Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School is a state grammar school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Rochester, part of Leigh Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Its 2026 GCSE results were the highest of the 6 schools in Rochester with published results, and 103rd of 3,298 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.7 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 109% of capacity.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Admissions
- Entry by 11+ test
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Medway (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 69.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.3 in Medway and 47 across England.
96% 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 69.5.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.9: pupils made well 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 67.9, against 70.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 2.2 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Geography, Biology and Physics.
Getting a place at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical 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, 336 families put Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School as their first choice and 740 named it as one of their preferences, for 201 places offered. That is 1.7 first choices for every place. 140 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
The entrance test (11-plus)
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical 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, Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical 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.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School are The Rochester Grammar School (0.1 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 67.5); The Thomas Aveling School (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.8); Medway Secure Training Centre (0.6 miles); and Holcombe Grammar School (0.9 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 59.8).
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.
The Rochester Grammar SchoolThe Thomas Aveling SchoolMedway Secure Training CentreHolcombe Grammar School
The trust
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School is one of 33 schools run by Leigh Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.4 in 2024/25.
Where pupils go next
Of the 204 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 98% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 6% to a further education college.
Of the 217 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 72% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 12% into work. 43% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
10.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 106 pupils (6.8%) received SEN support and 10 (0.6%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chatham Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Grammar Schools (opposite), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School issued 13 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School are St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), Delce Academy (0.3 miles), Crest Infant School (0.3 miles) and St Peter's Infant School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary SchoolDelce AcademyCrest Infant SchoolSt Peter's Infant School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Places here go by the entrance test first, so distance alone does not show your chances.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its March 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
About
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School (SJWMS) is an all boys' grammar school with academy status in Rochester, Kent, and a co-ed sixth form, also referred to as Rochester Math or The Math School. The school was founded by the statesman Sir Joseph Williamson (1633–1701), lord of the nearby Manor of Cobham, Kent, who, in his will, bequeathed £5,000 to set...
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
10.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around 0.90 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 70.4 to 69.9 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 96% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 69.9 | 96.3% |
| Disadvantaged(16) | - | 67.9 | 93.8% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(198) | - | 70.1 | 96.5% |
| Boys(214) | - | 69.9 | 96.3% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(32) | - | 74.3 | 93.8% |
| Non mobile(211) | - | 70.2 | 96.2% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 3 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 204 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
2
Permanent exclusions
0.13%
Exclusion rate
13
Suspensions
0.85%
Suspension rate
10 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,528 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School is in Medway; for families living there:
Apply to Medway for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Medway is 25 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Will you get a place at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Medway, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Medway got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
109%
Over capacity
1,523 pupils
1,392 places
131 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rochester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rochester
Across Medway council
Places available
3,844
Applications
3,586
Got 1st preference
80.4%
Got preferred school
96.8%
All secondary applications across Medway council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Entry by 11+ test
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
106
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
7.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,555
Total Pupils
1,447
Boys
108
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
76
Teachers
20.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,834
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,465
Per pupil
£7269k
Total funding
£126k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.7%
Overall absence
5.0%
Persistent absence
1,087
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
What are GCSE results like at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 69.9. 96% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School's Ofsted rating?
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023.
What is the catchment area for Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
No fixed boundary. When Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School is oversubscribed, Medway allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School was full in 2025, at 109% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
Classes at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School average 24.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School has around 1555 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
3.7% of sessions were missed at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School in 2024/25. 5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
Apply through Medway's coordinated admissions process, naming Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Medway is 25 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School?
Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School is at Maidstone Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 3EL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)