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...
NAME THAT TUNE! Our Year 10 students kicked off their first House Event of the academic year this afternoon with a fantastic game of Name That Tune! From recognising songs in seconds to some rather questionable musical knowledge, there was plenty of laughter, excitement and healthy House competition! A massive WELL DONE to everyone who took part and represented their Houses! It's brilliant to see our House competitions back in full swing, with plenty more opportunities to earn those all-important House Points throughout the year!
KRAKOW 2027 – INFORMATION EVENING TOMORROW! A reminder that our History Residential to Krakow, Poland, is taking place in October 2027, and we're inviting students and their families to find out more at our Launch and Information Evening TOMORROW! This promises to be an unforgettable educational experience, giving students the opportunity to explore some of the most significant historical sites connected to the Second World War and the Holocaust. During the residential, students will visit: Auschwitz-Birkenau Schindler's Factory Museum Former Gestapo Headquarters The beautiful and historic city of Krakow PARENT/CARER INFORMATION EVENING Tomorrow – Wednesday 30th September The Main Hall For current Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12 students and their families Come along to discover more about the itinerary, travel arrangements, costs and how to secure a place on this incredible residential. History isn't just something we learn about in textbooks. This is an opportunity to visit the places where history happened and develop a deeper understanding of events that shaped our world. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Help Our School Get More Funding! This Thursday (1st October), schools across the country will take part in the annual School Census Day. For every FSM-eligible child that claims their free school meal on Census Day, our school gets £505 of extra funding! We would like to encourage all families with children entitled to Free School Meals, to enjoy their free meal on Thursday 1st October. The number of school meals ordered on this day has a significant impact on the amount of Government funding we receive, so this is a perfect opportunity to try our school canteen if you haven't done so before!
IT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK! We're looking forward to welcoming prospective students and their families to The Howard School for our Open Events. Come and explore our facilities, meet our staff, hear from our Principal and get a feel for what makes The Howard School such a great place to learn and grow. Thursday 1 October 2026 | 4.30pm–7pm Saturday 3 October 2026 | 10am–12pm Our Principal's Talks are almost fully booked. Don't miss this chance! 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.