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...
HOW DID WE NOT KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THIS?! Gaming Creative Arts Music Archery Climbing Dance Duke of Edinburgh Sports Youth Clubs Careers support 1-to-1 support Trips & activities ...and LOADS more! Medway Youth Service runs around 40 youth sessions EVERY WEEK across Medway for young people aged 8–18 and up to 25 for young people with additional needs! And here's the REALLY good bit... Most sessions are COMPLETELY FREE! No complicated referral No booking For open-access sessions, you can literally just TURN UP! There are sessions happening right across Medway including at Woodlands Youth Centre in Gillingham and Parkwood Youth Centre in Rainham, as well as Strood, Chatham, Rochester, Walderslade and beyond! Whether you want to meet new people , try something completely different , learn a new skill , get active or simply have somewhere to hang out after school there is SO much available. Check out the poster below Find the full programme and discover what's happening near you! Seriously... GET INVOLVED!
COULD YOU BE HEADING TO JAPAN IN 2027?! An incredible opportunity is available for Howard students to take part in the Medway–Japan Student Exchange 2027! The annual exchange gives young people from Medway the chance to travel to Japan, experience Japanese culture first-hand and represent Medway as part of a truly unforgettable cultural exchange! Travel to Japan Experience a completely different culture Meet new people and make international friendships Learn some basic Japanese Take part in an established international exchange programme The trip is subsidised by the Medway–Japan Friendship Association and its partners! Applications are open to students who will be aged 16–18 in August 2027 – so students currently in Years 11, 12 and 13 can apply! IMPORTANT: You need to register your interest to receive an application form. Application deadline: Friday 30th October 2026 This really could be one of those experiences you remember for the rest of your life! Interested? Find out more and register your interest here: tinyurl.com/medwayjapan Who knows... this time next year, you could be getting ready for JAPAN!
A fantastic turnout for our Year 12 Parents and Carers Welcome Evening last night! It was brilliant to welcome so many families into school as we begin what promises to be an exciting and important year for our new Year 12 students. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and for your continued support as we work together to help our Sixth Form students make the very most of the opportunities ahead. A great start to the year!
Our Open Events are filling up fast! Our Principal's Talks are booking fast, so if you're planning to visit us, now is the time to secure your place. Come and discover what makes The Howard School special. Explore our facilities, meet our dedicated staff, hear from our Principal at one of our bookable talks, and see our highly rated education in action. Thursday 1 October 2026 4.30pm–7pm Saturday 3 October 2026 10am–12pm Book your place now: https://bit.ly/thehoward2026opendays Spaces are limited, so don't miss your chance to join us!
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!
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.