Waterfront UTC
South Side Three Road, Chatham, ME4 4FQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Waterfront UTC is a secondary school in Chatham for ages 14 to 19. It is one of the 110 schools in Medway. It ranks 5th of 7 secondary schools in Chatham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 January 2023, report published 1 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 10 January 2023
Pupils at Waterfront UTC are treated with respect. Their voices are heard and valued. As one pupil told the lead inspector, 'We are not treated as numbers here; we are treated as individual people.' Pupils are enthusiastic about learning. They enjoy studying the construction and engineering specialisms. Pupils are rightly proud to attend a school that prepares them well for the future. Pupils develop independence and maturity. They behave well in lessons and at break and lunchtimes. Staff have high expectations for pupils' learning and behaviour. Occasionally, pupils need reminders about the expectations, but they respond well to them. Pupils treat others respectfully, including staff and visitors. Bullying incidents are taken seriously and are dealt with effectively. As a result, pupils, as well as students in the sixth form, are happy and feel safe. Pupils have plenty of opportunities to explore future careers. Importantly, they benefit from the regular contact they have with local employers who come into school. This helps to inspire them and to think about the types of jobs they could pursue. It also helps with their learning. Work experience opportunities give pupils a chance to see what it is like to enter the world of work.
What the school should improve
- Some subject leadership is not as strong as it could be. This means that there are inconsistencies in how well subject leaders monitor and support staff to implement the curriculum. Senior leaders need to ensure that subject leaders have the knowledge and skills to better support the consistent implementation of the curriculum.
- Too many pupils do not attend frequently enough. This means that they do not access the education on offer. Leaders need to ensure that strategies for improving attendance are timely and effective.
- The PSHE curriculum is not as strong in some year groups as it is in others because of the way it is timetabled. As a result, some pupils do not understand some of the important content that they need. This is particularly the case in Year 11. Leaders need to review how this curriculum is taught to ensure consistency across all year groups.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
75 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
21 students
Average A level grade E+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
381 pupils on roll, with places for 250
Schools near Waterfront UTC
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brompton Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 38.1 |
| The Robert Napier School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 32.5 |
| Chatham Grammar | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 61.8 |
| Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 43.2 |
| Maritime Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- University technical college
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- THE HOWARD ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 14 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Fiona McLean
- Phone
- 01634505800
- Address
- South Side Three Road, Chatham, ME4 4FQ
- Local authority
- Medway
- URN
- 146648
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.