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...
PE Rewards Celebration! A huge congratulations to all of our students recognised in our PE Rewards for Terms 5 & 6! A special shout-out goes to JH (Year 8), our overall PE Extra-Curricular Club Reward winner for 2025–26! As his prize, JH chose an England T20 cricket shirt – a fantastic reward for an incredible year of commitment. JH has thrown himself into school sport, attending a wide range of clubs throughout the year and proudly representing The Howard School in football , cricket , table tennis and racket sports . A brilliant example of dedication, enthusiasm and school spirit! Well done also to ZB, AG, GD, HH, JB, DI, ZM, RB and BB, who were all rewarded for their fantastic attendance, effort and attitude across our gym , cricket , table tennis and athletics sessions. Thank you to every student who has attended an extra-curricular club this year. Your commitment, teamwork and willingness to get involved have been outstanding. We can't wait to see even more of you back in action next year!
SUMMER READING CHALLENGE IS BACK! Looking for something fun to do over the summer? Why not take on the Medway Libraries Summer Reading Challenge! This year's theme is "Read to the Beat" , celebrating the amazing connection between music and reading. Whether you're into adventures, mysteries, sport, fantasy or facts, there's a book waiting for you! Read 6 books between now and 12 September and collect some brilliant rewards along the way: Stickers Bookmarks Pop badge Finish the challenge and you'll also receive: A personalised certificate A fantastic wooden medal! There's a challenge for everyone: 0–3 years – Mini Challenge 4–11 years – Summer Reading Challenge 12–17 years – Young Adult Reading Challenge 18+ – Adult Reading Challenge Reading isn't just for school – it builds imagination, confidence, vocabulary and helps keep your brain active over the holidays too! Pop into your local library to sign up and see how many books you can read this summer!
What a fantastic day for our Eco Team! Despite the soaring temperatures, our students had a brilliant time out exploring nature. With plenty of water breaks , regular rests in the shade and lots of teamwork, the boys looked after one another brilliantly throughout the day. They were full of fantastic questions, showed a real passion for the environment and made the sensible decision to cut the visit a little short when the heat started to take its toll. Their maturity and teamwork made us incredibly proud! To top it all off... they even spotted a magnificent stag beetle! A huge well done to our amazing Eco Team for representing The Howard School so brilliantly, and a big thank you to Mr Sean for organising another fantastic opportunity for our students!
WOW... just look at these incredible creations from our Year 10 Food students! As part of their mock practical exam, our talented chefs took on the challenge of creating a gourmet burger , homemade chips , delicious sauces and a stunning dessert ... with a twist! No shop-bought shortcuts allowed! Everything had to be made completely from scratch – including the burger rolls , mayonnaise , jams and sauces! The aim was to show off as many technical skills as possible while presenting restaurant-quality dishes... and wow, did they deliver! The standard was absolutely outstanding and we're so proud of the creativity , resilience and attention to detail shown by every single student. A massive well done to all of our Year 10 Food students! We can't wait to see what you create in your final practical exams next year!
Where you can find us
Year 6 Induction Day
Thursday 2nd July, 9:15am – 2:15pm & Parents ONLY Induction Evening – Thursday 9th July 2026
Year 6 Transition Day – Thursday 2nd July, 9:15am – 2:15pm
We are really looking forward to welcoming all of our new Year 7 students for their Transition Day on Thursday 2nd July.
Arrival:
Students should arrive at the Main Derwent Way gate by 9:15am, where they will be greeted by staff.
What to bring:
Primary school uniform
A full pencil case
A packed lunch
A refillable water bottle
Collection:
Parents/carers can collect their child from the Main Derwent Way entrance at 2:15pm.
Important note:
Derwent Way can become very congested at drop-off and collection times. We kindly ask parents/carers to park considerately and not attempt to drive onto the school site.
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Parents ONLY Induction Evening – Thursday 9th July 2026
We are pleased to invite parents/carers only to The Howard School for our Year 6 Induction Evening. This is a valuable opportunity to meet the Pastoral Teams and learn more about the support available as your child transitions into Year 7.
Our SENCO will also be available throughout the evening to answer any specific queries.
To help manage numbers, we have allocated set times based on your child’s surname:
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6:00pm – Surnames A to I
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6:30pm – Surnames J to Z
On arrival at the school, you will be welcomed by student ambassadors who will direct you to parking and guide you to the main hall for the opening presentation.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing how we will support your child’s journey into secondary school.
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.