019.
At GCSE, the school’s performance is weak across the board. The basics measure – the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths – stands at just 8%, compared with a national average closer to 45%. The EBacc entry rate is 20.9%, and only 0.6% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. Progress in English and maths is particularly low, with scores of -1.19 and -0.89 respectively. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly challenging: the average A-level grade is a D-, with a points per entry score of 17.46, and the value added score of -0.56 is rated as below average. Only 36 pupils were in the sixth form cohort, and no pupils achieved AAB or better in at least two facilitating subjects. Parent views, gathered between September 2024 and September 2025, are mixed: 57% would recommend the school, but only 44% agree their child is happy, and just 39% feel the school has high expectations.
The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 452 applications for 208 places and 122 first-preference offers, suggesting strong local demand despite the academic challenges. Facilities are decent for a state school, including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, and a sixth form centre, and there is a wide range of clubs from Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is broad, covering ten categories including autism, dyslexia, and speech and language needs. This school will suit families who value a comprehensive, inclusive setting with strong pastoral support and a wide activities offer, but who are realistic about the academic outcomes. It is not a school for those prioritising high GCSE or A-level results, but for families in the Medway area seeking a local, non-selective option with a genuine sixth form, it remains a popular choice.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Third Avenue, Gillingham, Medway, ME7 2LX |
| Headteacher | Jenny Tomkins |
| Local Authority | Medway |
| Number of Pupils | 1,011 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 48.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,011 / 1,080 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Sept 2024Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.00)
3020th of 3,141
Nationally
444th of 461
In South East
16th of 18
In Medway
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
22.0
'22/23
21.3
'23/24
17.5
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
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 168 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- FE college40%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
88% 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
2022/2347%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 45 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
3%
Russell Group
3%
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.
- University (HE)47%
- Employment24%
- Not sustained22%
- Further education2%
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:Single15
- Sociology14
- History13
- Design and Technology (Product Design)12
- Psychology9
- Geography8
- Biology6
- Italian5
- Mathematics5
- English Language and Literature4
- Government and Politics4
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.
Ofsted Parent View
148 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed208
452
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
122 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British65.9%
- White (other)7.6%
- Mixed7.4%
- Asian4.8%
- 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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
10
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 Robert Napier 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
Third Avenue, Gillingham
Medway, ME7 2LX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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