Fort Pitt Grammar School Review 2026: Excellence Rooted in History

Standing on Fort Pitt Hill overlooking the River Medway, the school occupies a site steeped in history. The Grade II-listed buildings date back to the Crimean War, when Florence Nightingale selected this location for England's first Army Medical School, and Queen Victoria herself visited to pay respects to wounded soldiers. Today, the historic Crimea Wing sits alongside a state-of-the-art science building, embodying Fort Pitt's philosophy of honouring the past while embracing the future.

Fort Pitt Grammar School is a highly selective state grammar school for girls aged 11-18, with a co-educational sixth form. Approximately 150 girls enter Year 7 each year through the Medway 11+ examination. With around 932 students across the school, Fort Pitt ranks 286th for GCSE performance, placing it in the top 6% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking). The school's values, Respect, Success, Aspiration, Resilience, and Collaboration, anchor all aspects of school life. Girls love coming to Fort Pitt, with attendance rates that are exceptionally high, and the school maintains its status as one of six selective schools in the Medway towns.

Fort Pitt Grammar School in Fort Pitt, Chatham has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. Girls move between buildings with quiet confidence, greeting staff by name. The campus is notably diverse, with architecture spanning from Victorian military hospital buildings to contemporary teaching blocks. The Music House and Crimea Wing remain listed buildings, with historical artefacts displayed for students and visitors alike, a tangible reminder that learning happens in a place of genuine national significance.

The October 2022 Ofsted inspection found Fort Pitt to be "a remarkable place to learn." Inspectors noted that the school is inclusive, friendly, and welcoming, yet immensely ambitious. Girls behave exceptionally well, displaying high levels of responsibility and independence. Relationships between students and staff are notably strong, with a caring and supportive ethos permeating the school. Bullying is rare and swiftly addressed when it occurs.

Under the leadership of Ms Salena Hirons (Head since January 2024), the school continues to build on its foundations. The school operates within FPTA Academies (Fort Pitt Thomas Aveling Academies), having been designated as a Leading Edge school, a National Support School, and an Initial Teacher Training institution. In 2016, it received recognition as a Champion School for the National Citizen Service programme.

GCSE Performance

Fort Pitt's GCSE results consistently demonstrate strong academic achievement. In 2023, approximately 41% of grades were in the top bracket (9-7), with 85% of all grades at 5 or above. An Attainment 8 score of 66.5 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 286th in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the top 6% of England's schools (FindMySchool ranking). Within Medway, Fort Pitt holds the top position among secondary schools. The English Baccalaureate is a priority here, with nearly 99% of Year 11 pupils entered across all EBacc subject areas, English, mathematics, science, humanities, and languages, ensuring a well-rounded curriculum.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form has earned particular recognition for A-level results. In 2023, nearly 60% of grades fell in the A*-B range, with over 25% achieving A*/A grades. 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. In the 2023-24 cohort, 58% of leavers progressed to university, 26% entered employment, and 5% began apprenticeships. Beyond these headline figures, destinations include prestigious universities across the Russell Group spectrum. One student secured a place at Cambridge in 2023-24, with additional Oxbridge applications reflecting the school's academic rigour. Many Fort Pitt graduates pursue Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Sciences at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, and Edinburgh. The school's Futures Programme ensures all students receive excellent advice and guidance for their next steps, whether university, apprenticeships, or employment.

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.

In 2025, the school received 670 applications for 150 places, reflecting an oversubscription ratio of 4.46:1. This level of demand means that passing the 11+ does not guarantee admission; places are allocated according to a published oversubscription criteria, with priority given to looked-after children, siblings of current students, staff children, and then distance from the school within a 2-mile catchment radius followed by named parishes.

The open evening for September 2025 entry runs Thursday 9 October from 5:30-8pm, with open mornings Monday 13-15 October (9am by appointment). Registration for the 2025 Medway Test closed Friday 13 June. Students sitting at Medway primary schools took the exam mid-September, with external candidates examined at test centres. Results were released Wednesday 15 October, enabling families to name Fort Pitt on their common application form by 31 October.

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. The school is oversubscribed, with four applications for every place. Families considering entry should 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. In 2024, the last offered distance at Fort Pitt Grammar School was 0 miles (around 4.46 applications for each place in the latest available data). Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Checking the exact distance from your address is essential 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.