Welcome to The Howard School
Thank you for your interest in The Howard School at what I think is a very exciting time to be part of the school’s community. As part of The Howard Academy Trust, we are committed to a shared moral purpose; to make a positive difference to the lives of the young people in our community.
High Standards lead to High Achievement
The Howard School is a highly inclusive school community where every individual matters. High levels of discipline ensure everyone is expected to work hard and make a positive contribution to the learning environment. The school has been recognised as a Rights Respecting School at Gold Level by UNICEF, the only secondary school in Kent or Medway to receive such an award.
An "Exceptional" Rated School
"Pupils feel happy and safe. They are proud to be part of The Howard School community."
"Teaching is highly effective across the curriculum. Teachers are experts in their subjects."
- Ofsted, 2026
Our Curriculum
We endeavour to enhance the life chances of our young people by maximising their educational achievement. Our local and national reputation is one that continues to grow. The curriculum that we offer ensures all our students receive a solid academic education alongside a wide range of opportunities for personal development.
Ethos & Values
At The Howard School we aspire for all our students to gain the academic results and personal skills to make a positive contribution to society, both now and in the future.
House Points
Latest News
26/06/18 14:20:0818 Jun 2026
The Howard School receives the first Exceptional Ofsted Grading for a secondary school in Kent
The Howard School is today celebrating a monumental Ofsted result, having secured the first ‘Exceptional...
26/04/08 00:00:008 Apr 2026
The Howard School Welcomes Minister Sarah Jones to Discuss Knife Crime Prevention
The Howard School was proud to welcome Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire Sarah Jones MP and local...
25/12/19 00:00:0019 Dec 2025
Charity Drive
A MASSIVE festive THANK YOU to our incredible parents and carers! We have been absolutely blown away by the generos...
25/11/14 00:00:0014 Nov 2025
Real World Maths in Action
Today our Year 9 students took part in a special workshop exploring maths in everyday life, with a particular focus on t...
ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO | SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING Join us for our Sixth Form Open Evening at The Howard School on Wednesday 4th November, 5pm–7.30pm, to learn more about our Sixth Form and the amazing opportunities available. Come along to: 📝 Explore our A-level and vocational courses 👩🏫 Meet our teachers and Sixth Form students 📣 Hear from Principal Mr Johal 👀 Tour our Sixth Form facilities 💼 Find out more about life beyond the classroom Whether you know exactly what you want to study or are still considering your options, this is the perfect time to discover what The Howard School Sixth Form has to offer. 📆 Wednesday 4 November | 5pm–7.30pm 📍 The Howard School, Derwent Way, Rainham, ME8 0BX Book your place on our Principal's Talks (5pm and 6pm) at: https://www.thehoward-that.org.uk/opendays We can't wait to meet you!
Check out these previews from Olive Dining of our new dining area! We look forward to sharing with you the refreshed spaces when students return to school next week!
🚨💜 THE HOWARD SCHOOL SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING IS NEXT WEEK! 💜🚨 Our Sixth Form Open Evening will be taking place on Wednesday 4th November, and we'd love to see you there! Why should you choose our Sixth Form? 📈 Outstanding student achievement 🧠 Enrichment opportunities to help you stand out, such as Extended Project and The Aspire Programme 👩🏼🦰 A large mixed Sixth Form 👔 Professional Development Leadership Programme, Mentoring Programme and Progress Tutor to help keep you on track and prepare you for your next steps We have a wide range of courses on offer, including: 🧪 Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Applied Science Sport 🎨 Art and Graphic Communication 🧮 Maths 📚 English Language, English Literature and Media Studies 🪖 History and Religious Studies 🌍 Geography 🧠 Sociology, Criminology, Psychology and Law 👔 Business Studies 👉🏻 Book your place at our Open Evening here: https://thehowardschool.applicaa.com/events/01a07c28-d135-7119-8ba8-d8a32569c2ae
School Meals just got a new look! We are excited to be partnering with Olive Dining from Term 2, who will be bringing fresh, nutritious and delicious food to our school canteen this year. Olive Dining are passionate about serving high-quality meals made with carefully selected ingredients, and offer a three-week menu cycle with a variety of tasty, balanced meals to keep students fuelled throughout the school day. Keep an eye out for: 🍝 Delicious and nutritious hot food options 🥬 Deli and Grab & Go options featuring salads, sandwiches and baguettes 🥙 Meal Deals, including a main and dessert, also available on Free School Meals 🚰 Olive Dining Water Stations with flavoured water options 🇦🇺 Theme Days throughout the year, exploring dishes from around the world The new catering offer is sure to be a fantastic way to fuel your way through the school day. So why not give Olive a try when you return to school?
Where you can find us
Sixth Form Open Evening
4th November 2026
Join us on Wednesday 4th November 2026, 5pm-7:30pm for our Sixth Form Open Evening!
- Hear from our Principal, Mr. Johal, as he shares insights into our Sixth Form’s vision, ethos, and the unique opportunities we offer.
- Chat with our Sixth Form students, who are ready to share their experiences. They’ll give you a genuine look into life at The Howard School, from A-levels and BTECs to our supportive community and diverse extracurricular activities.
- Visit our classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers, and learn about the wide range of A-level and vocational courses we offer. Whether you’re interested in the sciences, humanities, arts, or business, see how we support every student’s unique goals and learning styles.
- Take a tour of our state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced science labs, modern IT suites, creative arts studios, and dedicated Sixth Form spaces designed for independent and collaborative study.
You can find out more about our Sixth Form here.
The Howard Ofsted Result
The first ‘Exceptional’ criteria grading for a secondary school in Kent
We are proud to share that The Howard School is celebrating a monumental Ofsted result, having secured the first ‘Exceptional’ criteria grading for a secondary school in Kent, under the new Ofsted framework.
This result comes amidst an overwhelmingly positive Ofsted inspection, which also sees the school receiving four ‘Strong Standard’ and two ‘Expected Standard’ judgements.
Inspectors judged Personal Development and Wellbeing to be ‘Exceptional’, a grade reserved for practice that is among the very best in the country. Inspectors found that the school’s work to support pupils’ mental health, character, and spiritual growth has a "transformational” impact, particularly for its most vulnerable learners.