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...
BIOLOGY COMES TO LIFE! Our Year 13 students swapped the classroom for the zoo today as they took their Biology studies out into the real world! A huge thank you to Ranger Will, who spent time with our students exploring some fascinating areas of biology, including genetics, inheritance and phylogeny. Students discovered how understanding the genetic relationships between species can play an incredibly important role in conservation – both in situ, protecting species within their natural habitats, and ex situ, supporting conservation through zoos, breeding programmes and other environments. It was a brilliant opportunity to see how the topics studied in lessons have genuine real-world applications and how science is being used to protect endangered species for future generations. A fantastic day of learning for our Year 13s – and certainly a little different from an ordinary day in the classroom!
HISTORY RESIDENTIAL: KRAKOW, POLAND 2027 We are incredibly excited to announce an unforgettable History Residential to Krakow, Poland, taking place in October 2027! This will be a powerful opportunity for students to take their learning beyond the classroom and experience some of the most significant historical sites connected to the Second World War and the Holocaust. During the residential, students will visit: Auschwitz-Birkenau – an important and moving visit to the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp Schindler's Factory Museum – discovering the story of Oskar Schindler and life in Krakow during the Nazi occupation Former Gestapo Headquarters – exploring the realities of occupation, resistance and persecution in Krakow Historic Krakow – spending time exploring this incredible European city, its culture, landmarks and fascinating history LAUNCH & INFORMATION EVENING Wednesday 30th September Main Hall Open to current Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12 students and their families We'll share full details about the residential, including the itinerary, travel arrangements, costs and how students can secure a place. For students with a passion for History – or simply an interest in seeing and understanding the places where history happened – this promises to be an incredibly memorable experience. Krakow 2027 – History beyond the classroom. We hope to see lots of students and families at our Information Evening on Wednesday 30th September!
YOUR VOICE. YOUR FUTURE. YOUR CHANCE TO BE HEARD. The Children's Commissioner for England has launched THE BIG FUTURE – a national survey giving children and young people across England the chance to say what life is really like for them today. And we want Howard students to have their say! Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner, wants to hear directly from children and young people about the things that matter to YOU. School and education Home and family life Your experiences The world around you Your hopes for the future What you think needs to change Your responses will help the Children's Commissioner understand what young people across England are thinking and feeling – and she will take those views directly to Government to help shape decisions affecting children and young people. There are no right or wrong answers. You don't have to answer anything you don't want to, and your responses will be kept private. At The Howard School, Student Voice is incredibly important to us. This is your opportunity to make sure young people from our school and our community are represented nationally. Take part in THE BIG FUTURE survey and make your voice count! Because decisions about young people should include the voices of young people. https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture
Recognised as Exceptional by Ofsted "Pupils' high-quality work demonstrates their deepening knowledge as they progress through the curriculum."Ofsted 2026 At The Howard School, we're proud to see the quality of our pupils' work and the progress they make recognised by Ofsted. From the classroom to the wider opportunities we provide, we're committed to ensuring every pupil develops the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed. Come and see our school in action at our Open Events. Thursday 1 October | 4.30pm–7pm Saturday 3 October | 10am–12pm Book your place: https://bit.ly/thehoward2026opendays
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.