About the school
The Howard School is a boys’ secondary school with academy status in Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, with a co-educational sixth form. It is a bi-lateral school, which means it has both a non-selective high school intake and a selective grammar stream entered through the 11 plus, and is part of The Howard Academy Trust.
The Howard School was established in 1975 through the merger of Rainham Boys’ Secondary School and Gillingham Boys’ Grammar School, and is named after Dorothy Howard, a long-serving local Education Officer. The school converted to academy status in 2014.
As a bi-lateral school, The Howard School admits the majority of pupils on a non-selective basis, while a proportion of each Year 7 cohort is admitted to the selective grammar stream on the basis of the Medway Test or equivalent academic performance.
School type
Boys' Bi-Lateral (mixed Sixth Form)
Exam date
Tue 15 & Wed 16 Sep 2026 (Medway pupils); Sat 19 & Sun 20 Sep 2026 (others)
Exam board
Medway Test (grammar stream)
Address
Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0BX
Age range
11–18 (Years 7–13)
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Admissions information
The Howard School is a bi-lateral school whose selective grammar stream uses the Medway Test, administered by Medway Council. Here is everything you need to know about The Howard School admissions criteria and exam structure.
The Howard School is a bi-lateral school, so admission to the school itself is non-selective, but entry to its grammar stream is selective. The grammar stream is reached through the Medway Test, or where a pupil achieves high scaled scores in the Key Stage 2 reading and mathematics tests. The Medway Test covers English, Maths and Reasoning.
The Medway Test is made up of papers covering English, Maths and Reasoning, with the English and Maths elements carrying greater weight. Approximately a quarter of each Year 7 cohort is allocated to the selective grammar stream, while the remaining places are non-selective and prioritised mainly by distance from the school.
To be considered for the grammar stream, parents register their child for the Medway Test online through Medway Council, with registration typically opening in mid-May and closing in mid-June. All families, whether applying for the grammar or high school route, must name The Howard School on the Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF).
Medway Test results are typically issued to parents in mid-October, after which families submit their secondary school application to the Local Authority, ranking their preferred schools, by the 31st October deadline. School place offers are confirmed on National Offer Day in early March. The school is regularly oversubscribed, so a place is not guaranteed.
Key admissions details
The Howard School admits up to 250 boys into Year 7 each year across its grammar and high school streams.
The Howard School allocates non-selective places mainly on distance, with priority given after looked-after children and siblings to children who live closest to the school, measured by the shortest safe route. The selective grammar stream is allocated to pupils who meet the academic standard.
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The Howard School is located on Derwent Way in Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0BX. It is a boys’ secondary school with academy status and a co-educational sixth form, serving pupils aged 11 to 18.
The Howard School is a bi-lateral school. This means it admits most pupils on a non-selective basis but also runs a selective grammar stream, which pupils enter through the Medway Test or strong Key Stage 2 results.
The Howard School grammar stream uses the Medway Test for Year 7 selection. The test covers English, Maths and Reasoning, with the English and Maths elements carrying greater weight than the Reasoning element.
For the non-selective high school places, The Howard School prioritises children who live closest to the school, measured by the shortest safe route. The selective grammar stream is allocated on academic performance in the Medway Test.
Registration for the Medway Test is completed online through Medway Council and typically opens in mid-May and closes in mid-June. Families must also name The Howard School on the Secondary Common Application Form, which is due by the 31st October.
The Howard School admits boys only in Years 7 to 11. Its sixth form is co-educational and admits both boys and girls. The school is also a designated Sports College with strong sporting facilities.
Yes, all our tuition is available both in-person at our Edgbaston, Birmingham centre and online via live video sessions. Online tuition gives families across Medway and the wider region access to our expert tutors without the need to travel. The quality and personalisation of sessions is identical in both formats.
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