Dartford Grammar School 11 plus: 2024 entry guide

About Dartford Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School is a selective state school for boys aged 11 to 18, with a mixed sixth form, in Dartford, Kent. It was founded in 1576, making it one of the oldest schools in the country, and is consistently ranked highly in national league tables due to pupils' exceptional exam results.

Pupils at Dartford Grammar School study a unique curriculum based on the educational philosophy of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), consisting of the Middle Years Programme for pupils in Years 7–9 and the Diploma Programme for Years 12–13. Sixth form students also complete an extended essay, a study of the theory of knowledge and an exciting creativity, activity and service project (CAS). In 2020, the Sunday Times named Dartford Grammar School 'The IB Secondary School of the Decade'.

Dartford Grammar School aspires to be a 'learning community developing international citizens'. This is clear in its approach to offering an international education and it's the only school in the country where all pupils study two modern languages at GCSE (Mandarin Chinese/Japanese and French/German/Latin/Spanish). An extensive co-curricular programme promotes the importance of working with others and nurturing new abilities and talents, with an array of opportunities in STEM, sport, music, drama, creative arts, culture and outdoor education.

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

• Local authority: Kent County Council

• School type: boys' grammar with mixed sixth form

• Headteacher: Julian Metcalf

• Number of pupils: 1,450+

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 15

• IB results: 37.8 average diploma points

• GCSE results: 81.2% A*/A/9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01322 223039

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Open events: TBC

• 11 plus registration opens: Thursday 1st June 2023

• 11 plus registration closes: Monday 3rd July 2023 at midnight

• 11 plus exam date: Thursday 7th September 2023

• 11 plus exam type: The Kent Test

• Common application form (CAF) deadline: 31st October 2023

• National school offer day: 1st March 2023

How to apply to Dartford Grammar School

1. Register for the Kent Test

Dartford Grammar School uses the Kent Test to select pupils for entry in Year 7. The Kent Test is an 11 plus exam taken by 32 grammar schools in the county and aims to identify children in the top 25% of the ability range in their year group. Boys who are successful in the Kent Test will be assessed as suitable for a grammar school.

Registration for the Kent Test will open on Thursday 1st June 2023 and close on Monday 3rd July 2023 at midnight. You will be able to complete your child's registration on the Kent County Council website. If you are also considering grammar schools in Medway or the London Borough of Bexley, you will need to register separately because these schools do not use the Kent Test.

If your child is eligible for the pupil premium, they may be prioritised for places under the school's admission criteria. You will need to provide proof of eligibility and complete a supplementary information form (SIF) – available to download from the school website – to indicate this.

2. Apply for a school place

You will receive your child's results in the Kent Test after 4pm on Wednesday 18th October 2023. If they have achieved the pass mark in the exam, they will be eligible for a grammar school place. You can then name Dartford Grammar School as one of your preferred schools on your common application form.

Make sure to check the admissions policy for Dartford Grammar School before you complete your common application form. Passing the Kent Test will not be a guarantee of a place as more children reach the qualifying standard each year than there are places available. We've summarised the key points in the admission policy below.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2023. The form must be completed for your home local authority – i.e. if you live in Kent you will need to complete the form on the Kent County Council website. If you live in a different local authority, make sure to apply through the relevant website for that council.

What is the pass mark for the Kent Test?

Your child will receive four scores on the Kent Test. The results from the English, maths and reasoning sections will all be age-standardised to produce three separate scores, in addition to one overall (aggregate) score.

Children typically need a total score of 332 or more out of the total 423, with no single score lower than 108, to be eligible for a place at a grammar school in Kent.

However, achieving a particular score doesn't guarantee a place at a grammar school, as schools are usually oversubscribed with qualified candidates. We always recommend researching the admission policies for your target schools, looking at their oversubscription criteria and their catchment area. We've included the admission criteria for Dartford Grammar School below.

Dartford Grammar School admission criteria

Dartford Grammar School has 180 places available in Year 7. Children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names the school and who have been assessed as suitable for a grammar school will automatically be allocated a place. The number of remaining places will then be reduced accordingly.

If the number of eligible children who have applied for Dartford Grammar School is greater than the number of places available, the school will use oversubscription criteria. Boys will primarily be considered based on their home address and whether it falls within 'Zone A' or 'Out of Area'. There are up to 90 places in each section and boys will be ranked according to their combined test scores in the Kent Test.

Zone A applicants

This applies to boys who have passed the Kent Test and who live within the Dartford Electoral Wards (see 'catchment area' below). Up to 90 will be allocated in priority order:

1. Looked after and previously looked after children

2. Children who are eligible for pupil premium (up to 5 places) and whose primary residence is within the Dartford Electoral Wards

3. The remaining places will be allocated based on the rank order of boys' combined scores

Out of Area applicants

This applies to all other boys who have passed the Kent Test, regardless of their home address. Up to 90 will be allocated in priority order:

1. Looked after and previously looked after children

2. Children who are eligible for pupil premium (up to 5 places)

3. The remaining places will be allocated based on the rank order of boys' combined scores

Dartford Grammar School catchment area

Dartford Grammar School prioritises half of the places in Year 7 for children who live within 'Zone A'. This is an area covered by the Dartford Electoral Wards:

Brent, Bean and Darenth, Castle, Greenhithe, Heath, Joyce Green, Joydens Wood, Littlebrook, Longfield, New Barn & Southfleet, Newtown, Princes, Stone, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley, Swanscombe, Town, West Hill, and Wilmington.

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