GSGrammarSchool Hub
GrammarSchool Hub
School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kent Kent 11+

Dover Grammar School for Girls

Frith Road, Dover, CT16 2PZ

A selective girls grammar school in Dover, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 872 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Community school Ages 11-18 Sixth form Kent Test · Dover Grammar School for Girls Dover Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #160
Year 7 places
140
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
Kent Test · Dover Grammar School for Girls Dover Test
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #160
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
Kent Test · Dover Grammar School for Girls Dover Test
Places in Year 7
140
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Ofsted ?
Outstanding

Overview

Dover Grammar School for Girls is a selective 11-18 girls' grammar school in Dover, with about 872 pupils and a maintained-school link to Kent County Council rather than a multi-academy trust. Its history page gives the school a rooted local character: centenary work has drawn on former pupils, staff and local historians, including memories of Dover County School for Girls in the 1920s and of wartime evacuation from a town then living under intense pressure.

DGGS presents itself through character as much as selection. The official site foregrounds student leadership, a house system, charities, the Past Pupils and Staff Association and a Combined Cadet Force. The curriculum menu also points to subject information, curriculum overviews from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5, spiritual, moral, social and cultural education, extra-curricular activity and careers guidance.

The sixth form has its own curriculum, support and wellbeing pages, post-18 destinations information, financial support and supercurricular, leadership and emerging talent programmes. That gives the school a rounded 11-18 profile: a smaller grammar than many in Kent, but one with a clear sixth-form pathway and a distinctive Dover story behind it.

Year 7 entry has 140 places and can be reached through either the Kent Test or the Dover Test route; only one successful route is needed. The school publishes Dover Test information and asks Dover Test questions to go through its admissions contact, while secondary applications follow the Kent process. Published measures include Ofsted Outstanding, +0.17 Progress 8, 91% grade 5+ in English and maths and 15.6% 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

Upload a photo, PDF or typed practice piece to get personalised feedback, specific improvements and the next skill to practise.

Open Creative Writing

Key points
Assessment route
Kent Test · Dover Grammar School for Girls Dover Test covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Writing task.
Places and demand
140 places in Year 7 and Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Results
69.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 56.7 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 15.6% AAB or better and 65.6% 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 Dover Grammar School for Girls, Kent, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
56.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
69.7%

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 Grammar School for Girls, Kent, and England. 70 60 50 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 Dover 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
Community school
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mr Daniel Quinn
Pupil roll
847 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
FSM ?
20.3%
EAL ?
10.3%
EHCP ?
0.9%

Extracurriculars

Combined Cadet Force

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 847 pupils; 843 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 82.2% Asian 5.8% Mixed 8.1% Black 2.3% Other 1.1% Unclassified 0.5%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Frith Road, Dover, Kent
Postcode
CT16 2PZ
Area
Kent
Exam area
Kent 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Daniel Quinn

School contact

School email
enquiries@dggs.kent.sch.uk
School phone
01304206625

Admissions contact

Admissions email
enquiries@dggs.kent.sch.uk
Admissions phone
01304206625
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
140 places
Applications listed
330 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
178 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Moderate (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
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.

Year 7 PAN is 140 for September 2027. Eligibility can be gained through the Kent assessment procedure or the Dover Test before the oversubscription order is applied.

There is no fixed catchment boundary. After eligibility and priority categories, remaining places are ranked by straight-line distance from home to school, with closest applicants higher priority.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Eligible girls in local authority care, previously in care, or adopted after state care are first in priority.

  2. 2

    Current family association

    Girls with a brother or sister in the same school at the time of entry are considered next.

  3. 3

    Health and special access reasons

    Priority applies where professional evidence shows a significant medical, health, social, or access need connected to this school.

  4. 4

    Pupil premium applicants

    Eligible girls registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years are considered next if the supplementary form is returned by 31 October 2026.

  5. 5

    Distance from home to school

    Remaining eligible girls are ranked by straight-line distance from the permanent home address to the school using NLPG address points.

Admissions policy

Kent secondary arrangements 2027-28: Dover Grammar School for Girls

2027 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry Alternative route

Kent Test

Two multiple-choice papers and a separate writing exercise.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice and written answers

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 ↗
September 2027 entry Alternative route

Dover Grammar School for Girls Dover Test

An alternative to qualifying through the Kent Test.

The school accepts its Dover Test as an alternative to the Kent Test.

Official test 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. Secondary applications open

    Tuesday 1 September 2026

    Past

  4. Kent primary pupils test day

    Thursday 10 September 2026

    Past

  5. Out-of-county Kent Test weekend

    Weekend of 12 and 13 September 2026

  6. Kent Test results

    Thursday 15 October 2026

    Past

  7. Kent secondary application deadline

    2 November 2026, Kent residents

    Kent residents apply through Kent County Council. Families outside Kent must meet their home local authority deadline.

  8. National Offer Day

    Monday 1 March 2027

  9. Dover Test

    A Saturday in September 2026

    The exact school-test date should be checked when the 2026 test-cycle form opens.

  10. Pupil-premium supplementary form deadline

    Saturday 31 October 2026

    Past

    Return the form if applying under the pupil-premium criterion.

  11. Kent application changes deadline

    7 December 2026

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

  12. Kent offer acceptance deadline

    15 March 2027

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

  13. Kent on-time appeal deadline

    13 April 2027

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

  14. Kent reallocation offer day

    27 April 2027

    Kent County Council reallocates places from waiting lists.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Choose a selection route

    Applicants can qualify through the Kent assessment procedure or the Dover Test.

    Open admissions
  2. 2

    Register for the chosen test route

    Use Kent County Council for the Kent Test, or the school online form for the Dover Test route.

    Check test route
  3. 3

    Submit the secondary application

    Name Dover Grammar School for Girls on the home local authority secondary application by the published deadline.

    Read Kent arrangements
  4. 4

    Return the pupil-premium SIF if relevant

    If applying under the pupil-premium criterion, return the supplementary information form by 31 October 2026.

    Open school admissions

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Kent secondary arrangements 2027-28: Dover Grammar School for Girls

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Outstanding

Latest inspection: 15 November 2013

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The latest report keeps the previous Outstanding overall grade visible, but the 2025 inspection judged each current area Good. The useful picture is a welcoming, ambitious school with high attendance, strong pastoral care, and clear improvement points around richer classroom discussion.
  • Quality of education: Inspectors found a broad, ambitious curriculum, usually well sequenced and taught by knowledgeable staff. Pupils revisit content and produce strong work. The main teaching weakness was inconsistency in using discussion to deepen pupils' subject thinking before writing.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Pupils enjoy school, attend well and behave calmly in lessons and around the site. The report describes polite, considerate relationships, with staff support available when pupils need it and a visible emphasis on mental well-being.
  • Personal development: The report points to a wide personal development offer: sports and performing arts clubs, the school magazine, careers guidance, reading for pleasure, assemblies and tutor time on social and cultural issues, plus a student-led equality, diversity and inclusion council.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders and governors were seen as knowing the school well and setting sensible development priorities. Staff valued professional development and workload awareness. The report also notes effective safeguarding arrangements and quick, accurate identification of pupils with SEND.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth-form students receive strong care and teaching, including A-level lessons that provide academic challenge. They read widely, talk confidently about learning, mentor younger pupils, lead through the school council and house system, and receive guidance on university, apprenticeships and careers.

Similar schools and comparisons

Nearby schools families also consider

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.

Shortlist comparisons

Compare Dover Grammar School for Girls with The Folkestone School for Girls Compare Dover Grammar School for Girls with Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School Compare Dover Grammar School for Girls with Highworth Grammar School

Explore this school in context

Best Grammar Schools in Kent

Compare 32 Kent grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Kent Test route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.

Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK

Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.

Best Grammar Schools in the UK

Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.

Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results

Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.

Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Dover Grammar School for Girls use?

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

How do I apply to Dover Grammar School for Girls?

1. Choose a selection route: Applicants can qualify through the Kent assessment procedure or the Dover Test. 2. Register for the chosen test route: Use Kent County Council for the Kent Test, or the school online form for the Dover Test route. 3. Submit the secondary application: Name Dover Grammar School for Girls on the home local authority secondary application by the published deadline. 4. Return the pupil-premium SIF if relevant: If applying under the pupil-premium criterion, return the supplementary information form by 31 October 2026.

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

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. Kent secondary application deadline: 2 November 2026, Kent residents. National Offer Day: Monday 1 March 2027. Dover Test: A Saturday in September 2026. Pupil-premium supplementary form deadline: Saturday 31 October 2026. 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 Dover Grammar School for Girls?

Dover Grammar School for Girls is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 15 November 2013.