The Howard School
Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 0BXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Howard School is a secondary school in Gillingham for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 110 schools in Medway. It ranks 2nd of 5 secondary schools in Gillingham. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in February 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 24 February 2026, report published 18 June 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Strong standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Exceptional
- Leadership and governance
- Strong standard
- Post-16 provision
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 February 2026
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. Pupils feel happy and safe. They are proud to be part of The Howard School community. Pupils live the school's values of ‘be hard-working, be good and be kind’. These values are the foundations of pupils’ experiences. They then take them into their lives outside school. Pupils’ behaviour in school is excellent. They focus on their lessons, are kind to each other and do not accept any form of discrimination. Pupils enjoy learning at all phases of their education. They are self-motivated and determined to do well. Pupils rarely experience bullying. Where it does happen, they know that staff will deal with it. If they have any concerns, they are confident that there are lots of adults who can help them. Where pupils have barriers to their learning, they receive tailored support to overcome them. This is in addition to the high-quality, universal and inclusive education the school provides. This means that pupils achieve in line with national outcomes. Where this is not the case, the highly ambitious destinations of these pupils demonstrate that the right courses have been selected. Pupils experience a vast range of clubs and trips. Extra-curricular clubs are adapted to what pupils want to do. They include debating clubs, STEM clubs and tech clubs, as well as sports and the performing arts. Pupils attend these in large numbers, including those who need additional support. Pupils enjoy the trips they attend, both locally to areas of religious interest and the Houses of Parliament, and further afield to Madrid and Barcelona. The school has a core offer of trips, which all pupils can attend.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should embed changes to the sixth-form curriculum, enabling all students to achieve consistently high outcomes.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
270 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
90 students
Average A level grade D+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,471 pupils on roll, with places for 1,725
Schools near The Howard School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainham School for Girls | 0.1 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 44.3 |
| Rainham Mark Grammar School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 62.7 |
| Leigh Academy Rainham | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| The Robert Napier School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 32.5 |
| Chatham Grammar | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 61.8 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE HOWARD ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Boys
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Jasbinder Johal
- Phone
- 01634388765
- Address
- Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 0BX
- Local authority
- Medway
- URN
- 141466
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.