Classpot

The Robert Napier School

Medway, ME7 2LXSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Requires improvement
Sep 2024
Progress 8
-1.00
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
122 1st-choice / 208 places
Ranking
#3,020
of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressThird Avenue, Gillingham, Medway, ME7 2LX
HeadteacherJenny Tomkins
Local AuthorityMedway
Number of Pupils1,011
Free School Meals (FSM)48.9%
School Capacity1,011 / 1,080 (94% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 148 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

24 Sept 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Sixth Form Provision
Requires improvement

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Swimming PoolSixth Form CentreSports HallAstro TurfArt StudiosPlaying FieldsScience LabsMusic Rooms

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

DanceBadmintonHockeyMartial ArtsTennisAthleticsRowingBasketball

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperFilm ClubModel United NationsYoung EnterpriseScience ClubDebateDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Robert Napier School

The Robert Napier School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.