Fort Pitt Grammar School Review 2026: Excellence Rooted in History

GCSE Performance

Fort Pitt's GCSE results consistently demonstrate strong academic achievement. In the 2024-25 / 2025 dataset, 85% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, with 98% achieving grade 4 or above. An Attainment 8 score of 65.9 reflects pupil achievement across eight qualifications, well above the national benchmark. The Progress 8 measure of +0.64 indicates that students make above-average progress from their Key Stage 2 starting points, outperforming similar pupils across England.

The school ranks 525th in England for GCSE academic outcomes out of 3,895 ranked schools (FindMySchool ranking). Within Chatham, Fort Pitt holds 1st place among secondary schools in the local ranking. The English Baccalaureate is a priority here, with 98% of Year 11 pupils entered across all EBacc subject areas and 62.6% achieving grade 5 or above across the EBacc subjects, ensuring a well-rounded curriculum.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form has earned particular recognition for A-level results. In 2025, 60% of exam entries fell in the A*-B range, with 30% achieving A*/A grades across 296 entries. The school's approach emphasises detailed preparation, with students selecting 3-4 A-Levels and having the option to complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Students in the sixth form are mature and articulate, engaging in exceptional discussion and debate about their learning.

Sixth form leavers from Fort Pitt progress along diverse pathways, including university, apprenticeships and employment. The school's Futures Programme ensures students receive advice and guidance for their next steps, with support for both higher education and vocational routes.

Teaching at Fort Pitt is characterised by ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum design. Well-chosen learning activities take students' learning beyond what is expected for their age. Teachers demonstrate exceptional subject knowledge and high expectations for every student.

The school operates an accelerated 3-year Key Stage 3 curriculum (Years 7-9), allowing additional time for Key Stage 4 consolidation. Subject leaders have carefully constructed their curricula to engage students and promote deep understanding. Teachers plan learning that enables students to embed and recall knowledge, with time purposefully built into schemes for retrieval practice and frequent exam preparation.

Students value learning and take deep pride in their work. They work hard and seek to develop deeper understanding and skills. Reading has central importance throughout the school, including the sixth form, with leaders cultivating a culture of reading for pleasure and ensuring pupils are introduced to diverse texts covering different cultures and experiences. The school's commitment to intellectual rigour is evident across all phases, with students encouraged to make mistakes, take risks, and overcome challenges as part of the learning process.

Fort Pitt maintains an extensive enrichment programme that encourages students to develop their talents and express themselves across multiple domains.

Music: A Defining Strength

The dedicated music block houses a wide array of instruments and musical equipment in comfortable practice rooms. Music permeates school life, with students engaging in formal tuition, ensemble work, and performance. The school's musical heritage is reflected in the listed Music House, which remains an active teaching space. Students participate in chapel choir, orchestras, and smaller ensembles, with performances occurring throughout the year. The quality of musical life at Fort Pitt reflects the school's recognition that music develops discipline, creativity, and confidence alongside academic learning.

Drama and Performing Arts

The main hall, facing the school's front and seating capacity of 70, serves as the focal point for performances throughout the year. Inspectors noted that activities enhance and extend the taught curriculum while offering opportunities for girls from different year groups to mix together. School productions provide platforms for performance, with many students engaging in drama clubs and theatrical activities that foster confidence and collaborative skills.

STEM and Technology

A state-of-the-art Science Centre comprising nine teaching laboratories and dedicated student work spaces reflects the school's commitment to hands-on scientific learning. Each lab is equipped with top-quality facilities enabling engaging, practical investigations. The science curriculum encourages pupils to develop deep insights into their subjects. Beyond classroom teaching, clubs and societies encourage students to explore technology and scientific thinking further. Computing features prominently, with e-safety integrated from Year 7 onwards and technology used extensively to support both learning and teaching across the school.

Sports and Physical Education

Students access a large playing field for outdoor sports, a modern sports hall equipped for five-a-side football, netball, korfball, and volleyball, plus four badminton courts. A hard court area serves netball and tennis. The school offers a full range of sporting activities within both the curriculum and extracurricular provision. Sports clubs include rugby, netball, badminton, and other competitive teams that represent the school in fixtures and competitions.

Clubs and Societies

Beyond formal sports and music, Fort Pitt supports a diverse portfolio of clubs reflecting student interests. The 11 Plus Swot guide mentions offerings ranging from Spelling and Puzzle clubs to Animé Club, Jazz Band, Film Club, and Creative Cake Making. The school emphasises that its enrichment offer is dynamic and varies according to staff expertise, with the goal of providing stimulating options for every student's talents and interests. Academic support clubs operate across all subjects, alongside leadership opportunities through student councils and house competitions that develop responsibility and confidence.

Fort Pitt is a selective state grammar school. Entry to Year 7 requires success in the Medway Test, administered by GL Assessment to identify approximately the top 25% of the year group. The test comprises English (Extended Writing), Mathematics, and Verbal Reasoning, with weighted scoring that emphasises written communication.

For 2027 entry, Medway's secondary transfer timetable opened on 13 May 2026, with the on-time application deadline on 31 October 2026, offer day on 1 March 2027 and acceptance deadline on 12 March 2027. Passing the 11+ does not guarantee admission; places are allocated according to the published oversubscription criteria.

For September 2027 entry, families should use Medway's current timetable rather than previous open-event dates. The Medway Test registration window opened on 13 May 2026, the on-time secondary application deadline is 31 October 2026, offers are released on 1 March 2027, and the acceptance deadline is 12 March 2027.

Late entry to Years 7-11 is considered through assessment and interview. Sixth form entry requires a minimum of five GCSE grades 4-9, including English and Mathematics, with students applying by specified deadlines and attending taster days.

Pastoral care at Fort Pitt is first-class. The school divides its 932 students into six houses for pastoral, motivational, and competitive purposes. Each house is named after an inspirational figure: Aderin (Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist), Angelou (Maya Angelou, poet and activist), Attenborough (David Attenborough, broadcaster), Kahlo (Frida Kahlo, painter), Mandela (Nelson Mandela), and Khan (Naushabah Khan, MP). Houses compete in academic events, sports, charity fundraising, and inter-house quizzes, creating a strong sense of community and friendly competition.

Within each year, students are organised into vertical tutor groups, creating close relationships between students of different ages. Inspectors confirmed that girls receive "very high quality of care and guidance that supports their excellent well-being and personal development." The school employs a dedicated student support team concerned with promoting personal and social development. Counselling services are available, and the school demonstrates continuing concern for students, encouraging them to be safe, successful, and fully participating members of both school and wider community.

The behaviour policy provides a clear framework of sanctions and rewards. All students understand expectations, and the school emphasises self-respect and independent decision-making within a safe, secure, and supportive environment.

School day: 8:30am to 3:00pm.

Facilities: The school benefits from a picturesque hilltop setting overlooking the Medway Valley, Grade II-listed historic buildings, a modern sports hall, playing fields, netball and tennis courts, a lecture theatre with interactive technology (seating 70), and the state-of-the-art nine-laboratory Science Centre.

Transport: Fort Pitt is centrally located in Chatham, with good transport links. Parking is available on-site. The school is accessible by bus from across the Medway area and wider Kent.

Grammar school selection pressure. Entry is competitive; parents should understand that passing the 11+ does not guarantee admission. Families should check the current oversubscription criteria and ensure their daughter is genuinely ready for selective entry and understands the expectations.

Limited flexibility in curriculum choice. As a grammar school with an accelerated Key Stage 3, the school offers a structured, traditional academic curriculum. Students unable to keep pace with the rapid progression or preferring vocational routes may find the environment challenging.

Sixth form co-education is new to many. While the main school is girls-only, the sixth form became co-educational in September 2013. Transition involves joining with boys in a mixed sixth form environment, which some girls experience as an exciting new phase and others may need time to adjust to.

Distance to school. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity can provide priority but does not guarantee a place. Families should check the current Medway admissions arrangements and measure the exact distance from their address before applying.

Fort Pitt Grammar School stands as one of Kent's premier state selective schools, combining rigorous academic standards with genuine pastoral care. The school's unique historical setting on Fort Pitt Hill, where Florence Nightingale pioneered military medicine and Queen Victoria paid her respects, creates a tangible sense of purpose and significance. For girls who thrive in a structured, academically rigorous environment within a selective framework, Fort Pitt delivers excellent results, strong university progression, and a genuinely inclusive community despite its selective entry.

The school is best suited to girls who have passed the Medway 11+ examination and live within the catchment area or named parishes. Success at Fort Pitt requires not just academic ability but intellectual curiosity, willingness to embrace challenge, and readiness for independence. For families seeking a selective grammar school education in the Medway area with demonstrated track records of academic achievement and authentic pastoral care, Fort Pitt merits serious consideration.