Medway · grammar school

Chatham Grammar

A co-educational grammar school in Chatham for ages 11–18, with a sixth form. Places in Year 7 are given through the Medway Test.
Co-educationalAges 11–18Sixth form
Overview

Chatham Grammar at a glance

Chatham Grammar is a co-educational grammar school in Chatham for students aged 11 to 18, with about 950 pupils. It is part of The University of Kent Academies Trust. Year 7 places are given through the Medway Test, and the school has a sixth form.

For September 2026 entry it offered 150 places and was the first choice of 185 families — about 1.2 for every place. 21% of all applications came from families in other council areas.

In 2024/25, 76% of its GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths, against 45% across England’s state schools. Its A-level students averaged C per entry, and 5% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects. 68% of sixth-form leavers went on to university (destinations measured in 2022/23).

Admissions

Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given

Test
Medway Test
Set by
GL Assessment, for Medway Council
What it covers
English (including writing), maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning

How places are given

Medway Council sets a qualifying score aimed at about the top quarter of the year group. Qualifying makes a child eligible; places then follow each school's oversubscription criteria.

How to register and apply

Register with Medway Council in the summer term of Year 5. Medway primary pupils usually sit the test at school; others at a test centre. Name the schools on your secondary application by 31 October.

Admissions rules change each year. Check the school’s current admissions policy — area details last checked October 2026.

Entry scores

Scores needed for a place

EntryMeasureApplies toScore
Sept 2026Pass markAll applicantsThe minimum score to be assessed as suitable for a Medway grammar school. Places then follow each school’s oversubscription criteria.481
Sept 2025Pass markAll applicants482
Sept 2024Pass markAll applicants492

Scale: Medway Test total weighted score (English and maths counted twice, reasoning once). Sources: Medway Council news, October 2025, Medway Council news, October 2024, Medway Test results: information for pupils assessed as grammar (2024). Scores change every year and depend on how many children apply — treat them as a guide, not a target.

Demand

How many families apply

EntryPlaces1st choices1st choices per placeAll applications
Sept 20261501851.21,151
Sept 20251261321.0695
Sept 20241351361.0638
Sept 20231481431.0657
Sept 20221201361.1591
Sept 20211021161.1623

Source: DfE, secondary school applications and offers. Places offered on National Offer Day; first preferences are families who put the school first on their council application.

Results

Exam results

GCSE, 2024/25 · 151 pupils

Grade 5 or above in English and maths

This school76%
England45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths

This school93%
England65%

Attainment 8 (average across 8 subjects)

This school61.8
England46.1
YearGrade 5+ Eng & mathsAttainment 8Progress 8EBacc points
2024/2575.5%61.8—5.86
2023/2478.2%60.1+0.365.77
2022/2379.0%59.5+0.345.51

A level, 2024/25 · 86 students

Average grade
C
England: B-
AAB or better*
5%
England: 18%
Value added
-0.28

*AAB or better, with at least two in facilitating subjects. Value added compares students’ results with others who started from similar GCSEs; above 0 is better than expected.

Source: DfE school and college performance tables. England figures are for all state-funded schools. Progress 8 was not published for 2024/25.

After sixth form

Where students go next

University
68%
Apprenticeship
4%
Employment
17%
Any sustained destination
89%

Source: DfE 16–18 destination measures, students who left after A levels or equivalent, destinations measured in 2022/23 (100 students). Categories overlap slightly and do not sum to 100%.

Key facts

Admits at 11
Co-educational
Ages
11–18
Sixth form
Yes
Pupils
948 (capacity 976)
Free school meals
17.4% of pupils eligible
School type
Academy converter
Trust
The University of Kent Academies Trust
Local authority
Medway
Constituency
Chatham and Aylesford

From the Department for Education’s register (URN 137389), October 2026.

Free · 15 minutes · Years 3–5

Thinking about Chatham Grammar?

See where your child stands with our free 15-minute 11+ readiness check — a score for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, judged against their year.

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