The Rochester Grammar School

Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Girls only · Sixth form

Part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST

Maidstone Road, Rochester, ME1 3BY

03333 602120 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 17 January 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths92%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 97% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,206Room for 1,110 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,241 in 2019, 1,214 in 2021, 1,184 in 2022, 1,182 in 2023, 1,177 in 2024, 1,171 in 2025, 1,206 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.2240 for 204 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 80% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 January 2023.

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.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

225 pupils in this year group.

92% — 48 points above the Medway average, and 47 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 92% 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. 68.4 46.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 6.5 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: 99%This school 2023/24: 97%This school 2024/25: 92% This school England 45% 2022/23 99% 2023/24 97% 2024/25 92%

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.

200 pupils in this year group.

99% — 8 points above the Medway average, and 7 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 91%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 99% 91% 92%
School sixth form 91% 54% 34%
Sixth form college 1% – 13%
Further education college 6% 28% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% 3% 3%
Work 1% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
100%99%

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

1 A level student in this year group.

Only 1 pupil took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Average A level grade Not published C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 0% 21% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 0% 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. Not published 32.7 35

"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.

Average A level grade, over time

2022/232023/242024/25
Not publishedNot publishedNot published

A level subjects, 2024/25

1 subject, 1 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Mathematics.

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.

80 students in this year group.

98% — 22 points above the Medway average, and 19 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. 98% 76% 79%
Apprenticeship 5% 9% 7%
Work 10% 33% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
93%98%

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.

94 students in this year group.

84% — 33 points above the Medway average, and 24 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMedwayEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 84% 51% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 47% 11% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
92%84%

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 offered204
Families who put it first240
Of those, offered a place168 (70%)
Families who listed it at all838

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 1.1 · 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 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 10% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.7% 27.0%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 0% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.0% 1.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.4% 12.7%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
22.6% 13.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Lower than 97% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
4.4% 7.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.5% 21.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.9 23.1 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Lower than 85% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.7% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.17% 0.30% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 54% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.0 17.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.5 12.4 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Rochester.
Higher than 24% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
9.2% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is The Rochester Grammar School's Ofsted rating?

The Rochester Grammar School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 January 2023.

How did The Rochester Grammar School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 92% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 47 points above the England average of 45%.

Is The Rochester Grammar School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 240 families put The Rochester Grammar School as their first choice for 204 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 168 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.