Three Medway grammar schools set to go co-ed

Three single-sex grammar schools will start admitting both boys and girls from September 2026.

Chatham Grammar, Fort Pitt Grammar School, both currently for girls, and Holcombe Grammar School (for boys) in Medway will become co-educational after the government approved the change.

Tracy Coombs, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for education, said: "It’s a progressive step which will benefit all Medway children."

The scheme had been previously questioned by former grammar school head teacher and Kent education expert, Peter Read, who said the recent Medway Test results showed there was not a shortage of places for boys.

The council had argued the move would provide more spaces in the towns’ selective schools for boys, as there were not enough girls to fill the number of spaces, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Read said: “Chatham Grammar struggles to attract enough Medway girls to fill itself and Holcombe Grammar has the same with boys.

“Opening them both up means they can take on more Medway children, rather than taking on children from outside Medway to fill those places.

In a joint statement, the three schools said: "[We] know that our schools’ move to a co-educational model will ensure a more equal balance of grammar school places for boys and girls and support the council’s wider efforts to relieve pressure on school places across Medway."

The schools said: “We are now working with the local authority, our staff, families, pupils and each other to ensure a smooth transition.”

Medway has six grammar schools, and the three grammar schools will now be joining Rainham Mark as co-educational schools.

Two others, The Rochester Grammar School, for girls, and Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, for boys, will remain single-sex.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.