A selective boys grammar school in Dartford, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,543 pupils on roll.
Dartford Grammar School
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At a glance
Dartford Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school for ages 11 to 18 on West Hill in Dartford, with a co-educational sixth form. Founded in 1576, it is one of England's oldest schools, but the modern identity is strongly international: the school's public motto-line is "a learning community developing international citizens", and its curriculum is built around International Baccalaureate principles rather than a conventional A-level sixth form.
That IB identity runs through the whole academic model. In Years 7 to 9, pupils follow the Middle Years Programme approach, developing subject knowledge through inquiry and the IB Learner Profile. GCSE study remains broad, with English, mathematics and science at the core, and the language curriculum is unusually prominent: all pupils start an Oriental language in Year 7, add a European language or Latin in Year 8, and continue both languages to Year 11. In the sixth form, students take the IB Diploma only, with no A-level route.
The wider offer supports the same international and whole-person emphasis. The school points to music, performing arts, languages and sport in sixth-form admissions material; its pastoral pages emphasise students being well known and supported; and recent school news describes a rich co-curricular programme with trips, national athletics success, sport, music, drama, art and clubs. A contemporary Sixth Form Study Centre gives the post-16 curriculum a dedicated base.
Year 7 entry is through the Kent Test, with 180 places. The school's 2027 procedure divides places into a priority-area category and an open category, with pupil-premium sub-priorities within each; boys must be assessed suitable for grammar school through Kent PESE before these rules apply. Recent outcomes are notably strong: the school reported 80.7% of 2025 GCSE grades at 9-7, while GOV.UK shows Ofsted Outstanding, +1.11 Progress 8 and 100% grade 5+ in English and maths.
Creative writing is tested in this school's current 11+ assessment.
A weak creative writing piece can leave a child short of qualification. 11 Plus Writing Coach helps families build steadier practice and clearer feedback.
From our 11 Plus Writing Coach site
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kent and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kent and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,543 pupils; 1,527 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| African | 24.8% | Black | 382 |
| Indian | 20.1% | Asian | 310 |
| White British | 10.8% | White | 167 |
| Any other mixed background | 9.3% | Mixed | 143 |
| Any other Asian background | 8.5% | Asian | 131 |
| Chinese | 5.7% | Asian | 88 |
| Any other White background | 5.5% | White | 85 |
| Bangladeshi | 4.5% | Asian | 69 |
| White and Asian | 2.8% | Mixed | 43 |
| Any other ethnic group | 2.6% | Other | 40 |
| Pakistani | 2.3% | Asian | 36 |
| Unclassified | 1% | Unclassified | 16 |
| Caribbean | 1% | Black | 15 |
| White and Black African | 0.6% | Mixed | 10 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.3% | Mixed | 4 |
| Any other Black background | 0.1% | Black | 2 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 2 |
Year 7 entry is through Kent PESE. For 2027, 130 places are allocated in the priority area and 50 places are available regardless of address; both categories use pupil-premium sub-priorities and score ranking, with distance as tie-breaker.
There are 130 Priority Area places and 50 places for applicants regardless of address. Both groups are ranked by Kent Test score, with pupil-premium sub-priorities in each category.
Category 1 Priority Area looked-after children
Within the 130 Priority Area places, looked after and previously looked after boys who live in the Priority Area are considered first.
Category 1 Priority Area pupil premium places
Up to 13 Priority Area places are reserved for pupil-premium boys with a Kent Test score at least 20 points above the Kent threshold.
Category 1 Priority Area score ranking
Remaining Priority Area places go to eligible boys whose total Kent Test score is at least 40 points above the threshold, ranked by total score with distance as tie-breaker.
Category 2 looked-after children regardless of address
Within the 50 all-address places, looked after and previously looked after boys are considered first.
Category 2 pupil premium places
Up to 5 all-address places are reserved for pupil-premium boys with a Kent Test score at least 20 points above the Kent threshold.
Category 2 remaining score ranking
Remaining all-address places are allocated to eligible boys by total Kent Test score, with distance used where scores are tied.
Admissions policy
Admissions policy 2027
2027 entry
Information booklet
Year 7 admissions FAQs September 2027
2027 entry
Score cut-off
Cut-off scores March 2026
2026 entry
2026
403
Initial offer score
Year 7 entry uses the Kent Test: multiple-choice English, mathematics and reasoning papers plus a writing exercise used only for headteacher assessment where needed. Scores are age-standardised.
Shared exam route
Dartford Grammar School uses the shared Kent Test route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Kent Test practice papersPaper 1
English, Maths
Kent Test English and mathematics paper
The first Kent Test paper has multiple-choice English and mathematics sections, each with a short practice section followed by a timed test.
Paper 2
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Kent Test reasoning paper
The second Kent Test paper is a multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Paper 3
Writing task
Writing exercise
A 40-minute writing exercise is not marked for the standardised score but may be used by a local headteacher panel.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
The second Kent Test paper is a multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
The second Kent Test paper is a multiple-choice reasoning paper covering verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Science
Kent Test registration opens
Monday 1 June 2026
PastKent Test registration closes
Wednesday 1 July 2026
Secondary applications open
Tuesday 1 September 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
Secondary application deadline
Monday 2 November 2026
National Offer Day
Monday 1 March 2027
Pupil-premium supplementary form deadline
Monday 2 November 2026
Email the form and eligibility evidence if applying under a pupil-premium criterion.
Waiting list maintained
Until August 2028
Register for the Kent Test
Register through Kent County Council during the 2026 test-cycle registration window.
Open Year 7 admissionsSit the Kent PESE assessment
Year 7 eligibility depends on gaining the grammar classification through the Kent PESE 11+ process.
Check test routeSubmit the secondary application
Name Dartford Grammar School on the home local authority secondary application by the published deadline.
Read admissions policySend the pupil-premium supplementary form if relevant
If applying under a pupil-premium criterion, email the supplementary form and eligibility evidence by 2 November 2026.
Open supplementary formLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 79.7 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 78.2 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 78.4 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 79.9 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This school does not have a published A-level trend in the local GOV.UK files, so we have shown the share of pupils getting grade 5 or above in English and maths instead.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 97.7% | 66.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 97.7% | 61.8% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 97.8% | 61.5% |
| 2024/25 | 100% | 97.6% | 61.3% |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 7 December 2022
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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FAQ
Dartford Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Register for the Kent Test: Register through Kent County Council during the 2026 test-cycle registration window. 2. Sit the Kent PESE assessment: Year 7 eligibility depends on gaining the grammar classification through the Kent PESE 11+ process. 3. Submit the secondary application: Name Dartford Grammar School on the home local authority secondary application by the published deadline. 4. Send the pupil-premium supplementary form if relevant: If applying under a pupil-premium criterion, email the supplementary form and eligibility evidence by 2 November 2026.
Kent Test registration opens: Monday 1 June 2026. Kent Test registration closes: Wednesday 1 July 2026. Secondary applications open: Tuesday 1 September 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. Secondary application deadline: Monday 2 November 2026. National Offer Day: Monday 1 March 2027. Pupil-premium supplementary form deadline: Monday 2 November 2026. Waiting list maintained: Until August 2028
Dartford Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 7 December 2022.