Dartford Grammar School is a selective secondary academy for boys, which admits girls to its sixth form. There are six forms of entry to Year 7, and all of the students joining the school are from the top 25% of the ability range. The students come from Dartford, neighbouring towns and villages, and nearby London boroughs. The current roll is 1,576, including 659 in the sixth form.

Curriculum Dartford Grammar School offers a unique seven year innovative curriculum based on the educational philosophy of the International Baccalaureate (IB). This begins with the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the lower school and then concludes with the Diploma Programme (DP) in the Sixth Form. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is offered around the world in 146 countries and we are proud that we are a leading IB World School, offering a truly international education. The IB courses are crucial to our ethos encouraging students to be independent, creative and highly successful lifelong learners. We were the first British state school authorised to offer the IB Middle Years Programme to pupils in Year 7 to 9. In Years 7 – 9, students develop their knowledge and understanding of their subjects through the skills based Middle Years Programme which is underpinned by the philosophy of the Learner Profile. In Years 10 and 11, students follow a broad range of academic GCSE subjects, including English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, either double or triple Science , and choose options from History, Geography and Religious Studies, Art, Drama, Music, Design Technology Engineering, Computer Science and Physical Education. We are the only school nationally where all students sit GCSE examinations in two Modern Foreign Languages, one from Mandarin Chinese or Japanese then either French, German, Latin or Spanish. Our innovative Creativity Week programme allows all students to enjoy a cross-discipline approach to their learning and develops independence and autonomy. In the Sixth Form we offer the IB Diploma to approximately 600 students, a programme that equips them with the key skills and a broad but deep subject knowledge to succeed in higher education or employment. The IB Diploma is recognised around the world and so allows students to access universities both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Through the IB Diploma, all students study English, Mathematics, a Language, a Science, a Humanity and either an Arts subject or a second choice from Languages, Science or Humanities. Students choose their six subjects from two levels of entry; three at higher level and three at standard level. Additionally students complete a 4000 word Extended Essay, as well as a study of Theory of Knowledge and an exciting Creativity, Activity and Service project (CAS).

Our entire curriculum, in line with the IB Learner Profile, encourages students to be internationally minded and aware of the importance of cultural diversity while embracing British values. Our curriculum offers academic rigor with the balance of a vibrant co-curriculum where all students actively participate in the wider life of the school. All of this is underpinned by our commitment to pastoral care and student and staff wellbeing. Students at Dartford Grammar School enjoy very high academic success. In 2025, students gained 81% of all GCSE entries at grade L7-9, and 71% of all IB Diploma Higher Level entries at grade L6/7, respectively. The school’s examination results continue to be exceptional. A GCSE P8 score of 1.20 places Dartford Grammar School as the highest performing boys' school in Kent. Our sixth formers gained an average UCAS point score of 213 and an average IB point score of 36.2. The L3VA will present the school as one of the highest performing sixth forms in the country for progress. Almost all Year 13 students proceed to university with 93% of students successful at their first or second choice, 78% successful at Russell Group universities, 68% taking up STEM related courses and 4% progressing into higher level apprenticeship qualifications.   Ofsted Inspections The school has been identified five times by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector as one of England’s most successful schools, showing a sustained period of outstanding achievement.

Buildings and Facilities The school, founded in 1576, has occupied its present site since 1866. Additional buildings have been constructed since then, the major works in last 10 years being listed below:

2008 extension of sixth form centre adding five teaching rooms;
2009 the remodelling of the Mick Jagger Centre, to provide additional teaching rooms and new laboratories and a Food Technology suite; 2011 new sixth form study suite; 2012/13 extended sixth form centre; 2013/14 new science department; 2013/14 new Key Stage 3 transition area; 2014/15 new Performing Arts Centre and rejuvenation of part of the Hardy building;
2015/16 new dining hall and additional laboratories; 2017/18 new sixth form centre; 2017/18 extension and improvements to the Arthur Jones pavilion; 2018/19 new school shop and print room facility; 2021/22 new fitness suite and learning support department 2022/23 15-year site masterplan developed 2023/24 new recording studio 2024/25 refurbishment of the library and sixth form canteen/study area

Pastoral Support The school has a strong pastoral system operating from Year 7 to Year 13. The school is divided into Key Stage units, and each year group has a Head of Year who oversees all aspects of the students’ development. The school provides 3 Higher Education Advisers and a specialist Careers Adviser.

Extra-Curricular Programme The school is exceptionally rich in extra-curricular activities. Over three hundred students are involved in the school’s musical extra- curricular provision each week. The school has two orchestras, a large and very successful Jazz band, three choirs, chamber music ensembles, a Windband, Strings, Woodwind and Brass groups and many student-led pop and rock bands. There is an annual Music and Drama production and very successful and popular Drama productions for KS3 and Ks4 students.

The Music and the other Performing Arts benefit from the facilities of the Mick Jagger Performing Arts Centre. It also offers 16 sports and competes with others in at least eight of them each year. Teams regularly gain county, regional and national success, and many students gain representative honours at one or more of these levels. There are many other clubs and societies, with debating always a popular activity. The school’s impressive programme of community service is regarded as a particular strength. The school benefits from many close links with Europe, China and Japan. There are regular overseas trips for Sport, a biannual Music tour to Europe and other international visits.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a notable strength: nearly all students in Year 10 complete the Bronze Award, with a majority going on to Silver. Gold Award expeditions take place in both the UK and overseas, while the school has also offered a range of international trips.

External Links The school has a very active Parents' Association, which provides valuable assistance and support. The school has strong links with local industry and with Higher Education. It has extensive links with many other institutions and is also part of the world-wide International Baccalaureate Organisation network.
  What the School Offers Teachers The school provides its staff with the experience of teaching able and well-motivated students in an environment with high expectations of behaviour and well-developed systems of teacher-support. The school has a national reputation for the quality of its programme of professional development. The programme includes much that falls within specific subject areas. Staff well-being is a priority in the school, and staff social occasions, staff football and staff badminton are all popular, as is our weekly staff breakfast on a Friday morning!

The school is committed to participation in initial teacher training. Other aspects include a course for Early Career Teachers, preparation for middle management, development of existing middle managers and preparation for senior management. While the school’s extensive programme of overseas visits give many staff international experience, the school ensures that its staff development has a further international dimension, for example in IB courses. Staff members have access to the school’s excellent facilities for sport and the performing arts.

The Mick Jagger Centre for the Performing Arts and Becket Sports Centre Out of school hours the facilities of both centres are shared with the local community. They are managed by school staff, reporting through independent management structures.

The Becket Sports Centre comprises a sports hall and a recently refurbished, fully equipped fitness studio, with a separate aerobics/training room, which has a sprung floor, allowing dance sessions to be held. The Mick Jagger Centre includes two auditoria (seating 200 and 350 respectively, both with retractable seating), 8 music practice rooms (used by the music department during the day), dance studio, exhibition space, two music rooms, a recording studio and a Drama Studio. It is a base for 20 community organisations and runs a small commercial programme attracting a range of talents and performers.

Website Further details of the school, including breakdown of performance figures, can be accessed through: www.dartfordgrammarschool.org.uk

Applicants are warmly invited to visit the school before applying.