Maritime Academy, Rochester

Secondary
Free schools
Mixed
Ages 1119

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.0km)Possible (~2.9km)Unlikely (~3.8km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Matt Evans
Pupils:736 / 1,150 capacity
LA:Medway
Phone:03333602150
Address:Chalk Lane, Rochester, ME2 4YG
Trust:THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2022

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Good

Quality of Education

Good

Behaviour & Attitudes

Good

Personal Development

Good

Leadership & Management

Inspected 7 May 2025View full report
URN:149075
UKPRN:10090894
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Rochester and Strood
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Maritime Academy excels at creating a welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and supported by trusted adults. The school combines high academic expectations with excellent enrichment opportunities - from embroidery and Japanese to boxing and gardening - ensuring there really is something for everyone. Staff are knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects, helping pupils develop a genuine love of learning.

Key Strengths

  • Inclusive and aspirational school culture with strong relationships between staff and pupils based on mutual respect
  • Carefully designed curriculum with deliberately structured knowledge and skills, particularly strong focus on reading
  • Staff with strong subject knowledge who model learning effectively and help pupils retrieve information successfully
  • Wide range of enrichment activities through the 'horizons programme' and leadership opportunities that help pupils develop interests and talents
  • Effective support for pupils with special educational needs, with accurate identification and appropriate curriculum adaptations

Areas for Improvement

  • Teachers sometimes do not check pupils' understanding carefully enough before moving on to new learning, which means some pupils don't gain knowledge as quickly or securely as they could
  • Attendance for some pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, remains below expected levels, causing them to miss essential learning

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that prioritises pupils' interests.

Extracurricular Activities

Embroidery, boxing, cooking, gardening, Japanese, multi-sports, fleet admiral and warrant officer leadership roles, pupil parliament, community lunch debates

Maritime Academy is a welcoming and inclusive secondary school that opened in 2022 and has established a strong community ethos with high expectations for pupils. The school has been rated Good across all key areas of education quality, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.

At a Glance

32.7%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

81 responses
Would recommend52%
Child is happy56%
Well taught52%
Good progress69%
Feels safe61%
Well behaved63%
Bullying dealt with15%
Kept informed44%
Handles concerns36%
Wider development35%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Class Sizes

28.2

Avg class size

20

Total classes

2 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Strood Rail Station (rear entrance)
955m · 16 min walk

Bus Stops

The Sans Pareil for Maritime Academy (opp)
146m · 2 min walk
Bingham Road (adj)
273m · 4 min walk
The Ship (adj)
515m · 8 min walk
Chatsworth Drive (adj)
577m · 9 min walk
Iden Road (adj)
578m · 9 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

64%

Available places

736 pupils

1,150 capacity

414 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Rochester

High pressure
New homes approved:2,108
Projected new pupils:379

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Rochester

Admissions Demand - Medway

Low demand0.92x oversubscription

Places available

4,001

Applications

3,697

Got 1st preference

79.7%

Got preferred school

96.3%

Secondary admissions across Medway (2025/26)

Inspection History

7 May 2025
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

9.89689%

Overall absence

27.80411%

Persistent absence

633

Enrolments

Authorised5.37693%
Unauthorised4.51996%
Persistent (10%+)27.80411%
Severe (50%+)6.16114%

Absence trend

6.67088%
22/23
9.72035%
23/24
9.89689%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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