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...
FROM THE HOWARD SCHOOL... TO THE BBC! What an afternoon at The Howard School! Last week, we broke the fantastic news that former Howard student Luis Binks had received his first call-up to the Scotland senior squad. And since then... the story has certainly travelled! The BBC picked up our story, publishing an article celebrating Luis' incredible journey from growing up in Gillingham and walking the corridors of The Howard School to playing professional football across Europe and earning senior international recognition. And this afternoon... THE BBC ARRIVED AT THE HOWARD SCHOOL! Their team spent the afternoon interviewing our students and staff, finding out more about Luis' time at Howard, his journey since leaving us and what it means to see one of our former students reaching the very highest levels of the game. Even more excitingly, the feature is due to be broadcast on BBC News this Thursday – keep your eyes peeled for some familiar Howard faces! For our current students, Luis is a fantastic example of where talent, courage, hard work and ambition can take you. From The Howard School to international football. And who knows who might follow in his footsteps next... Could it be YOUR child? Come and discover The Howard School at our upcoming Year 7 Open Events: Open Evening – Thursday 1st October Open Morning – Saturday 3rd October Book your place via our school website and come and see where their journey could begin... High Standards lead to High Achievement. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqzjzgem3070o#:~:text=Kent%2Dborn%20centre%2Dback%20Luis%20Binks%20has,Pocognoli's%20first%20squad%20in%20charge.
COULD YOU BE THE HOWARD'S NEXT BUDDING WRITER? Somewhere in Britain, a Roman hoard hidden away in the fifth century is waiting to be found... But how did it get there? Who buried it? Why was it hidden? And what happened to the person who left it behind? Now it's YOUR chance to tell the story! The University of Kent's 'Britain's Last Roman Hoards' project, working with the British Museum and Newcastle University, is running an exciting short story competition for young people aged 11–17! Be inspired by Britain's late Roman past Write a story of up to 1,000 words Let your imagination run wild You could WIN up to £50! Whether you love History, English, creative writing or simply have a brilliant story waiting to be told, we'd LOVE to see Howard students getting involved! Remember to use your school email address when completing the entry form. Full details and the entry form can be found using the links on the poster. Could the next award-winning writer be sitting in a Howard classroom right now? Good luck, everyone!
OVER 70 HOWARD STUDENTS SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION! We are absolutely delighted to share some fantastic news from our English Department! More than 70 of our students, now in Years 8 and 11, have had their creative writing selected by Young Writers for publication! Students took part in the 'Wanted' Creative Writing Competition, where they were challenged to create an entire mini saga in no more than 100 words! Freedom. Power. Revenge. Everyone wants something... Our students certainly rose to the challenge, using their imagination, creativity and writing skills to produce some brilliant original pieces – and now their work has been chosen for the opportunity to appear in a published collection! A HUGE congratulations to every student selected. To have more than 70 Howard students recognised is an incredible achievement and something we are extremely proud of! Parents/Carers of selected students: permission must be completed online by 4th October for your child's work to be included in the publication, so please make sure this is submitted before the deadline. Who knows... we might just have some future bestselling authors in our classrooms!
FOOD TECH IN ACTION! Our Year 10 students have been busy in Food Tech today, getting hands-on in the kitchen and making their very own homemade naan breads! From measuring and mixing to kneading, shaping and cooking , the students worked brilliantly to put their practical food skills into action. And judging by the finished results... there might not be many making it home tonight! Fantastic work, Year 10!
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.