A selective boys grammar school in Chatham, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,036 pupils on roll.
Holcombe Grammar School
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At a glance
Holcombe Grammar School is a selective grammar school in Chatham with about 1,036 pupils across Years 7 to 13. Historically boys-only in Years 7 to 11 with a co-educational sixth form, Holcombe is extending co-education into Year 7 from September 2026. The school's own vocabulary is built around Mastery, Endeavour and Thinking, and it sits within Thinking Schools Academy Trust.
That thinking-school identity is not cosmetic. Holcombe says it was re-accredited as an Advanced Thinking School by the University of Exeter in 2025, and its curriculum statement describes thinking tools, literacy, digital learning and a full National Curriculum offer from Years 7 to 13. At Key Stage 3 pupils study 15 subjects; at Key Stage 4, all pupils continue English, mathematics, science, personal development, religious studies and PE, then choose four subjects including a humanity and a modern language so that all leave with the EBacc.
The sixth form is large, mixed and based around The Hive, a dedicated centre with study, IT, collaboration and social spaces. Students choose from a broad A-level menu that extends beyond the Key Stage 4 offer into law, economics, criminology and music technology. Holcombe's wider offer includes Duke of Edinburgh from Year 9, clubs and trips, Medway Victory Sea Cadets links, Artsmark Silver and Gold Rights Respecting School status.
For Year 7 entry, the published admission number is 180. Applicants must be assessed selective through the Medway testing arrangements before Holcombe's oversubscription rules apply, including looked-after status, siblings, children at named Thinking Schools Academy Trust Medway primaries, children of staff, health reasons and distance. Recent official benchmarks record Ofsted Good, Progress 8 of +0.15, 94.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 9.6% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Medway and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Medway and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Medway and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,036 pupils; 1,031 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 41.4% | White | 429 |
| African | 35.7% | Black | 370 |
| Indian | 3.9% | Asian | 40 |
| Any other mixed background | 3.8% | Mixed | 39 |
| Any other White background | 3.4% | White | 35 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.7% | Asian | 18 |
| Any other Black background | 1.7% | Black | 18 |
| White and Asian | 1.5% | Mixed | 16 |
| Pakistani | 1.4% | Asian | 14 |
| White and Black African | 1.4% | Mixed | 14 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.2% | Mixed | 12 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.1% | Asian | 11 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.5% | Other | 5 |
| Caribbean | 0.5% | Black | 5 |
| Unclassified | 0.5% | Unclassified | 5 |
| Chinese | 0.4% | Asian | 4 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 1 |
Year 7 entry is co-educational with a published admission number of 180. Applicants must be assessed as suitable for grammar school through the Medway testing arrangements.
There is no fixed catchment boundary in the 2027/28 arrangements. Distance is used within oversubscription criteria and as the final criterion after selective eligibility is met.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Includes children previously in state care outside England who now meet the admissions code definition.
Sibling link at Holcombe
A sibling attending Holcombe Grammar School at the time of admission.
Thinking Schools' Academy Trust Medway primary schools
Children attending The Gordon Children's Academy, New Horizons Children's Academy, All Faiths Children's Academy, or Cedar Children's Academy.
Children of staff
Children of eligible staff employed by the academy for two or more years, or recruited to fill a demonstrable skill-shortage post.
Child's health reasons
Supported medical evidence must show a specific health reason requiring attendance at Holcombe Grammar School.
Children living closest to the school
Distance is measured under the Medway coordinated admissions scheme.
Year 7 applicants must be assessed selective through the Medway Test before oversubscription criteria apply. The test has English, mathematics and reasoning papers.
Shared exam route
Holcombe Grammar School uses the shared Medway Test route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Medway Test practice papersPaper 1
English
English paper
30-minute English paper covering reading, punctuation and grammar.
Paper 2
Maths
Mathematics paper
50-minute mathematics paper.
Paper 3
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Reasoning paper
45-minute reasoning paper with verbal, spatial and non-verbal reasoning sections.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
45-minute reasoning paper with verbal, spatial and non-verbal reasoning sections.
Non-verbal reasoning
45-minute reasoning paper with verbal, spatial and non-verbal reasoning sections.
Science
Medway Test registration opens
9am Monday 18 May 2026
PastMedway Test registration closes
5pm Friday 12 June 2026
Special arrangements request deadline
22 June 2026
Secondary applications open
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Medway primary test days
Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September 2026
Non-Medway test weekend
Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September 2026
Medway Test results
14 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
31 October 2026
Offers sent
1 March 2027
Accept/refuse offers and waiting requests deadline
12 March 2027
On-time appeal request deadline
13 April 2027
Reallocation and late applications processing
19 April 2027
Admissions process ends
31 August 2027
Read the 2027/28 admission arrangements
Check Holcombe's 2027/28 policy for the PAN, selective-entry requirement and oversubscription criteria.
Open admission arrangementsRegister for the Medway Test
Register during the Medway Test window from 9am on 18 May to 5pm on 12 June 2026.
View Medway datesSit the Medway Test
Medway primary pupils test on 15 and 16 September 2026; non-Medway pupils are allocated 19 or 20 September.
Open test guidanceSubmit your secondary application
Secondary applications open on 1 September 2026 and close on 31 October 2026; name Holcombe in your ranked preferences.
Check application deadlineLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 62.6 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 57.9 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 59.9 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 62.4 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B- average (35.9 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C+ average (34.3 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | C average (31.2 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C+ average (33.6 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 98% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 97% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 97% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 93% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 3% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 13 March 2024
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Medway area and similar boys' selective route
Nearby South East option with a similar admissions route
Nearby South East option with a similar admissions route
Nearby South East option with a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Holcombe Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the 2027/28 admission arrangements: Check Holcombe's 2027/28 policy for the PAN, selective-entry requirement and oversubscription criteria. 2. Register for the Medway Test: Register during the Medway Test window from 9am on 18 May to 5pm on 12 June 2026. 3. Sit the Medway Test: Medway primary pupils test on 15 and 16 September 2026; non-Medway pupils are allocated 19 or 20 September. 4. Submit your secondary application: Secondary applications open on 1 September 2026 and close on 31 October 2026; name Holcombe in your ranked preferences.
Medway Test registration opens: 9am Monday 18 May 2026. Medway Test registration closes: 5pm Friday 12 June 2026. Special arrangements request deadline: 22 June 2026. Secondary applications open: Tuesday 1 September 2026. Medway primary test days: Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September 2026. Non-Medway test weekend: Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September 2026. Medway Test results: 14 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. Offers sent: 1 March 2027. Accept/refuse offers and waiting requests deadline: 12 March 2027. On-time appeal request deadline: 13 April 2027. Reallocation and late applications processing: 19 April 2027. Admissions process ends: 31 August 2027
Holcombe Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 13 March 2024.