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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Medway Medway 11+

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Pump Lane, Rainham, ME8 7AJ

A selective co-educational grammar school in Gillingham, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,551 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Co-ed Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form Medway Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #139
Year 7 places
235
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
Medway Test
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #139
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Mixed
Assessment
Medway Test
Places in Year 7
235
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Ofsted ?
Good

Overview

Rainham Mark Grammar School is a large co-educational 11-18 selective grammar school on Pump Lane in Rainham, with about 1,551 pupils and membership of Rainham Mark Education Trust. Its vision page gives the school a clear moral vocabulary: aspiration, respect, curiosity and happiness. The aim is to nurture young people who are ambitious, respectful of the world around them and able to make positive contributions locally and globally.

The curriculum breadth is visible in the school menu, with art, business, computer science, design and technology, drama, economics, film studies, law, politics, psychology, sociology, music, PE, science, humanities, English, mathematics and languages all present across the learning pages. RMGS also names reading, PSHE, equality, careers, SEND, safeguarding and pastoral care as part of its everyday structure.

Co-curricular life is not treated as decoration. The school publishes clubs for 2025-2026, student leadership, house colours, personal development, alumni, awards, drama and library provision, and the sixth form has its own application process, entry requirements, prospectus, bursary, UCAS and apprenticeship information. For a large Medway grammar, that gives the school a broad civic and careers-facing character.

Year 7 entry has 235 places and runs through the Medway selective admissions process. The Medway Test includes English, mathematics and reasoning; English and mathematics are double-weighted, reasoning is single-weighted and scores are adjusted for age. Offers then follow the school's published admission arrangements. Published measures include Ofsted Good, +0.28 Progress 8, 93.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 15.4% AAB or better at A level.

Key points
Assessment route
Medway Test: 3 papers, covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
235 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Results
88.9% grade 5+ in English and maths and 63.1 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 15.4% AAB or better and 70.9% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Medway and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Rainham Mark Grammar School, Medway, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
63.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
88.9%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Medway and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Rainham Mark Grammar School, Medway, and England. 80 66.7 53.3 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Medway and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Rainham Mark Grammar School, Medway, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Mixed
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mrs Agnes Hart
Pupil roll
1,568 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Rmet
FSM ?
10.9%
EAL ?
10%
EHCP ?
0.1%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Drama

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,568 pupils; 1,561 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 66.6% Asian 11.6% Mixed 9.7% Black 10.7% Other 1% Unclassified 0.4%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Pump Lane, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent
Postcode
ME8 7AJ
Area
Medway
Exam area
Medway 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Agnes Hart

School contact

School email
rmgs-office@rmet.org
School phone
01634364151

Admissions contact

Admissions email
rmgs-office@rmet.org
Admissions phone
01634364151
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions

Appeals and waiting lists

A school admission appeal follows a refusal of a place. Use the school's current timetable and your refusal letter for the deadline. A test review, if available, has separate rules.

Read Medway result and appeals Official school website Appeals directory
Year 7 places
235 places
Applications listed
947 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
281 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Pass mark note
Passing the Medway Test is required for grammar-school consideration, but it does not guarantee an offer because Rainham Mark applies its published oversubscription criteria.

There are 235 Year 7 places. Applicants must be assessed selective through the Medway Test; if preferences exceed places, the school applies the published priority order and Medway GIS distance rule.

There is no catchment area. Selective applicants are ordered through the published priority criteria, with the shortest available route from home to school measured by Medway Council GIS used as the final criterion and tie-break.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked-after and previously looked-after children

    Selective applicants in local-authority care, previously in care, internationally adopted, or regarded as previously in state care outside England are prioritised first.

  2. 2

    Pupil Premium or Free School Meals

    Selective applicants receiving Pupil Premium or Free School Meals are prioritised when the supplementary information form is returned to the school by 31 October in the application year.

  3. 3

    Current family association

    Applicants with a brother or sister attending the school at the time of entry are prioritised next.

  4. 4

    Health and special access reasons

    Priority can apply where professional evidence shows a demonstrable and significant need for this school.

  5. 5

    Children of staff

    Priority applies where a parent is a qualifying member of staff under the published policy.

  6. 6

    Nearness to school

    Remaining places are ordered by the shortest available route between home and school as measured by Medway Council GIS; random allocation is used if the final tie cannot otherwise be separated.

Admissions policy

Admission Policy 2027

2027 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry

Three multiple-choice papers: English, maths and reasoning.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice
Scores
Age-standardised

Papers and timings

  • English Multiple choice
    30 min
  • Mathematics Multiple choice
    50 min
  • Reasoning Verbal reasoning · Non-verbal reasoning Multiple choice
    45 min

The times below exclude separate practice periods.

What the test includes

  • English
  • Maths
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
Official test guidance

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Medway Test test guide

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Medway Test registration opens

    18 May 2026, 9am

    Past

  2. Medway Test registration closes

    12 June 2026, 5pm

    Past

  3. Special arrangements requests deadline

    22 June 2026

    Past

  4. Secondary applications open

    1 September 2026

    Past

  5. Medway primary/junior school test date

    16 September 2026

    Past

  6. Non-Medway school test date

    20 September 2026

    Past

  7. Medway Test results

    14 October 2026

    Past

  8. Secondary application deadline

    31 October 2026

    Past

  9. Offers sent

    1 March 2027

  10. Offer response and waiting-list request deadline

    12 March 2027

  11. On-time appeal request deadline

    13 April 2027

  12. Reallocation and late applications

    19 April 2027

  13. End of admissions process and waiting lists close

    31 August 2027

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the admission arrangements

    Check the admission arrangements before applying so the Medway selective process and oversubscription rules are clear.

    Open policy
  2. 2

    Register for the Medway Test

    Register for the Medway Test through Medway Council by the deadline for the relevant entry year.

    Open Medway Test
  3. 3

    Sit the Medway Test

    Selection for Year 7 grammar places is based on the Medway Test result.

    Open Medway Test
  4. 4

    Submit the secondary application

    List the school on the secondary school application by the Medway deadline.

    Open admissions page

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admission Policy 2027

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 25 May 2022

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Rainham Mark Grammar was rated Good overall. The report describes a safe, ambitious school with strong academic expectations, valued creative and practical subjects, improving curriculum leadership and a broad activity offer, while noting that reading support and some teaching initiatives still needed embedding.
  • Quality of education: Leaders had refocused the curriculum so pupils build knowledge in a clearer order from Years 7 to 11 and are prepared for sixth form. Teacher training was underway, but support for weaker readers had been too slow to identify and provide.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Lessons were typically focused, with pupils saying teachers listen to them and relationships are kind. Bullying was described as uncommon and handled quickly when reported, and pupils knew a range of adults they could approach with worries.
  • Personal development: The PSHE programme covered diversity, consent, healthy relationships and addiction, helping pupils prepare for modern Britain. Enrichment was wide, with the arts a particular strength, though the report noted that not all pupils knew about or attended the available clubs.
  • Leadership and management: New leadership had brought sharper curriculum planning and research-informed teacher development. Safeguarding systems were clear and checked by governors, but leaders recognised they needed to move faster for the small number of pupils who required extra reading help.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth-form provision was judged Good, with earlier curriculum planning intended to prepare pupils well for advanced study. The wider activity programme runs from Years 7 to 13, giving older students access to the same broad mix of academic, creative and practical interests.

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Related pages and guides

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Rainham Mark Grammar School use?

For September 2027 entry, Rainham Mark Grammar School uses Medway Test. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to Rainham Mark Grammar School?

1. Read the admission arrangements: Check the admission arrangements before applying so the Medway selective process and oversubscription rules are clear. 2. Register for the Medway Test: Register for the Medway Test through Medway Council by the deadline for the relevant entry year. 3. Sit the Medway Test: Selection for Year 7 grammar places is based on the Medway Test result. 4. Submit the secondary application: List the school on the secondary school application by the Medway deadline.

When are the key dates for Rainham Mark Grammar School?

Medway Test registration opens: 18 May 2026, 9am. Medway Test registration closes: 12 June 2026, 5pm. Special arrangements requests deadline: 22 June 2026. Secondary applications open: 1 September 2026. Medway primary/junior school test date: 16 September 2026. Non-Medway school test date: 20 September 2026. Medway Test results: 14 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. Offers sent: 1 March 2027. Offer response and waiting-list request deadline: 12 March 2027. On-time appeal request deadline: 13 April 2027. Reallocation and late applications: 19 April 2027. End of admissions process and waiting lists close: 31 August 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Rainham Mark Grammar School?

Rainham Mark Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 25 May 2022.