Rainham Mark Grammar School 11+ Guide

About Rainham Mark Grammar School

Rainham Mark Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Medway, Kent. For children to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Rainham Mark Grammar School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Medway, Kent, Rainham Mark Grammar School is a beacon of academic excellence and personal growth. This co-educational institution, formerly known as Gillingham Technical High School, provides a nurturing and stimulating environment for over 1,500 students. The school's ethos is centered around fostering a love for learning and encouraging students to reach their full potential across a wide array of subjects.

At Rainham Mark Grammar School, the curriculum is designed to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Students are challenged to explore the depths of their chosen subjects, with a particular emphasis on languages, PSHE, sciences, and mathematics. The school recognizes the importance of a well-rounded education and encourages participation in a diverse range of extracurricular activities, including performing arts, sports, and music. Regular field trips and cultural exchanges provide students with unique opportunities to broaden their horizons and forge lasting friendships.

Beyond the classroom, Rainham Mark Grammar School offers a plethora of lunchtime and after-school clubs, catering to a variety of interests and passions. From the Ukulele Club and Guitar Club to the Film Club and Dungeons and Dragons Club, students have ample opportunities to explore their non-academic strengths and develop new skills. The school's dedicated pastoral care team ensures that each student receives the support and guidance they need to thrive, both academically and personally.

Rainham Mark Grammar School is committed to nurturing not only the intellect but also the character of its students. Through a holistic approach to education, the school aims to instill a strong moral compass, promoting empathy, respect, and open-mindedness. By fostering these values, the school prepares its students to navigate the diverse world of higher education and beyond with confidence and integrity.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Rainham Mark Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

Rainham Mark Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,567 pupils attend Rainham Mark Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mrs Agnes Hart.

Rainham Mark Grammar School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Rainham Mark Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Medway 11+ Information

In order to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School, children need to pass the Medway 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Medway 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Medway 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Maths
• Reasoning

Aspiring students who wish to attend Rainham Mark Grammar School are required to take an entrance examination known as the Medway Test. This assessment, provided by GL Assessment, evaluates the candidates' abilities across three core subjects.

The Medway Test comprises three separate papers, each focusing on a specific area of academic competency. These papers are designed to assess the students' proficiency in English, Maths, and Reasoning skills. The English paper likely evaluates the candidates' reading comprehension, grammar, and writing abilities, while the Maths paper tests their numerical understanding and problem-solving skills. The Reasoning paper aims to gauge the students' logical thinking and ability to draw conclusions from given information.

By assessing these key areas, the Medway Test helps Rainham Mark Grammar School identify students with the necessary academic foundation to thrive in their rigorous educational environment. Success in this examination is a crucial step for children seeking to secure a place at this prestigious grammar school.

Other Schools using Medway 11+

As well as Rainham Mark Grammar School, several other schools also use Medway 11+. These are:

• Chatham Grammar
• Fort Pitt Grammar School
• Holcombe Grammar School
• Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School
• The Rochester Grammar School

Medway 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Rainham Mark Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Medway 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Medway 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Rainham Mark Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Medway 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Medway 11+ tests (to get into Rainham Mark Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Rainham Mark Grammar School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Rainham Mark Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 24/05/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 12/07/2022, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

Rainham Mark Grammar School was inspected by Ofsted on 24 May 2022 and received an overall outcome of Good. The school demonstrated a good quality of education, with pupils benefiting from effective teaching and a well-planned curriculum.

The behaviour and attitudes of students were also rated as good, with pupils showing respect for one another and displaying positive attitudes towards learning. The school's provision for personal development was deemed good, with a range of opportunities available for pupils to develop their skills and interests beyond the classroom.

The leadership and management of the school were rated as good, with leaders demonstrating a clear vision for the school and a commitment to ongoing improvement. The sixth form provision was also rated as good, with students receiving effective support and guidance to help them progress to their chosen destinations after school.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Rainham Mark Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Rainham Mark Grammar School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Medway 11+ Ensure you double-check with Rainham Mark Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.