Rainham Mark Grammar School, Gillingham

In its own words: "At RMGS, we create a safe, supportive environment where students are encouraged to develop curiosity and grow as individuals. Our strong academic tradition prepares students for success in further education and life."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, choir, ukulele, chess, coding, STEM, gardening, eco club, art and knitting.

In 2026, pupils at Rainham Mark Grammar School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 63.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.3 in Medway and 47 across England.

89% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Medway and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 62.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.28: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 56.2, against 63.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Geography, Physics and Biology.

Rainham Mark Grammar School is a grammar school: places go to children who reach the required standard in its entrance test, and only then are the oversubscription criteria applied.

For September 2026 entry, 281 families put Rainham Mark Grammar School as their first choice and 947 named it as one of their preferences, for 233 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 66 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Rainham Mark Grammar School admits pupils through an entrance test - in Medway, the Medway Test. Children have to be registered for it in advance, normally in the spring or summer of Year 5; the test itself is usually sat in September of Year 6, and results come out in October, before the 31 October deadline for naming secondary schools.

Passing the test makes a child eligible rather than guaranteeing a place: when more children pass than there are places, Rainham Mark Grammar School ranks them by the criteria in its admissions policy, which can include test score and distance. Check Medway's admissions pages and the school's own policy for this year's registration deadline - a child who is not registered in time cannot sit the test.

Medway has 6 state grammar schools in all, so a child who passes may have several selective schools to choose between.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Rainham Mark Grammar School are The Howard School (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.3); Rainham School for Girls (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.8); Leigh Academy Rainham (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.5); and The Robert Napier School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 30.2).

Rainham Mark Grammar School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Rainham Mark Grammar School is one of 19 schools run by Aletheia Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 236 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 9% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 184 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 69% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 15% into work. 28% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 10% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%), Black (11%) and Asian (11%).

In 2026, 98 pupils (6.3%) received SEN support and 7 (0.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

The nearest railway station is Rainham (Kent) Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rainham Mark Grammar School (adjacent), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 165 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Medway (250).

In 2024/25, Rainham Mark Grammar School issued 61 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Rainham Mark Grammar School are Thames View Primary School (0.2 miles), Twydall Primary School and Nursery (0.5 miles), St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School (0.5 miles) and St Margaret's Church of England Junior School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.