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...
WORLD FOOD DAY – LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE! To mark World Food Day on Friday, 16th October, we're calling on the whole Howard School community – students, parents, carers and staff – to come together and support our good friends at Medway Foodbank! Sometimes it's the simplest things that can make the biggest difference. A tin of food , a packet of noodles , a bottle of shampoo or a tube of toothpaste might not seem like much, but together our donations can provide vital support to local people and families who need a helping hand. Medway Foodbank has provided us with its Harvest Shopping List for 2026, with items particularly needed including long-life milk, pasta sauce, tea and coffee, tinned foods, noodles, savoury snacks, shampoo, deodorant, washing-up liquid, toothpaste and toothbrushes. CAN YOU HELP? If every member of our school community donated just ONE item, imagine how much we could collect! Drop your donations into Main Reception Donations needed by Monday, 12th October We'll then deliver everything collected directly to Medway Foodbank in time for World Food Day! This is a brilliant opportunity to show exactly what our Howard values are all about – Be Good. Be Kind. Be Hardworking. One school. One community. Lots of small donations making one BIG difference! Let's see how much we can collect, Howard!
ANOTHER NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE HOWARD SCHOOL! We are delighted to share that The Howard School has been awarded the national Music Mark of Recognition for Schools 2026/2027 – Dedication & Improvement! The recognition celebrates schools that have demonstrated a commitment to music-making and musical development, and we are incredibly proud to have our work recognised. Kent Music, our regional Music Education Hub, said: "As a school that has demonstrated a commitment to music-making and musical development, and as a valued partner of Kent Music, your school has qualified for the Music Mark of Recognition." Music Mark is the UK Association for Music Education and champions access to high-quality music education for children and young people across the country. From lessons and performances to Band Club, our school productions and the growing opportunities available to our students, music continues to be an important part of life at The Howard School. A huge well done and thank you to our fantastic Music team and, of course, to all of our students who get involved and make music at Howard something to celebrate! Music Mark of Recognition 2026/2027 Dedication & Improvement The Howard School High Standards lead to High Achievement.
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE MONTH IS BACK! Our first photography challenge of the new school year is all about your Holiday Fun! What did you get up to over the summer? Whether you went on holiday , enjoyed days out , spent time with family and friends , played sport , visited somewhere amazing or simply enjoyed the sunshine we want to see your favourite summer moment captured in a photograph! The winning photograph will be featured on our school social media pages AND in the school newsletter! Deadline: Wednesday 23rd September Send your photograph as a JPEG to: bartyj@thehowardschool.co.uk Come on Howard photographers... show us what you've got!
BUILDING HISTORY AT THE HOWARD! Our History Club students have been VERY busy! Over last year and into this year, our Year 7 and 8 historians have been working together on two incredible projects constructing their very own Motte-and-Bailey Castle AND a WW1 Trench System! Just look at the progress so far! These projects have taken plenty of creativity, teamwork, patience and historical knowledge, and it's brilliant to see just how far they've come. A huge well done to everyone involved! And they're not finished yet... We'll be sharing the completed projects once the finishing touches have been made! NEW YEAR 7s WANT TO GET INVOLVED? History Club is open to you too! Come along, get hands-on with history and help us with our next projects. Wednesdays H2.1 No experience needed just bring your enthusiasm for history!
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.