Dartford Grammar School
State Grammar School (Academy) · Est. 1576
Dartford Grammar is intensely competitive, brilliantly resourced, and globally focused. It perfectly suits a robust, ambitious boy who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is willing to throw himself into every aspect of school life — from mastering Mandarin to playing 1st XV rugby. There is no hand-holding here; the expectation is that boys will take ownership of their learning.
Kent's most fiercely contested grammar for out-of-county applicants — an IB World School and Language College with a phenomenal pipeline to Oxbridge and beyond, completely free of charge.
Loading map…
West Hill, Dartford, Kent DA1 2HW
Tuition fees
£0
state-funded
Places available
180
Year 7
IB/A-Level A*/A
66.9
%
GCSE 9–7
80.7
%
Best For
Robust, ambitious boys who thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment. DGS suits boys willing to embrace both academic intensity and school life — from mastering Mandarin to playing 1st XV rugby. Self-starters who take ownership of their learning will flourish here.
Watch Out For
The 'out-of-county bloodbath' is real — London boys from Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich need astronomically high Kent Test scores, not just a pass. The MFL emphasis is non-negotiable; boys who hate language learning will struggle. No hand-holding.
Entry Points
- Main entry at 11+ (180 places). Sixth Form entry for IB Diploma (co-educational). No 13+ entry.
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: Registration closes in early July of Year 5 — no late registrations accepted. The Kent Test in September Year 6 is the sole determinant. For out-of-county applicants, a 'pass' is not enough; you need scores in the top percentiles to compete.
Registration opens
Registration officially opens for the Kent Test via the KCC portal. Register early — spaces are allocated on a first-come basis for test centres.
CRITICAL: Registration deadline
Absolutely no late registrations accepted. This is a hard deadline enforced by Kent County Council, not the school.
Kent Test examination day
Candidates sit the GL Assessment Kent Test: English & Maths MC paper, Reasoning MC paper, and 40-minute Writing Task (appeals only).
Kent Test results released
Standardised results emailed to parents. You'll receive a 'grammar school suitable' or 'not suitable' outcome plus raw scores.
CAF deadline
Local Authority Common Application Form deadline. You MUST explicitly name Dartford Grammar School on your form to be considered.
National Offer Day
Secondary school offers released. DGS confirms places based on Kent Test scores and zone allocation.
Key Dates — September Year 7 Entry
Registration opens
Early June (Year 5)
Registration deadline
Early July (Year 5)
Kent Test
September (Year 6)
Results released
Mid-October (Year 6)
CAF deadline
31st October (Year 6)
National Offer Day
1st March (Year 6)
The Kent Test — What DGS Looks For
Admissions to DGS are entirely governed by the Kent Test, administered by GL Assessment. All boys take two multiple-choice papers and a writing task. The MC papers determine the outcome; the writing task is only assessed on appeal.
English & Maths
~50 minutes · Multiple choice
Spending too long on hard questions; careless reading under pressure; not returning to flagged questions.
Reasoning
~50 minutes · Multiple choice
Unfamiliarity with question types; overthinking obvious answers; running out of time on spatial questions.
Writing Task
40 minutes · Handwritten creative/persuasive essay
Over-investing preparation time; believing this will 'save' a weak MC performance; generic, formulaic writing.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: Premium
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — English & Maths
The pattern: Spending too long on hard questions; careless reading under pressure; not returning to flagged questions.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Speed and accuracy
What this means in practice:
Dedicate 60%+ of prep time to this area
Practice under timed conditions regularly
Review mistakes immediately after each session
Track progress weekly to spot patterns
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Speed and accuracy
English & Maths
#2
Pattern recognition
Reasoning
#3
Appeals safety net only
Writing Task
Academic Performance vs National Average
DGS consistently outperforms national averages across both GCSE and A-Level examinations. These animated comparisons show where the school excels and how this translates to university placement opportunities.
A-Level Results Comparison
Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average — Higher percentages indicate stronger performance
What this means: Camp Hill Girls consistently exceeds national averages across all A-Level performance bands. With 65% A*/A compared to the national 38%, girls achieve top-tier results that support progression to leading universities, including Oxbridge, Russell Group institutions, and specialist programs in Medicine, Law, and STEM.
GCSE Grade Distribution Comparison
Cumulative percentage achieving each grade threshold — Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average
Grade Distribution Insight: Over 90% of Camp Hill Girls achieve grades 9-7 at GCSE, compared to 31% nationally. This exceptional spread demonstrates consistent high achievement across the cohort, with girls well-prepared for rigorous A-Level study.
Grade 9-8
52%
vs 18% national
Grade 9-7
90%
vs 31% national
Grade 9-6
98%
vs 64% national
Grade 9-5
99.5%
vs 82% national
University Placement Implications
- •
Oxbridge Eligibility
Strong A-Level performance (65% A*/A) makes girls competitive for Oxford and Cambridge, particularly in STEM and humanities.
- •
Russell Group Admission
90% GCSE 9-7 achievement provides strong foundation for Russell Group universities including Imperial, UCL, Durham, and Warwick.
- •
Competitive Edge
Results place girls in top 5% of UK cohort, giving advantage in Medicine, Law, and competitive STEM programs.
Supporting Strong Achievement
- •
No Pressure-Cooker Culture
Excellence achieved through supportive teaching, strong pastoral care, and girls' intrinsic motivation rather than relentless pressure.
- •
Well-Rounded Development
Balanced commitment to academics, co-curricular activities (sports, music, drama), and character formation.
- •
Resilience & Confidence
Girls develop confidence to tackle challenging subjects and university applications without anxiety-driven perfectionism.
GCSE Excellence
90%
Grade 9-7 achievement (vs 31% national)
A-Level Top Grades
65%
A*/A grades (vs 38% national)
Top Achievers
42%
A* grades at A-Level
University Ready
99.5%
Grade 5+ across GCSE
Interview Process
Dartford Grammar School does NOT conduct interviews as part of the standard 11+ admissions process. Entry is determined entirely by Kent Test performance and zone allocation.
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 71+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
5 verified insider tips locked
Including 3 high-severity warnings other parents miss. Subscribe to read every tip in full.
- Timing windows other applicants don't know about
- Exam-day patterns and trap questions verified across 71+ sources
- Interview cues that decide marginal offers
Premium unlocks 2 schools, Elite unlocks 5.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Dartford Grammar School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
6 costly mistakes — and the fix for each
Most parents make at least three of these without realising. Subscribe to read every mistake and the corrective action.
- What to stop doing in the final 6 weeks
- The myth about practice papers that hurts most candidates
- Interview-day briefings that backfire
Premium unlocks 2 schools, Elite unlocks 5.
DGS vs Competitor Schools
How does Dartford Grammar School compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
Important context: Dartford Grammar competes with elite Kent grammars and attracts massive out-of-county interest from South East London. Its IB-only Sixth Form and Language College status distinguish it from A-Level-focused rivals.
| Factor | FeaturedDartford Grammar School | Bexley Grammar School | Judd School | Skinners' School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | State Grammar (Boys) | State Grammar (Co-ed) | State Grammar (Boys) | State Grammar (Boys) |
| Co-educational | ||||
| VR in Exam | ||||
| Annual Fee | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| 11+ Difficulty | Very Hard (out-of-county) | Very Hard | Very Hard | Hard |
| Interview Style | None | None | None | None |
Why Parents Choose DGS
- IB World School — globally minded educationSixth Form exclusively offers the IB Diploma, creating internationally-minded graduates prepared for global universities.
- Historic Language College specialismMassive emphasis on MFL, bilingualism, and international exchanges — unique among Kent boys' grammars.
- Elite sports programme (especially rugby)Notoriously strong rugby programme and excellent sports facilities for all-rounder boys.
- Phenomenal Oxbridge and Russell Group pipelineExceptional university destinations at zero cost — rivalling fee-paying schools.
Points to Consider
- Out-of-county competition is brutalA simple Kent Test 'pass' is not enough for London boys. You need top percentile scores.
- IB-only Sixth Form — no A-Level optionBoys who prefer A-Level specialisation must look elsewhere for Sixth Form.
- MFL commitment is non-negotiableBoys who dislike language learning will find the curriculum demanding.
Scholarships & Financial Support
Dartford Grammar School is state-funded with zero tuition fees. There are no scholarships in the traditional sense, but support is available for eligible families.
* As a state school, DGS has no tuition fees. Pupil Premium and bursary support available for eligible families.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Dartford Grammar School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
You now know more about this school than 95% of applicant families.
This is one school profile. ClassAce gives you the same intelligence for every school on your shortlist, plus a personalised preparation plan built around your child.
No credit card required. Free plan available.
Up to 5 schools fully unlocked
Premium unlocks 2 schools, Elite unlocks 5 — each profiled with the same depth as this page
Personalised prep plans
AI-powered learning plans built around your child's specific targets, strengths and weak areas
Verified exam preparation
Practice papers, topic drills and timed tests aligned to the exact format of each school's exam
Parent community
Connect with other parents navigating the same admissions journey — share and learn
Everything included in ClassAce
Full access to every piece of intelligence we've gathered — organised to give you an unfair advantage in the admissions process.
- Full insider intelligence on all shortlisted schools
- Unlock pass mark data and score benchmarks
- Personalised gap analysis for your child
- Exam practice papers matched to school format
- Interview preparation guides
- Real-time admissions calendar with reminders
- Scholarship and bursary eligibility calculator
- Peer comparison data from ClassAce families
ClassAce Premium
Browse every school profile for free. Premium unlocks full intelligence on 2 schools; Elite unlocks 5 — choose them from your self-study shortlist.
Create Free AccountJoin 12,000+ families already on ClassAce
Intelligence Score
Updated April 2026 · 71 sources