School profile Verified 18 August 2026

Kent Private schools

Dover College

Effingham Crescent, Dover, CT17 9RH

Dover College is a private secondary-stage school in Dover, Kent, with a published age range of 2-18.

Private school Co-ed Ages 2-18 Sixth form Boarding school
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
2-18
ISI ?
Standards met
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Compare Official website Map

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Mixed
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
2-18
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Route check
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
ISI ?
Standards met

Overview

Dover College occupies the grounds of a 12th-century Benedictine priory, a setting that reaches back beyond its foundation by local businessmen on 15 September 1871. The co-educational day and boarding community now runs from age 2 to 18, with a Senior School and Sixth Form on Effingham Crescent.

Years 7 and 8 follow a connected curriculum built around English, mathematics and science, with history, geography, languages, PE, computing, arts and humanities alongside them. GCSE study usually includes seven to nine subjects. In the Sixth Form, more than 20 A Level and Level 3 BTEC subjects sit alongside individual pathways and the Extended Project Qualification.

Five houses structure Senior School life, while boarders live in four houses with single rooms; the boarding community has space for more than 100 pupils. More than 50 activities span sport, societies, adventure, arts and charity, including Round Square, drama, music and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Senior admissions are non-selective, with no 11+ system or entrance examinations. School reports and an interview with the Headmaster or a senior leader lead to a taster day. The relevant standards were met at the February 2024 routine inspection, leaving the priory, the houses and the broad activity programme as central features of the college's daily character.

Key points

Assessment route
Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
Places and demand
Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
Catchment
Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
Results
0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 25.5 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 23.1% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Dover College, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
25.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
EBacc APS
2.24
EBacc entry
0%

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 Dover College, Kent, and England. 60 40 20 0 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details

Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Mixed
Age range
2-18
Headteacher
Mr Phil Tattersall-King
Pupil roll
242 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Boarding
Boarding school

Location and contact

Address

Address
Effingham Crescent, Dover, Kent
Postcode
CT17 9RH
Area
Kent

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Phil Tattersall-King

School contact

School phone
01304205969

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions phone
01304205969

Admissions

Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
2-18
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
Boarding school
Day fees
Senior day tuition, Years 7-13
Boarding fees
Senior weekly to full boarding, Years 7-13
Scholarships and bursaries
Check school site
Entrance details
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
Admissions note
The admissions process requires registration paperwork and copies of the two previous school reports plus a birth certificate or passport; a non-refundable registration fee is also required.

The admissions process requires registration paperwork and copies of the two previous school reports plus a birth certificate or passport; a non-refundable registration fee is also required.

Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.

Oversubscription and eligibility

Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.

Exam and test format

Entrance route and assessment

Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.

Assessment route
Apply direct to school

Application

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply direct to the school

    Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

    Check school admissions

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
25.5 Attainment 8
GCSE results
0% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?
0% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?
2.24 EBacc APS
A-level results
23.1% AAB or better
A-level average points
27.29 A-level points per entry

Inspection

Standards met

Latest inspection: 4 February 2024

Leadership, management and governance
Standards met
Quality of education, training and recreation
Standards met
Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
Standards met
Social and economic education and contribution to society
Standards met
Safeguarding
Standards met

Quick summary

  • Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2024 records an inspection beginning 4 February 2024. The report says the relevant standards were met.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.

Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Dover College handle admissions?

Dover College handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to Dover College?

1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

When are the key dates for Dover College?

Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Dover College?

Dover College is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 4 February 2024.