Rainham Mark Grammar School

Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of RMET

Pump Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 7AJ

01634 364151 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 24 May 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths87%England 45% · 2024/25
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 96% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,568Room for 1,242 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,391 in 2019, 1,487 in 2021, 1,545 in 2022, 1,567 in 2023, 1,535 in 2024, 1,551 in 2025, 1,568 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.2281 for 233 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 81% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 May 2022.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

237 pupils in this year group.

87% — 43 points above the Medway average, and 42 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 87% 44% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 62.7 46.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 6 4.2 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 87%This school 2023/24: 92%This school 2024/25: 87% This school England 45% 2022/23 87% 2023/24 92% 2024/25 87%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

241 pupils in this year group.

98% — 7 points above the Medway average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 98% 91% 92%
School sixth form 83% 54% 34%
Sixth form college Not published – 13%
Further education college 10% 28% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 3% 3%
Work 2% 3% 3%

"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%98%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

169 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 26% 21% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 56% 47% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 36.6 32.7 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 38.5This school 2023/24: 39.1This school 2024/25: 36.6 This school England 35 2022/23 38.5 2023/24 39.1 2024/25 36.6

A level subjects, 2024/25

25 subjects, 525 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 69 13% 33% 40%
Business Studies:Single 44 2% 16% 16%
Psychology 43 9% 33% 19%
Biology 39 8% 26% 27%
Sociology 38 13% 24% 20%
English Literature 33 15% 27% 23%
Economics 31 0% 39% 26%
Government and Politics 30 0% 17% 26%
Chemistry 29 7% 31% 30%
Religious Studies 28 0% 11% 22%
Film Studies 25 0% 8% 17%
Physics 22 0% 18% 31%
History 18 6% 11% 23%
Geography 16 6% 19% 23%
Mathematics (Further) 12 33% 58% 59%
Computer Studies / Computing 8 0% 13% 24%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 6 0% 0% 38%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 6 0% 33% 15%
French 6 17% 33% 38%
German 6 17% 67% 42%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Drama and Theatre Studies, Physical Education / Sports Studies, Music, Spanish, Russian.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

193 students in this year group.

91% — 15 points above the Medway average, and 12 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 91% 76% 79%
Apprenticeship 11% 9% 7%
Work 17% 33% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%91%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

169 students in this year group.

69% — 18 points above the Medway average, and 9 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 69% 51% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 30% 11% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
82%69%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

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 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered233
Families who put it first281
Of those, offered a place215 (77%)
Families who listed it at all947

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.2

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.

This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.

Admissions dates and schools in Medway

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolMedwayEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 8% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.5% 27.0%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.1% 1.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.2% 12.7%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 43% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.7% 13.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Lower than 91% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
5.4% 7.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Lower than 96% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.7% 21.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.9 23.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Lower than 82% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.2% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.30% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 93% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
19.8 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 96% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.2 12.4 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Gillingham (Medway).
Higher than 3% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
3.8% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Rainham Mark Grammar School's Ofsted rating?

Rainham Mark Grammar School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 May 2022.

How did Rainham Mark Grammar School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 87% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 42 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Rainham Mark Grammar School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 281 families put Rainham Mark Grammar School as their first choice for 233 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 215 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.