SchoolScoresMaritime Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed
Part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Chalk Lane, Rochester, ME2 4YG
03333 602150 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 7 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
81 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Rochester comparisons use the 3 of its 7 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 4 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Rochester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 7% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 72% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 7% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 76% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 74% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 36 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 12% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 33% | 48% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 75 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 6% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 39% | 62% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 24 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Medway. Higher than 1% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 17% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 12% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52%said yes | 73% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Rochester figures pool parents at the Rochester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Medway. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 172 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 174 |
| Of those, offered a place | 143 (82%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 597 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 62% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 32.2% | 27.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 0.7% | 1.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 21.2% | 12.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.1% | 13.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.9% | 7.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 28% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 27.8% | 21.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 42.9 | 23.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Lower than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.3% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.36% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 78% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.2 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 61% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester. Higher than 60% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.2% | 15.3%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- King's School, Rochester 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 25% A*/A at A level
- Rochester Independent College 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 26% A*/A at A level
- Fort Pitt Grammar School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 85% grade 5+ English and maths
- Waterfront UTC 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 20% grade 5+ English and maths
- St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Leigh Academy Strood 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- Brompton Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Gad's Hill School 2.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- The Rochester Grammar School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 92% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Maritime Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 7 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Maritime Academy?
52% of the 81 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Maritime Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Maritime Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 174 families put Maritime Academy as their first choice for 172 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 143 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 149075.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.