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Dartford Grammar School

Selective

National rank

14=

Rank last year

89.8^%

A-level

80.7^%

GCSE

Need to know

Head teacher Julian Metcalf

Attendance 97.2%

Gender of entry Boys

Send pupils* 8.4% *Special educational needs and disabilities

Total pupils 1,539

Pupils on free school meals 8.8%

Progress 8

Progress 8 is a measure of the development a school cohort/pupils makes from year 6 to year 11. The data used is from 2024. There will be no KS2 updates for 2025 or 2026 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is consulting on an improved version of Progress 8 and Attainment 8

WELL ABOVE AVERAGE

Our methodology

Results

Grade

43.9

22.9

A*/A

66.9

A*-B

89.8

Grade

9/8

60.4

20.4

9/8/7

80.7

Grade

Higher Level 7

Higher Level 6

43.9

Higher Level 5

22.9

Higher Level 7 and 6

66.9

Higher Level 7, 6 and 5

89.8

Diploma pass

Average IB points

36.4

What the school inspection says

“Pupils say that it is a ‘privilege’ to attend this exceptional school. Pupils learn to be polite, motivated, and hard-working individuals, who look after and care for each other. Leaders have ensured that pupils leave the school as international citizens, who cherish each other’s differences and viewpoints. Leaders carefully plan many opportunities for pupils to demonstrate active citizenship as leaders of school clubs and events [such as] the eco-council, badminton club and cultural day. Pupils, including those in the sixth form, benefit from expert and independent careers guidance, so that they can make well informed decisions about their next steps.”

Inspection

2022

In detail *

Read the full report

*Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgment in inspections of state-funded schools. A five-point grading scale, including a new “exceptional” grade was introduced in November 2025.

About the school

The school converted to academy status in June 2017 and has now established its multi-academy trust, the Areté Trust, calling for other schools to join it.
It was the first school in Kent to be designated as a science specialist school, in 2003, and now also has specialisms in maths and IT.
Philanthropic events are a key part of life, with fundraisers having included a sixth-form fashion show for the Sickle Cell Society and a bake sale for the Red Cross in Gaza.
The school is the home of the Thinking Hard programme, which was developed and showcased though the PiXL Club Partnership to challenge pupils in the classroom, based on high-impact learning strategies.
Sixth-form students are encouraged to develop and lead their own societies and enrichment clubs, including those for the lower school.
Dartford Grammar School was awarded State Secondary School of the Year 2025 in the Southeast 2025 and International Baccalaureate School of the Decade 2021

info@dartfordgrammarschool.org.uk

Telephone

01322 223 039

Website

dartfordgrammarschool.org.uk

Address

West Hill, Dartford, DA1 2HW

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