Classpot

The Rochester Grammar School

Medway, ME1 3BYSecondaryAges 11–18GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2023
Progress 8
+0.67
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
248 1st-choice / 235 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#308 of 3,141 nationally

About The Rochester Grammar School

The Rochester Grammar School is a girls' secondary school in Medway that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its strong local reputation. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 771 applications for 235 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.28, with 248 first-preference applications for just 207 first-preference offers. The school currently has 1,171 pupils on roll, exceeding its official capacity of 1,110, which suggests it is operating at full stretch. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 10.5%, which is below the national average for secondary schools, reflecting the relatively affluent demographic of its catchment. The school operates as a single-sex state grammar, with no religious character, and is led by headteacher Clare Brinklow. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated the school as Good overall, a downgrade from its previous Outstanding rating in 2008, but it remains one of the highest-performing schools in the Medway local authority.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterNone
AddressMaidstone Road, Rochester, Medway, ME1 3BY
HeadteacherClare Brinklow
Local AuthorityMedway
Number of Pupils1,171
Free School Meals (FSM)10.5%
School Capacity1,171 / 1,110 (105% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

17 Jan 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 5 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Swimming PoolSports HallTennis CourtsArt StudiosScience LabsDining HallLibrarySixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

DanceBadmintonFootballRugbyCross CountryAthleticsTennisRowingGymnasticsNetball

Clubs & Activities

DramaYoung EnterpriseDebateGardeningBook ClubDuke of EdinburghScience ClubNewspaperChoirModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rochester Grammar School

The Rochester Grammar School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.