The Rochester Grammar School
105%
Capacity
1,171
Pupils
3.3x
Demand
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.
Academically, The Rochester Grammar School is a standout performer. Its Progress 8 score of 0.67 is rated as 'well above average' nationally, placing it second out of 18 schools in Medway and in the top 10% of schools across the South East region. This is a remarkable 0.77 points above the local authority average of -0.1. The school's Attainment 8 score is 71.6, and a full 100% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 97% achieving a grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is exceptionally high at 90.5%, and 86.9% of pupils entered the EBacc achieved a grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, provision is rated Good by Ofsted. The school's closest academic peer is Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, located just 0.2 km away, which holds an Outstanding rating and a slightly higher ranking score, creating a competitive local dynamic for high-achieving students.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, art studios, science labs, a library, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is broad, covering rowing, gymnastics, netball, and athletics, while extracurricular clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations, Young Enterprise, and a gardening club. The school's SEND provisions are comprehensive, supporting students with autistic spectrum disorder, visual impairment, physical disabilities, and speech, language, and communication needs. For families considering this school, it is best suited to academically ambitious girls who thrive in a selective, single-sex environment and are likely to pursue the EBacc pathway. The high oversubscription means that securing a place is competitive, and proximity to the school or passing the Medway test will be critical factors in admissions.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Maidstone Road, Rochester, Medway, ME1 3BY |
| Headteacher | Clare Brinklow |
| Local Authority | Medway |
| Number of Pupils | 1,171 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,171 / 1,110 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.67)
308th of 3,141
Nationally
54th of 461
In South East
2nd 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2392%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 171 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)92%
- FE college3%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
98% 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
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 96 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
37%
Russell Group
50%
Top-third HE
1%
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)72%
- Employment17%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship3%
- 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.
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
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed235
771
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
248 families put this school as their 1st choice (32% 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 British24.8%
- Asian16.1%
- Mixed7.8%
- White (other)4.4%
- Black0.6%
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 half of schools in England.
Better than half 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.
18
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
11
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 Rochester Grammar 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 3BY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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