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.
A "Good" School
"Pupils enjoy school and feel valued. The school is inclusive with a real sense of community. Relationships between pupils, and between pupils and staff, are a real strength."
- Ofsted, November 2021
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...
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH IS BACK! This month's theme is... SUMMER VIBES! We want to see what summer means to YOU! Whether it's: Stunning sunsets Days at the beach Your favourite summer treats Nature in full bloom Adventures with friends and family Summer sports Holidays, festivals or days out ...if it captures the spirit of summer, we want to see it! The winning photograph will be featured on our school social media pages AND in our school newsletter! Deadline: Tuesday 15th July Send your entry as a JPEG to: bartj@thehowardschool.co.uk So grab your camera or phone, get creative, and show us your best shot!
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH! A HUGE congratulations to AL in Year 8 who has been crowned our Photographer of the Month for the "Sunlight & Shadows" theme! This stunning photograph impressed our judge, Mr Harris, who loved the way the image captures the contrast between light and shadow, with vibrant green shoots breaking through the decaying leaves and the sunlight creating striking natural patterns across the ground. Incredible creativity, a fantastic eye for detail, and a brilliant example of how photography can turn everyday scenes into works of art! Well done, AL – we're incredibly proud of you! Think you've got what it takes? Keep snapping away and you could be our next Photographer of the Month!
Festival of Languages and Culture 2026 at Kent University! Huge congratulations to our amazing Year 7 students who represented us so brilliantly at Kent University's Festival of Languages and Culture! From energetic workshops to fantastic performances, they fully immersed themselves in the day. Special shout-outs go to: R.F. (7H3) – Awarded 'Spirit of the Day' & starred in French Eurovision! R.P. (7H3) & I.O. (7O2) – Brilliant performances in the French Eurovision! T.R. (7H2) – Recognized for consistent great effort and contributions across all categories! B.M. (7H2) – The absolute star of the show, who took home the Overall Prize out of hundreds of competing students! We are incredibly proud of all your hard work, talent, and enthusiasm!
A brilliant evening in London for some very lucky Howard students! Tonight, a group of our students had the incredible opportunity to head to the West End to watch the fantastic musical The Devil Wears Prada As part of the trip, they also had the pleasure of meeting students from our partner school in Germany, Otto Hahn Schule It was so lovely to bring the two groups together, introduce them to one another and share such a special experience watching an amazing show side by side. Opportunities like this are what make international partnerships so exciting new friendships, shared experiences and memories that will last a long time Here's to many more exchanges and adventures with our German friends in the future!
Where you can find us
Year 6 Induction Day
Thursday 2nd July, 9:15am – 2:15pm & Parents ONLY Induction Evening – Thursday 9th July 2026
Year 6 Transition Day – Thursday 2nd July, 9:15am – 2:15pm
We are really looking forward to welcoming all of our new Year 7 students for their Transition Day on Thursday 2nd July.
Arrival:
Students should arrive at the Main Derwent Way gate by 9:15am, where they will be greeted by staff.
What to bring:
Primary school uniform
A full pencil case
A packed lunch
A refillable water bottle
Collection:
Parents/carers can collect their child from the Main Derwent Way entrance at 2:15pm.
Important note:
Derwent Way can become very congested at drop-off and collection times. We kindly ask parents/carers to park considerately and not attempt to drive onto the school site.
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Parents ONLY Induction Evening – Thursday 9th July 2026
We are pleased to invite parents/carers only to The Howard School for our Year 6 Induction Evening. This is a valuable opportunity to meet the Pastoral Teams and learn more about the support available as your child transitions into Year 7.
Our SENCO will also be available throughout the evening to answer any specific queries.
To help manage numbers, we have allocated set times based on your child’s surname:
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6:00pm – Surnames A to I
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6:30pm – Surnames J to Z
On arrival at the school, you will be welcomed by student ambassadors who will direct you to parking and guide you to the main hall for the opening presentation.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing how we will support your child’s journey into secondary school.
Open Events
1st & 3rd October
Are you considering sending your child to The Howard School in September 2027? Join us at our Open Events for a chance to take a look around our school!
Open Evening
Date: Thursday 1st October 2026
Time: 4:30pm - 7pm. Bookable Principal Talks at 4:45pm and 5:30pm
Open Morning
Date: Saturday 3rd October 2026
Time: 10am - 12pm. Bookable Principal Talks at 10am and 10:45am
What to Expect:
- Tour our school grounds, and get a taste of the fantastic facilities we have on site
- Speak to our staff and students to hear about life at The Howard School
- Visit our classrooms to learn more about our exciting curriculum
- Hear from Mr Johal, our Principal, at a number of bookable talks
- Come and see our ‘Exceptional’ education for yourselves!
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.