The Howard School, Gillingham
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Howard School excels at making every pupil feel valued and supported. Teachers are experts who adapt lessons to help all pupils succeed, and the school has transformational support for pupils who have struggled elsewhere. Pupils develop deep knowledge across the curriculum while learning important life lessons about tolerance, acceptance, and ambition - preparing them well for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional personal development programme delivered consistently to a very high standard across all phases
- Expert teaching that brings complex concepts to life and skilfully adapts learning to fill knowledge gaps
- Strong attendance and behaviour culture with pupils polite, respectful, and ready to learn
- Highly effective support for pupils with barriers to learning, including those permanently excluded from other schools
- Clear leadership with a focus on pupils' wellbeing and strategic use of data to drive improvement
Areas for Improvement
- A-level attainment is slightly lower than national averages, though students progress well in other courses
- Some published outcomes in the sixth form do not yet fully reflect the quality of teaching and student progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Careers fair, enrichment activities, sixth-form leadership roles, speakers programme including sixth-form girls delivering lessons on misogyny, drop everything and read time
The Howard School is an exceptional school where pupils thrive academically and personally, supported by expert teaching, outstanding pastoral care, and a strong culture of safeguarding and inclusion.
At a Glance
23.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
22.4
Avg class size
64
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
85%
Available places
1,471 pupils
1,725 capacity
254 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Gillingham
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Gillingham
Admissions Demand - Medway
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(5)
House Prices
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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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.61776%
Overall absence
19.31818%
Persistent absence
1,320
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Howard School
St Margaret's Infant School
St Margaret's Church of England Junior School
Thames View Primary School
St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School
Twydall Primary School and Nursery
Miers Court Primary School
Danecourt School
Parkwood Primary School
Featherby Junior School
Fairview Community Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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