Co-Education at Chatham Grammar

Chatham Grammar will become co-educational from September 2026, admitting both girls and boys into Year 7. This change is intended to balance the number of girls’ and boys’ places in Medway, and, over time, to allow more Medway students to attend a grammar school.

This change will also reduce pressure on non-selective secondary schools, ensuring that there are enough places for all Medway pupils whether or not they wish to attend a grammar school. Having more mixed grammar schools will mean that girls and boys places will be more evenly spread across Medway, and that students will not have to travel as far to go to school.

Please click here to view the letter regarding our co-educational movement.

Working towards Co-Education

We have been working hard to enforce and advertise our co-educational movement to students, parents and staff around Medway. Here are some examples of what Chatham Grammar have done so far:

  • CG staff have had the pleasure of visiting local schools to share how we can collaborate to support their students, parents, and staff. These visits have provided a valuable opportunity to introduce our specialist resources, offer insights into our unique school environment, and build connections as we transition to a co-educational setting.

  • Students at several local schools have had the opportunity to learn more about CG and experience aspects of school life through a variety of activities. These have included engaging clubs, interactive visits, taster classes, and exciting opportunities to collaborate with our esteemed partners, The Crusaders and Chelsea.

  • CG staff delivered an informative 11+ presentation to both staff and parents, providing a clear overview of the Medway Test process and answering any questions they had. The session also offered insights into our transition to a co-educational environment and how we aim to support families through this important stage.

  • The Chatham Grammar Experience offered after-school workshops where students enjoyed subject-specific sessions in areas such as PE, Textiles, Art, Science, Technology, Geography, English, Drama, and Maths—offering them a first-hand experience of life at CG and a glimpse into the exciting and enriching activities that await them. These sessions have also provided valuable opportunities for parents to ask questions about the 11+ process and admissions to CG.

  • Year 4 and 5 students recently took part in an 11+ familiarisation workshop, giving them a clear understanding of the test format and what to expect on the day. The session also offered practical preparation strategies and useful tips to help them approach the test with confidence and perform to the best of their ability.

Please see some of the schools our staff have visited on the map below:

Keep an eye out for invitations to our upcoming Year 5 daytime workshops, taking place later this term! These sessions are designed for students registered for the 11+ tests, offering them an exciting opportunity to experience life at CG through a variety of engaging activities in Art, Technology, ICT, and Science.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Students who joined the school prior to September 2026 will see no changes to their educational experience. Their classes will remain single sex, and the curriculum will continue as originally planned. In-year admissions will also remain single sex for these specific year groups.

    Our high expectations for academic performance and behaviour will continue to apply to all students, regardless of gender. Our staff are experienced in teaching co-educational settings and in addition to this, our Leadership team have a wealth of experience of leading in co-educational schools.

  • Aside from the inclusion of boys in the application process, the current admissions criteria will remain unchanged.

  • The gender composition of year groups will vary annually and cannot be predetermined. Admissions will continue to be managed by Medway Council and based on Medway Test results, our published admissions criteria, and the number and nature of applications received.

  • Yes. From September 2026 onwards, all new students—regardless of gender—will wear the new school uniform.

  • Yes. Construction will begin in the 2025/26 academic year to provide dedicated toilet and changing facilities for male students.

  • Currently, most trips are organised within individual year groups and will remain unchanged.

    International trips that span multiple year groups will continue to be available to all eligible students. This includes boys in the lower school and those in Sixth Form.
    Our extra-curricular programme will continue to evolve, with new clubs and activities regularly introduced to reflect the interests of our students.

  • We remain committed to delivering an ambitious broad and balanced curriculum. All subjects undergo an annual review to ensure they continue to meet the needs of our student body.