The Howard School
Secondary · Academy converter · Ages 11–18 · Gillingham, Medway
Last distance offered · Year 7 2026
3.34 miles
Published by Medway Council · offers on 2 March 2026
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
The Howard School is a secondary school in Gillingham, Medway for ages 11–18 (academy converter). Medway has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2026 entry.
The Howard School catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Year 7 2026 | 3.34 mi |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- The 2026 Year 7 last distance offered was 3.34 miles, the 6th longest of 13 Medway secondary schools with a published Year 7 2026 last distance (middle figure 3.11 miles).
- For Year 7 2026 there were 229 first-choice applications for 243 offers; 210 offers went to first-choice families, and 19 first-choice families (8%) were not offered a place.
- In 2024/25, 33% of pupils got grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths (England 45%), with an Attainment 8 score of 45.2 (England 46).
- At A level in 2024/25 the average grade was D+ (England B-), and progress from GCSE to A level was below average.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Medway schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 0BX
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–18
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Council
- Medway
- Pupils on roll
- 1,471 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 20.7% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 16
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
No Ofsted grade Inspected 24 February 2026
Strengths
- “Pupils are well prepared for life after school.”
- “They feel well supported by staff.”
- “This means that pupils feel cared for and build strong relationships.”
To improve
- “This is not yet fully represented in published outcomes.”
- “At A level, a small number of courses support students to study them where they achieve lower outcomes.”
Safeguarding: met
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 19 June 2026 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 33% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 45.2 | 46 |
| A level average grade (2024/25) | D+ | B- |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 229 first-preference applications, 243 offers in total, 210 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Medway.
- Rainham School for Girls 0.1 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Rainham Mark Grammar School 0.5 mi Good Last distance published
- Leigh Academy Rainham 1.4 mi Good Last distance published
- The Robert Napier School 1.7 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Chatham Grammar 2.0 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- The Victory Academy 2.6 mi Good Last distance published
- Brompton Academy 2.6 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Waterfront UTC 3.0 mi Good