Dartford Grammar School 11 plus: a parents' guide for 2022

Founded in 1576, Dartford Grammar School is one of the oldest in the county. Based in Dartford, the school has an excellent academic record, with virtually all GCSE students achieving grades 5-9 in the subjects that make up the English Baccalaureate.

The school has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, and has received the Sunday Times School of the Year award in 2017 and 2020, and the International Baccalaureate School of the Decade award in 2020 as well.

11 plus information for Dartford Grammar School

• Address: Dartford Grammar School, West Hill, Dartford DA1 2HW

• County: Kent

• Admissions info: [email protected], 01322 223039

• School type: boys’ grammar

• Number of pupils: 1,546

• Number of places in Year 7: 180 (approximate)

• Open day date: October

• Exam date: 8th September 2022 (for children in Kent primary schools) and 10th September 2022 (other children outside of Kent)

• Exam board type: Kent Test (GL)

Dartford Grammar School term dates

The school term dates for 2022-2023 are:

• Autumn term: 2nd September - 16th December

• Half term: 20th – 28th October

• Spring term: 3rd January – 31st March

• Half term: 13th – 17th February

• Summer term: 17th April – 18th July

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June

How and when to apply for Dartford Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School complies with Kent’s Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme. Your child will need to be registered for the Kent Test and complete the Kent Secondary Common Application Form in the year before they want to start school.

Registration for the Kent Test is usually open from 1st June to 1st July, and you can find more details on the registration process at kent.gov.uk. To apply to Dartford Grammar School, you will need to put the school’s name on the application form.

Dartford Grammar School 11 plus admissions process

Dartford Grammar School’s admissions are selective. Applicants take the Kent 11 plus test, known as the Kent Test, to be eligible.

The school applies oversubscription criteria when there are more applicants than available places, to prioritise:

• Children who are or have been in Local Authority care

• Children receiving ‘Pupil Premium’

The school also has a catchment area, and 90 places are reserved for pupils living within the Dartford electoral wards. You can find a map of the catchment area, and more information on the oversubscription criteria, in Dartford Grammar School’s 2022 admissions policy document.

The Kent Test 11 plus format and content

Applicants to Dartford Grammar School take the Kent Test. The test covers English, maths, and reasoning, and is used by most selective schools in the county.

The Kent Test contains three separate assessments:

• Section 1: English and maths – consisting of a five minute practice exercise followed by a 25 minute test for each subject (one hour total)-

• Section 2: Reasoning – consisting of two sections, one on verbal reasoning and one on non-verbal reasoning (one hour total)

• Section 3: Writing – 40 minutes plus ten minutes planning time

Sections 1 and 2 are multiple choice tests. Section 3 is a creative writing exercise, but it isn’t marked as part of the Kent Test and will only be used in ‘borderline’ cases by headteachers.

Kent County Council offers a ‘familiarisation paper’, and other materials to help your child practise, on its webpage for the Kent Test.

How to prepare your child for the Dartford Grammar School 11 plus exam

The most effective way to prepare for the 11 plus is by starting early and breaking down the different sections of the test into smaller, manageable parts. Encourage your child to get familiar with the different exercises, celebrate their progress, and work with them to improve any weaker areas. It’s also a good idea to prepare your child for exam day as this gets closer, with online mock tests to help them practise time management.

Your child may encounter different questions on the 11 plus to the ones they’re used to from school, so it’s vital to introduce them to sample questions and familiarisation materials that use the same format as the Kent Test. Some free 11 plus exercises are available online, but these won’t all be in the same style as the Kent Test, so make sure you’re choosing ones that will give your child an accurate idea of what to expect.

We can help

At Atom Learning, we have over 90,000 teacher-written practice questions and unlimited mock tests that mirror the format and structure of the Kent Test. We also offer live exam prep courses and lessons to help build their skills in a friendly, encouraging, and interactive way. You can start your 5-day free trial of Nucleus today to ensure your child is fully confident and prepared for the 11 plus.

We know how crucial this time is, so our team is on hand to support you and your family every step of the way. You can book a call with one of our Education Experts to ask any questions you may have about the Kent Test or preparing for Dartford Grammar School:

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