

SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS
Robert Napier is a comprehensive secondary school with over 1000 students aged between 11-18. Every September approximately 180 students are admitted to Year 7. Late entry to Years 7-11 is determined by school assessment and any entries to Robert Napier Sixth Form is determined on GCSE results.
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Please see below the Determined Admission Arrangements for Robert Napier:
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​DETERMINED ADMISSIONS ARRANGEMENTS
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Download:
DETERMINED ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2026
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Download:
DETERMINED ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2025
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Download:
DETERMINED ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2024
CASUAL ADMISSIONS
If you are considering moving school and would like to apply for a place at Robert Napier, please contact the school first to ascertain numbers and the process of application. Below is the link to the Medway site for the in-year application form.
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Apply to move school | Apply to move school | Medway Council
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Please be aware that your child will need to complete baseline assessments and they will be asked for copies of their work from their current school to evidence their ability. This will determine which classes that they will be set in on their admission.
Parents have the right to appeal if a place is not offered and the school should be contacted as soon as possible.​
Parents wishing to apply for a place in a year group outside of the student’s chronological age should first contact the school to explain their rationale for their admission request. The school will, in accordance with the School Admissions Code, consider all requests and will respond to parents as soon as possible. If a request is accepted, it will be processed in line with the admissions arrangements, applying the oversubscription criteria for the school.
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SCHOOL
TIMES
Students must be in school at 08.25am
(TOTAL SCHOOL HOURS - 32HRS 30 MINS)
TIMINGS OF THE DAY
SCHOOL OPEN FROM
REGISTRATION/ASSEMBLY
PERIOD 1
PERIOD 2
BREAK
PERIOD 3
PERIOD 4
LUNCH
PERIOD 5
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
FROM
7.30AM
8.30 AM
9.00 AM
10.00 AM
11.00 AM
11.20 AM
12.20 PM
1.20 PM
2.00 PM
3.00 PM
TO
4.30AM
9.00 AM
10.00 AM
11.00 AM
11.20 AM
12.20 PM
1.20 PM
2.00 PM
3.00 PM
4.30 PM
STAFF
LIST
ART & DESIGN
MATHEMATICS
Mr T Bourne
Miss Z Bonneywell
Teacher of Art & Design
Teacher of Art & Design
CITIZENSHIP
Mr L Geary
Head of Department
CRIMINOLOGY
Mrs R Barber
Miss B Holsman
Head of Department
Teacher of Criminology
Head of Department
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Mathematics
Mrs E Keeler
Mr D Bartlett
Mr R Filtness
Mr R Leadbetter
Mr D Michael
Dr J Munn
Miss G Shepherd
Mrs L Taylor
Mrs S Thomson-Keohane
Mr V Ugwu
Miss L Yankova
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Miss L Spooner
Mr A Franks
Mrs J Johnson
Miss L Parker
Head of Department
Teacher of Design & Technology
Teacher of Design & Technology
Teacher of Design & Technology
Mrs G Lucho-Avendano
Mrs P DeJesus
Ms R Rosina
Head of Department
Teacher of French/Spanish
Teacher of Spanish
ENGLISH
PERFORMING ARTS
Head of Department
Teacher of Drama
Teacher of Music
Miss R Richards
Mrs B Barton
Mrs L Bates
Mr M Brooker
Mrs J Bouffard
Mrs C Callaghan
Mr L Geary
Mrs E Hasemore
Mrs J Jackson-Okoroha
Mrs A Kirby
Mr S Matthews
Head of Department
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Teacher of English
Head of Department
Miss A Gibbs
Miss C Walker
Mr T Wheeler
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & WELLBEING
Mr L Geary
GEOGRAPHY
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Mrs K Ashenden
Miss S Chaytor
Mr C Mitchell
Mr D Prescott
Miss A Smith
Head of Department
Teacher of Geography
Teacher of Geography
Teacher of Geography
Teacher of Geography
Miss V Browning
Mr A Backshell
Mrs R Barber
Mr H McKenna
Mr G Moynes
Mr B Raher
Miss K Smith
Mrs C Walsh
Head of Department
Teacher of Physical Education
Teacher of Physical Education
Teacher of Physical Education
Teacher of Physical Education
Teacher of Physical Education
Teacher of Physical Education
Teacher of Physical Education
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
PSYCHOLOGY
Mrs K Gregory
Miss B Eastgate
Head of Department
Teacher of Health & Social Care
Miss B Oxford
Miss B Eastgate
Miss B Holsman
Mr J Richardson
Head of Department
Teacher of Psychology
Teacher of Psychology
Teacher of Psychology
HISTORY
SCIENCE
Mrs C Parsons
Mr G Bouffard
Miss S Chaytor
Miss R Giocondi
Mr S Matthews
Mr C Mitchell
Mr M Waghorn
Head of Department
Teacher of History
Teacher of History
Teacher of History
Teacher of History
Teacher of History
Teacher of History
Mrs V Brooks
Miss K Basham
Mrs N George-Ramsaran
Mr B Hasemore
Mr M Hasemore
Mr T Massey
Mr R McLellan​
Mrs R Rattle
Mr J Walsh
Head of Department
Teacher of Science
Teacher of Science
Teacher of Science
Teacher of Science
Teacher of Science
Teacher of Science
Teacher of Science
Teacher of Science
IT & BUSINESS
Mr T Smith
Mr M Cole
Miss C Glaves
Miss L Yankova
Head of Department
Teacher of Sociology
Teacher of Sociology
Teacher of Sociology
Head of Department
Teacher of IT & Business
Teacher of IT & Business
Teacher of IT & Business
SOCIOLOGY
Mr J Richardson
Miss B Holsman
Miss B Oxford
Miss S Stevens
LAW
Miss B Oxford
Teacher of Law
EXPECTATIONS
& UNIFORM
UNIFORM
Our school uniform was designed by our current students and represents an era of success for Robert Napier.
Any departure from the school’s dress code will be challenged and may result in the student being isolated within school and parents being contacted to provide the correct uniform items. This includes false nails, trainers or hoodies. Repeat/persistent offences will be viewed as defiance and dealt with at the discretion of the Headteacher.
ALL UNIFORM IS AVAILABLE FROM EITHER:
THE ‘SCHOOL TIME’ SHOP
01634 831684
School Time, 87-89 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EE
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UNIFORMBASE
01634 407217
Uniformbase, Schoolwear House, 11 Railway Street, Chatham, ME4 4HU
EQUIPMENT
All students are expected to provide their own pen, pencil and ruler.
Students are also encouraged to have their own pocket calculator. If you have any doubt about the suitability of a calculator, please check with your child’s Mathematics teacher.
MOBILE PHONES
All members of the Robert Napier Community have a responsibility to ensure that the school is a safe place for all. As such, staff will be following a 'See It, Hear It, Take It' approach to mobile phones.
Mobile devices should not be used during school time and if a student's device is seen or heard, they will be required to hand it over to the member of staff present. Mobile phones will then be locked away in the Year Office until the end of the school day. Repeated occurrences of using mobile devices will result in parents being asked to collect them.
UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT INFORMATION
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ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY EXPECTATIONS
At Robert Napier we recognise that attending school regularly and on time has a positive impact on learning, progress and, therefore, the best life chances for our students. Excellent attendance and punctuality are the key for our students’ success, in order to prepare our students for their future adult life.
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In line with the Government and Local Authority Guidelines, we expect all our students to maintain an attendance level of 97% and above. It is the responsibility of everyone in our school community– Parents, Staff, Students and Governors to ensure they achieve this. Therefore, we monitor and review the attendance of all our students constantly. We encourage excellent attendance and punctuality for all students, by offering an environment in which our students feel valued and part of the school community.
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WHY IS ATTENDANCE SO IMPORTANT, AND HOW DOES IT LINK TO ATTAINMENT?
Logically if students are absent, they are not learning and are therefore potentially allowing their grades to suffer. This is important no matter which year group they are in. The process of education is life-long; we build on what we already know, therefore, absence from school can damage their future. Each year there are 190 school days which leaves 175 days for holidays, shopping, birthday celebrations and non-urgent medical and dental appointments. Therefore, the school is very unlikely to authorise absence for these reasons.
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As mentioned earlier our School Attendance Target is 97% or above, therefore, if your son/daughter attends for at least 95% of one school year they will have had less than 10 days absence.
ATTENDANCE OVER ONE SCHOOL YEAR:
If your son/daughter had: -
98% attendance = less than 4 days absent from school
95% attendance = less than 10 days absent from school
90% attendance = less than 4 weeks absent from school
85% attendance = 5 ½ weeks absent from school
80% attendance = 7 ½ weeks absent from school
WHAT IS GOOD ATTENDANCE?
Everyone is genuinely ill at some point, and this may lead students to miss a day or two of school, which is permissible, but that should be a very rare occurrence.
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Attendance percentages are not like examination results: an attendance percentage needs to be in the high 90’s before it can be considered good.
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The greater the attendance (95% or above) the greater the achievement (Grade 5 and above including English and Mathematics).
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WHY IS PUNCTUALITY IMPORTANT?
All students are required to be punctual to school, which is a legal requirement.
Morning- Students must arrive at school at 8:25am for morning registration at 8.28am. Students who arrive after this time will be marked `late.' Registers will close at 9.15am. Students who arrive after 9.15am may be classed as absent for that session. The main gate will be closed at 8.30am. Students arriving after this time will need to sign in at Reception.
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Afternoon- After lunch students will register in lessons at the start of period 5.
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Both attendance and punctuality will be monitored regularly, and concerns will be actioned by Pastoral Managers in accordance with their own procedures and, if necessary, reported to the Attendance Advisory Practitioner.
BEING ON TIME
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Gets your day off to a good start and puts you in a positive frame of mind, so that you can maximise your learning opportunities;
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Sets positive patterns for the future. You cannot expect to keep a job if you are always coming in late;
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Leads to a good attendance record and means you do not miss any morning notices;
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Leads to better achievement because you attend all your classes;
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Leads to understanding that school is important, and education is valuable;
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Helps you develop a sense of responsibility for yourself and towards others and is a sign of good character;
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Is respectful to your teacher and to your classmates and builds good habits for later in life when your employer pays you to be on time;
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Allows students to build positive relationships with their Form Tutor and subject teachers who will support them on their educational journey.
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Research shows that attendance and punctuality are the single most important factors in school success.
STUDENTS ARRIVING LATE TO SCHOOL
Students are expected to be in Form by 8:30am. Therefore, they should arrive no later than 8:25am to ensure that they have time to get to their Form rooms.
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If students arrive late to school, they are expected to attend a short lunchtime detention, which will act as a deterrent and encourage them to improve their punctuality. Students will still be able to get a lunch and have time to eat it.
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ABSENCE
Details of our attendance procedures can be found by going to our Policy and Procedures Page
Parents are reminded that they are required by law to inform us of a student’s absence on the first and any subsequent day that their child is off ill. This can be reported using email, calling the Absence Line, or the Year Team.
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TELEPHONE
ABSENCE LINE - 01634 851157 then select [OPTION 1]
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To talk to the YEAR TEAM - 01634 851157 then select [OPTION 2] Followed by
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Year 7 - Option 1
Year 8 - Option 2
Year 9 - Option 3
Year 10 - Option 4
Year 11 - Option 5
Please keep your message brief but include: -
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Name
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Form and Year Group
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Reason for absence
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studentabsence@robertnapier.org.uk
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If you fail to inform us by 8:30am, your child will be marked absent during electronic registration at 8:30am and you will receive an Arbor message from your child's Pastoral Manager. If your child’s absences are not reported it will be marked as unauthorised.
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Our school attendance target is 97% or above.
CATERING
LUNCH MENU
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Independent Catering manage our catering service in the school dining room, where students are offered a wide range of foods at breakfast, morning break and lunchtime. The available food ranges from pastas and salads to full cooked meals.
Students may prefer to bring a packed lunch.
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Independent Catering is delighted to be providing your child with a freshly prepared meal at lunchtime and providing great food at great value.
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We all know the importance of healthy eating to learning and our hot lunches provide, over the week, a nutritionally balanced meal which your children will love to eat.
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We have adapted our menus to make sure our suppliers can meet demand, whilst making sure our teams can work safely.
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PAYMENT
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There is a cashless card system for purchasing food in school- this can be topped up by using ParentPay. Students have been issued with a contactless payment fob. Parents/Carers can set any limit they feel appropriate for their child to spend each day in the school dining room.
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Limits can be set for morning break and lunchtime if required - you can even see what your child is eating online.
DIETARY INFORMATION
If your child has any specific dietary requirements, please discuss this with the school. All allergies are printed on the menu or held in our kitchens.
PARENT
PAY
CASHLESS CATERING
Food and drinks are purchased via our trust-e Cashless Catering Solution using a key fob.
Accounts can be credited via Parent Pay
ARBOR
APP
Arbor is a simple, smart and cloud-based MIS (Management Information System), which helps us work faster, smarter and more collaboratively as a school. The Parent App and Parent Portal mean we can keep you informed about your child’s life at school in a much more accessible way. Log into Arbor to see and update your child’s information, get live updates and make payments or bookings on the go! The Parent Portal works on Google Chrome (computer or laptop) and you can download the Parent App from the App Store or Google Play Store on your phone (Android 5.0; iOS 10.0 and upwards).​

