Schools in Medway
101 schools in 5 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Medway at a glance
- Schools
- 101 76 state primary, 20 state secondary, 2 sixth-form or college and 3 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 92% 76 of the 83 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 7 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 27 Of 83 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 39% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 37 of 96 state schools that take an intake. Medway's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Medway
Primary
| Place in Medway | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napier Community Primary and Nursery Academy | Gillingham | 1st (1/63) |
| 2 | The Pilgrim School (A Church of England Primary With Nursery) | Rochester | Top 4% (2/63) |
| 3 | Leigh Academy High Halstow | Rochester | Top 5% (3/63) |
| 4 | Swingate Primary School | Chatham | Top 7% (4/63) |
| 5 | Thames View Primary School | Gillingham | Top 8% (5/63) |
| 6 | St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Rochester | Top 10% (6/63) |
| 7 | St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School | Chatham | Top 12% (7/63) |
| 8 | St Michael Catholic Primary and Nursery School | Chatham | Top 13% (8/63) |
| 9 | St Benedict's Catholic Primary School | Chatham | Top 15% (9/63) |
| 10 | Walderslade Primary School | Chatham | Top 16% (10/63) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Medway primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Medway | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School | Rochester | 1st (1/17) |
| 2 | The Rochester Grammar School | Rochester | Top 12% (2/17) |
| 3 | Rainham Mark Grammar School | Gillingham | Top 18% (3/17) |
| 4 | Fort Pitt Grammar School | Chatham | Top 24% (4/17) |
| 5 | Chatham Grammar | Chatham | Top 30% (5/17) |
| 6 | Holcombe Grammar School | Chatham | Top 36% (6/17) |
| 7 | The Howard School | Gillingham | Top 42% (7/17) |
| 8 | Rainham School for Girls | Gillingham | Top 48% (8/17) |
| 9 | Leigh Academy Rainham | Gillingham | (9/17) |
| 10 | St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School | Rochester | (10/17) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Medway secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Chatham 28 schools · best schools
- Gillingham 30 schools · best schools
- London 1 school
- Rainham 1 school · best schools
- Rochester 41 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Medway council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Medway council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Medway council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Medway council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Medway council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Medway council |
Every Medway admission date · After offer day in Medway: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Medway. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 37 of 96 state schools (39%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Medway: we hold checked fees for 1 of 3 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 86 nurseries and pre-schools in Medway, with fees held for 10. Nurseries in Medway by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Medway
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.