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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kent Kent 11+

Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Shepherds Lane, Dartford, DA1 2NT

A selective girls grammar school in Dartford, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,248 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form Kent Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #43
Year 7 places
180
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
Kent Test
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #43
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
Kent Test
Places in Year 7
180
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Outstanding

Overview

Dartford Grammar School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar school on Shepherds Lane in Dartford, educating students from 11 to 18. The school dates its provision of education for able girls to 1904, and its public identity is unusually clear: Respect, Responsibility, Excellence, Dedication and Creativity are repeated across the headteacher welcome, sixth form and vision pages. Around 1,248 pupils are on roll, including a sixth form that also includes a small number of boys.

The school presents itself as both traditional and forward-looking. Its vision is working together to achieve academic excellence and personal potential, and the headteacher's welcome stresses challenge, stimulation and a lasting love of learning. That is a helpful summary of the academic character: high expectations, but with creativity and personal development made explicit rather than left implicit.

Co-curricular life is treated as part of the education. The school says an extensive extracurricular programme enriches and extends the curriculum, and the sixth-form pages describe a personal, values-led environment with wider opportunities and strong A-level performance. Published examination information reports 2025 GCSE results with 75.63% of grades at 7 to 9, and describes A-level outcomes as placing DGGS among leading providers in Kent.

Year 7 entry is through the Kent Test, with 180 published places for 2027 entry. The test route includes English, mathematics and reasoning papers, with the writing exercise used for headteacher assessment where needed. The admissions policy reserves 100 places for girls living in the named priority area, after looked-after and Pupil Premium priority categories, before remaining eligible girls are ranked. Published measures show Ofsted Outstanding, +0.82 Progress 8, 97.2% grade 5+ in English and maths and 19.9% AAB or better at A level.

Illustrative creative writing prompt and feedback on ideas, word choice and structure
Inside Creative Writing
11+ Creative Writing Creative writing is part of this school's current 11+ assessment.

Practise 11+ creative writing

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Open Creative Writing

Key points
Assessment route
Kent Test: 3 papers, covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Writing task.
Places and demand
180 places in Year 7 and High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
97.8% grade 5+ in English and maths and 77.3 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 19.9% AAB or better and 81.8% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
77.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
97.8%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent, and England. 100 80 60 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kent and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Kent, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mrs Sharon Pritchard
Pupil roll
1,257 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
THE ARETÉ TRUST
FSM ?
23.9%
EAL ?
37.3%
EHCP ?
0.4%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Duke of Edinburgh

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,257 pupils; 1,254 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 11% Asian 41.5% Mixed 6.7% Black 38.1% Other 2.7% Unclassified 0.2%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Shepherds Lane, Dartford, Kent
Postcode
DA1 2NT
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Sharon Pritchard

School contact

School email
school@dartfordgrammargirls.org.uk
School phone
01322223123

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions and Administration Officer
Admissions contact
Mrs Balmer
Admissions email
c.balmer@dartfordgrammargirls.kent.sch.uk
Admissions phone
01322223123
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions

Appeals and waiting lists

A school admission appeal follows a refusal of a place. Use the school's current timetable and your refusal letter for the deadline. A test review, if available, has separate rules.

Read Kent result and appeals Official admissions / appeals Appeals directory
Year 7 places
180 places
Applications listed
1,269 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
428 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Pass mark note
For the 2026 Kent Test (2027 entry), grammar-school assessment requires an aggregate score of at least 345, with no individual score below 111. Qualification does not guarantee a place. School-specific alternative tests have their own standards.

DGGS offers 180 Year 7 places for 2027 entry through the Kent PESE route. The school reserves 100 places for priority-area residents, with pupil premium and looked after priorities applied ahead of that local category.

There are 100 priority-area places for girls living in the Borough of Dartford or the named parishes: Ash-cum-Ridley, Hartley, Crockenhill, Hextable, Eynsford, Horton Kirby and South Darenth, Farningham, Swanley, Fawkham, and West Kingsdown. Within each oversubscription criterion, girls are ranked by aggregate Kent Test score, with distance used only to break tied scores.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Girls who satisfy the selection requirements and are looked after or previously looked after are first in priority.

  2. 2

    Pupil premium applicants

    Girls eligible for pupil premium are next in priority if the supplementary information form and evidence are returned by 1 November 2026.

  3. 3

    Priority-area residents

    100 places are reserved for girls living in the Borough of Dartford or the named parishes listed in the policy.

  4. 4

    All remaining eligible girls

    The remaining places are available to girls regardless of address. Within each criterion, applicants are ranked by aggregate Kent Test score, then distance if scores are tied.

Admissions policy

Admissions arrangements for September 2027

2027 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry

Two multiple-choice papers and a separate writing exercise.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice and written answers
Scores
Age-standardised

Papers and timings

  • English and mathematics English · Maths Multiple choice
    60 min Includes two 5-minute practice exercises.
  • Reasoning Verbal reasoning · Non-verbal reasoning Multiple choice
    Approx. 60 min Includes practice sections.
  • Writing exercise Written answers
    40 min Includes 10 minutes for planning.

What the test includes

  • EnglishComprehension and literacy skills.
  • Maths
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
  • Writing taskUsed for headteacher assessment; outside the standardised score.
Official test guidance
Changes for 2028 entry
2028 entry · Quest Assessments

Quest Assessments will provide the Kent Test from the September 2027 tests for 2028 entry.

Kent County Council says the test’s purpose, structure and timing will remain unchanged.

Official 2028 guidance ↗

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

Kent Test test guide

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Kent Test registration opens

    Monday 1 June 2026

    Past

  2. Kent Test registration closes

    Wednesday 1 July 2026

    Past

  3. Kent primary pupils test day

    Thursday 10 September 2026

    Past

  4. Out-of-county Kent Test weekend

    Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026

  5. Kent Test results

    Thursday 15 October 2026

    Past

  6. Kent Test registration window

    During June 2026

    Parents must register with Kent Local Authority during June 2026.

  7. Pupil premium supplementary form available

    From September 2026

    The supplementary information form is available from the school website from September 2026.

  8. Pupil premium supplementary form deadline

    1 November 2026

    Past

    Return the form and proof of eligibility directly to the school by this date.

  9. Local authority allocations

    March 2027

    Parents are notified in March 2027.

  10. Waiting list closes

    31 December 2027

    The waiting list is maintained until 31 December 2027.

  11. National offer day

    Monday 1 March 2027

  12. Kent application changes deadline

    7 December 2026

    Deadline for on-time changes to Kent applications to be considered on National Offer Day.

  13. Kent offer acceptance deadline

    15 March 2027

    Kent residents must accept or refuse the offered school place by this date.

  14. Kent on-time appeal deadline

    13 April 2027

    For schools named on the original Kent application; check the school appeal instructions.

  15. Kent reallocation offer day

    27 April 2027

    Kent County Council reallocates places from waiting lists.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register for the Kent PESE tests

    Parents of girls in Year 5 must register online with Kent Local Authority, or request a paper form, during June 2026.

    Open Year 7 admissions
  2. 2

    Sit the Kent Test

    Girls who reach the required Kent PESE standard are eligible to be considered for a place.

    Review admissions policy
  3. 3

    Submit your secondary application

    Name Dartford Grammar School for Girls on the local authority secondary application form.

    Check the admissions route
  4. 4

    Return the supplementary information form if you are applying under pupil premium

    Download the supplementary form from the school website from September 2026 and return it with proof of eligibility by 1 November 2026.

    Check pupil premium instructions

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions arrangements for September 2027

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Outstanding

Latest inspection: 20 October 2021

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The 2021 ungraded inspection found Dartford Grammar School for Girls continued to be outstanding. Pupils show high ambition, strong work habits and excellent behaviour, with equality, diversity and rich extra-curricular opportunities woven through school life.
  • Quality of education: Leaders have built an exceptionally ambitious curriculum that goes beyond examination content. Expert subject leaders sequence learning carefully, teachers bring demanding ideas to life, and pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, achieve extremely well.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Pupils behave extremely well, feel safe and take responsibility for their conduct. Low-level disruption is very rare and dealt with quickly, while pupils' social-time conduct is mature and respectful.
  • Personal development: Pupils develop interests through gospel choir, orchestra, origami, trampolining, diversity representative roles, Black History Month assemblies and Duke of Edinburgh. Careers guidance is impartial and supported by external speakers and former students.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders, trustees and governors show a strong commitment to equality and social mobility. Staff feel listened to and supported on workload, and safeguarding routines, training and external-agency work are well established.

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Shortlist comparisons

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Related pages and guides

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Dartford Grammar School for Girls use?

For September 2027 entry, Dartford Grammar School for Girls uses Kent Test. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to Dartford Grammar School for Girls?

1. Register for the Kent PESE tests: Parents of girls in Year 5 must register online with Kent Local Authority, or request a paper form, during June 2026. 2. Sit the Kent Test: Girls who reach the required Kent PESE standard are eligible to be considered for a place. 3. Submit your secondary application: Name Dartford Grammar School for Girls on the local authority secondary application form. 4. Return the supplementary information form if you are applying under pupil premium: Download the supplementary form from the school website from September 2026 and return it with proof of eligibility by 1 November 2026.

When are the key dates for Dartford Grammar School for Girls?

Kent Test registration opens: Monday 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: Wednesday 1 July 2026. Kent primary pupils test day: Thursday 10 September 2026. Out-of-county Kent Test weekend: Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026. Kent Test results: Thursday 15 October 2026. Kent Test registration window: During June 2026. Pupil premium supplementary form available: From September 2026. Pupil premium supplementary form deadline: 1 November 2026. Local authority allocations: March 2027. Waiting list closes: 31 December 2027. National offer day: Monday 1 March 2027. Kent application changes deadline: 7 December 2026. Kent offer acceptance deadline: 15 March 2027. Kent on-time appeal deadline: 13 April 2027. Kent reallocation offer day: 27 April 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Dartford Grammar School for Girls?

Dartford Grammar School for Girls is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 20 October 2021.