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...
Paris Day 2 Stadiums, Châteaux & Montmartre! Another fantastic day exploring Paris and beyond! Stade de France We kicked off the day at France's iconic national stadium, home to some of the biggest moments in world sport. Château de Chantilly Then it was off to the beautiful Château de Chantilly, exploring the magnificent château and grounds. Chantilly is also famous as the home of crème Chantilly whipped cream! A little bit of French history we can all appreciate! Labyrinth fun Of course, we couldn't leave without a crazy dash around the château's labyrinth plenty of laughs along the way! Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur We finished the day discovering Montmartre and the spectacular Sacré-Cœur, soaking up the atmosphere of one of Paris's most famous neighbourhoods. Another packed day of sights, fun and great memories in Paris!
Paris Trip – Day One! After a very early start, we arrived in Paris without a hitch – and were delighted to be greeted by beautiful sunshine! Our first adventure was a wonderful Bateaux Mouches cruise along the Seine, taking in some of Paris's most iconic sights, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Les Invalides. We also enjoyed a lovely picnic by Les Invalides – the perfect start to our Paris adventure! To top off a fantastic first day, we had an extra-special celebration as one of our students turned 13! What a way to celebrate your birthday – in Paris with your friends! A brilliant first day, with lots more adventures to come!
LIGHTS, CAMERA... THE HOWARD SCHOOL! Well, here it is! Our moment on the BBC! Over the past couple of weeks, we've been sharing the incredible story of former Howard student Luis Binks and his call-up to the Scotland national football team. From celebrating his international call-up to welcoming the BBC into school to interview our students and staff, it's certainly been an exciting few weeks! Tonight, we're delighted to share the finished BBC report with our entire school community! We're incredibly proud of Luis and hope his achievements inspire the next generation of Howard students to dream big, work hard and believe that anything is possible. COULD YOUR CHILD BE OUR NEXT SUCCESS STORY? With our record-breaking GCSE and A Level results, an Exceptional grading from Ofsted for Personal Development and first-choice applications increasing by an incredible 47%, there's never been a more exciting time to join The Howard School! COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF! Our Year 7 Open Events are taking place NEXT WEEK! Thursday 1st October | 4.15pm–7.30pm Saturday 3rd October | 9.30am–12.15pm Come and meet our fantastic students, explore our facilities and discover the opportunities waiting for your child. Booking is essential! Visit our school website to secure your place. For now, sit back, press play and enjoy our BBC moment! Once a Howard student, always part of the Howard family!
Just ONE WEEK to go! We're just seven days away from welcoming prospective students and their families to The Howard School for our Open Events! Come and explore our facilities, meet our dedicated staff, hear from our Principal and discover what makes life at The Howard School so special. Thursday 1 October 2026 | 4.30pm–7pm Saturday 3 October 2026 | 10am–12pm Our 5.30pm Principal's Talk is already fully booked, so don't wait to secure your place! Book now: https://bit.ly/thehoward2026opendays We can't wait to meet you!
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.