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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 136594

Holcombe Grammar School

Academy converter · Chatham · ME4 6JB

Ages 11–18 · 1,060 pupils · Medway

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

59.9

Overall absence

5.0%

Admissions demand

0.80 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2024-04-30

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.15
−20+2
Attainment 859.9
English & maths grade 5+86%
English & maths grade 4+98%
EBacc entry96%

EBacc APS: 5.7

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.0%
Persistent absence (10%+)10.3%
Unauthorised0.6%
Authorised absence
4.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.1%
Enrolments in measure
746

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.80 · Often has places

1st preferences

110

Places offered

150

1st-preference offers

71

Total preferences (any rank)
632
Preferred offers (top 3)
150
Applications from outside LA
188
Offers to outside-LA applicants
61
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill106%

1,060 pupils · 1,000 places

Pupils on roll
1,060
Boys / girls
945 / 115
School capacity
1,000
Capacity fill
1,060 / 1,000 (106%)
Free school meals
12.7%
FSM pupils
97
Admissions policy
Selective
Gender
Boys
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
Headteacher
Mr Lee Preston

Location

Address
Holcombe, Maidstone Road
Postcode
ME4 6JB
Town
Chatham
County
Kent
Local authority
Medway
District
Medway
Constituency
Chatham and Aylesford
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Boys academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Chatham, Medway, 1,060 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, selective admissions. Free school meals: 12.7%.

Open schools in Chatham
34
Secondary schools in Chatham
7
Academies among open schools in Chatham
68% (23)
Open schools in ME4
15
Secondary in ME4
4
Open schools in Medway LA
117
Secondary in Medway LA
19

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ChathamNear ME4

  • The Victory Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Chatham · ME4 5JB · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att840.0
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+32%
    • Absence10.0%

    0.6 miles away

  • The Thomas Aveling School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Rochester · ME1 2UW · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att842.9
    • P80.2
    • EM5+27%
    • Absence8.4%

    0.7 miles away

  • The Rochester Grammar School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Rochester · ME1 3BY · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att871.6
    • P80.7
    • EM5+97%
    • Absence4.4%

    0.9 miles away

  • Fort Pitt Grammar School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chatham · ME4 6TJ · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Att866.5
    • P80.6
    • EM5+87%
    • Absence6.5%

    1.0 miles away

  • Walderslade School

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chatham · ME5 0LE · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Absence12.8%
    • FSM40.2%

    1.1 miles away

  • Greenacre School

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Chatham · ME5 0LP · Medway

    Ages 11–18

    • Absence12.4%
    • FSM30.3%

    1.1 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Lee Preston
Telephone
03333602130
Website
http://www.holcombegrammar.org.uk

Official links