Rainham Mark Grammar School

Infobox School2
name = Rainham Mark Grammar School
type = Selective grammar with Sixth Form
locale = Rainham
head_name = Headteacher
head = Simon Decker
city = Kent
country = England
students = approximately 1200
website = http://www.rainhammark.medway.sch.uk

Rainham Mark Grammar School (previously known as Gillingham Technical High School) is the only co-educational selective grammar school in the Medway, Kent, UK area. The school has around 1200 pupils between the ages of 11-18. It is located in Pump Lane, Rainham, and backs onto Thames View Infant School. The school has science school status and is a foundation school. The site occupied by Rainham Mark Grammar School is estimated at 14 acres, much of which is taken up by fields containing 3 football pitches, a softball pitch, a rounders pitch, and an all weather cricket pitch. A new Sports Hall is planned for completion in 2008, but as construction hasn't even started yet, this seems unlikely.

History

The school was formerly known as Gillingham Technical High School, and before moving to its current site in Pump Lane was located in Gillingham in Green Street. Its longest serving headteacher was Dr. Robin Keen, who was employed from the 1960s until 1997. According to school legend, when appointed he was the youngest headteacher in the UK. The current headmaster is Simon Decker.

Houses

There are six houses in the school into which students in years 7-11 are sorted: Aylewood, Brontë, Faraday, Newton, Rutherford and Scott. Brontë is the School's newest permanent house, with the first admission of students to the house in 1991.

In 2001, a seventh house was temporarily introduced for that year of entry only, called 'Pankhurst' (after 1900s suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst). This was due to massive oversubscribing which lead to an increased admittance in that year. This has since occurred again, in 2006.

The sixth form is allocated into alphabetical forms A through H, with an additional form 'P' for the Prefects.

Concerts

Rainham Mark Grammar School provides at least two concerts each year: a Christmas Concert and Spring Soiree. Other performances are sometimes staged as well, such as in 2006, when there was a special Classical Concert. Every year the school helps raise money for a specific charity with a "Rock 'n' Roll" show, where pupils and teachers perform in front of the rest of the school.