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...
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH – AUTUMN! Calling all parents, carers and staff! Our next Photographer of the Month competition is officially open, and this month's theme is... AUTUMN The leaves are changing, the mornings are getting crisper and there are plenty of opportunities to capture something special! Whether it's a stunning autumn landscape, a woodland walk, wildlife, pumpkins, seasonal activities or simply those incredible autumn colours, we want to see what Autumn means to you! Our Photography Ambassadors will judge all the entries, with the winning photograph featured across The Howard School's social media pages! Deadline: 29th October Send your photograph in JPEG format to: photoentries@thehowardschool.co.uk After such a brilliant response to our previous competition, we can't wait to see what The Howard School community captures this time! Get outside, get creative and get snapping!
PHOTOGRAPHY AMBASSADORS: THE RESULTS ARE IN! This evening, our brilliant Photography Ambassadors met up to take on the very important job of judging the adult category of this month's Photography Competition – 'Holiday Fun'! With so many fantastic entries, it certainly wasn't an easy decision! After plenty of discussion, debate and some very tough deliberation, our Ambassadors finally selected their winner alongside two fantastic runners-up. A massive thank you to everyone from across The Howard School community who entered and shared their 'Holiday Fun' with us. We absolutely loved seeing your photographs! Congratulations to our winner and runners-up – and a huge well done to our Photography Ambassadors for taking their judging responsibilities so seriously! Keep your eyes peeled for the winning photographs!
A DAY AT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT! Some very lucky Year 7 students swapped the classroom for the capital today as they headed to London for a brilliant day of exploring! The highlight of the day was an incredible tour of the Houses of Parliament, giving our students the opportunity to step inside one of the most famous buildings in the world and see where some of the biggest decisions affecting our country are made. From the House of Commons to the House of Lords, our boys had the chance to experience Parliament first-hand, learn more about British democracy and take in the history and traditions of Westminster. There was also time to take in some of London's most famous sights and enjoy being right in the heart of our capital. For some of our students, opportunities like today are completely new experiences – and that is exactly why days like this matter so much. At The Howard School, we are incredibly proud of the opportunities we provide beyond the classroom, helping our students experience new places, build confidence, broaden their horizons and create memories that will stay with them long after they leave us. A fantastic day in London for Year 7 – and another brilliant Howard experience!
WHAT A MOVE! Chess Club continues to be a huge hit, with another great session full of concentration, competition, strategy and plenty of fun! Seeing our students enjoying opportunities like this is exactly why we are so proud of the extra-curricular programme at The Howard School. Whether it's sport and fitness, music, drama, coding, chess or something completely different, we want every student to have the opportunity to discover new interests, develop their talents, meet new people and enjoy school life beyond their lessons. And with the vast majority of our clubs completely FREE, there are so many opportunities to get involved! Another fantastic afternoon at Chess Club! High Standards lead to High Achievement inside and outside the classroom. Photo Credit - Photography Ambassadors
Where you can find us
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!
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.