Medway
Holcombe Grammar School
Exceptional results, but a place depends on the entrance test rather than where you live — worth a look only if you are planning to sit it.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 62.4 is well above the national average of around 46. This reflects strong GCSE outcomes across the standard subject basket.
- 62.4
- Attainment 8
- 95%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2024/2025
- Academic year
Progress is close to average or statistically uncertain because the confidence interval crosses zero. This does not necessarily mean the school adds or detracts from pupil progress.
- +0.15
- Progress 8
- [-0.09, 0.39]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
This is a selective school. Admission usually requires passing an entrance test. Check the school's admissions policy for test registration deadlines.
Watch-outs
- Selective admissions: an entrance test (usually the 11+ or equivalent) is required. Check registration and test dates well in advance.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Check entrance test registration dates
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Admissions and catchment
Council allocation figures
Add a postcode to see where you would sit against past cut-offs.
We have not collected Medway council’s allocation figures for this school yet. We only show a verdict when we can cite the council’s published figures. Check Medway’s allocation booklet, or the school’s website.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 179 | 137 | 87 (64%) | 968 |
| September 2025 | 179 | 137 | 81 (59%) | 733 |
| September 2024 | 150 | 110 | 71 (65%) | 632 |
| September 2023 | 150 | 134 | 77 (57%) | 630 |
| September 2022 | 148 | 119 | 68 (57%) | 570 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Medway’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25)
University destinations
Share of this school's sixth-form leavers who went on to Oxford or Cambridge, a Russell Group university, or a university in the top third by entry grades. Department for Education data for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Left sixth form | Students | Oxford or Cambridge | Russell Group | Top-third universities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 2024-2025 tables | 152 | Not published | Not published | 19% England 19% |
| 2020/21 2023-2024 tables | 78 | Not published | Not published | 28% England 24% |
| 2019/20 2022-2023 tables | 83 | 4% England 1% | 25% England 18% | 29% England 20% |
| 2018/19 2021-2022 tables | 100 | 1% England 1% | 5% England 15% | 10% England 17% |
| 2017/18 2020-2021 tables | 100 | 0% England 1% | 19% England 16% | 22% England 18% |
| 2015/16 2018-2019 tables | 114 | 1% England 1% | 10% England 14% | 24% England 19% |
- The DfE stopped publishing Oxbridge and Russell Group shares for individual schools after the 2022-23 performance tables (students who left in 2019/20). Top-third figures continue.
- Figures are percentages of all students who finished 16 to 18 study at the school, counting those who sustained a university place in the two years after leaving.
- Rankings use the average across years weighted by the number of students; a school needs at least 2 years and 50 students to be ranked. The top-third ranking uses the latest 3 years. Ranks are among state-funded schools and colleges.
- '<0.5%' means above zero but under half a percent. 'Suppressed' means 5 or fewer students.
- Source: Department for Education, 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training (Compare school and college performance, Explore education statistics).
Entry, tests and fees
Entrance test
The test will take place on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Source · checked 28 September 2026
The test will take place on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Source · checked 28 September 2026
Children who do not go to a primary or junior school in Medway will test in a Medway Test Centre on either Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September 2026. One day will…
Source · checked 28 September 2026
Admissions
Whilst the resources include some mock 11+ style tests, they are focussed on the acquisition of knowledge and skills which are applicable to all.
Source · checked 28 September 2026
Admissions pageTest information
Copied from the school's and test organisers' own pages; check them before registering or applying.
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 150 | 62.4 | — | 94.7% | 96.7% | 6.0 |
| 2023/2024 | 137 | 59.9 | +0.15 | 94.2% | 96.4% | 5.7 |
| 2022/2023 | 147 | 57.9 | +0.06 | 90.0% | 25.0% | 5.0 |
| 2021/2022 | 146 | 62.6 | +0.29 | 98.0% | 49.0% | 5.5 |
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Medway for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 136594 |
| Local authority | Medway |
| Region | South East |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Boys |
| Age range | 11-18 |
| Headteacher | Principal Lee Preston |
| Trust | THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST |
| Admissions | Selective |
| Religious character | Does not apply |
| Postcode | ME4 6JB |
| Latest pupils | 150 |
| FSM eligible | 12.9% |
Contact and identifiers
Holcombe, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6JB
http://www.holcombegrammar.org.ukView local authority page3333602130| DfE number | 4068 |
| UKPRN | 10033242 |
| Opened | 1 Apr 2011 |
| GIAS updated | 13 Feb 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2024/2025 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | — |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | — |
| Behaviour and attitudes | — |
| Personal development | — |
| Leadership and management | — |
| Safeguarding | — |
| Inspection type | — |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | — |
| Publication date | — |