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 1,542, including 629 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. However, no prior experience of the International Baccalaureate is needed, and the successful applicant will have the opportunity to undertake appropriate CPD as required. 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 , two Humanities from History, Geography and Religious Studies and a further option from Art, Drama, Music, Design Technology, 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 each year, 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 sub-jects 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). It is anticipated that the successful applicant will have a considerable sixth form teaching timetable. 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 2024, with a return to external examinations at both GCSE and IB Diploma level, students gained 78% of all GCSE entries at grade L7-9, and 71% of all IB Diploma entries at grade L6/7, respectively. The school’s examination results continue to be exceptional. A GCSE P8 score of 0.92 places Dartford Grammar School as the highest performing boys' school in Kent in 2024. Our sixth formers gained an average UCAS point score of 224 and an average IB point score of 36.2 in 2024. 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 92% of students successful at their first or second choice, 71% successful at Russell Group universities, 58% taking up STEM related courses and 2% progressing into higher level apprenticeship qualifications. Ofsted Inspections The school has been identified five times by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector as one of England’s most successful schools, showing a sustained period of outstanding achievement. Our most recent inspection report from December 2022, is on our website – as is our review from The Good School Guide.

Early Specialist Status In September 1995, the school became one of the first two language colleges in the country. The school is committed to internationalism. While maintaining its high levels of strength in all curricular areas, the school is established as a centre of excellence for the learning of languages, offering tuition in ten. Following the 2008 Ofsted inspection the school was awarded Science as this third specialism and more recently achieved an additional Specialism Quality Mark in Sport. These legacy benchmarks remain an indicator of our determination to be at the forefront of education nationally.

Today the school is a leading Confucius Classroom, a leading Japan Foundation and Goethe Institute school and has been reaccredited with the International Schools Award at the highest level. Dartford Grammar School was the Sun-day Times IB School of the Year 2017 and 2020, when it was also awarded the IB School of the Decade. We are currently The Sunday Times State School of the Year for 2025 in the South East. Furthermore, in September 2018 the school became a Hub of Excellence in MFL Pedagogy, a new government initiative to raise standards and uptake in languages. We are currently on NCLE language hubs (one of 15 nationally). The school’s reputation for collaboration has also been recognised through our new status as a National Hub of Excellence for Computer Science.

The school has been awarded ‘Teaching School’ status and takes the lead in initial teacher training across a local alliance of primary and secondary schools, providing additional professional development opportunities.

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 remodeling 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

Pastoral Support The school has a strong pastoral system operating from Year 7 to Year 13. The school is divided into Key Stage areas, 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. Pastoral support is underpinned by out Student Services team and our safeguarding teams. We pride ourselves on being an environment that really cares about our students and staff.

Extra-Curricular Programme The school is exceptionally rich in extra-curricular activities. It 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. The school achieves high standards in music, and has an orchestra, wind band, choir, chamber choir and many other ensembles. Drama productions are frequent.

The Performing Arts Faculty benefits from the facilities of the Mick Jagger Performing Arts Centre, a new recording studio, new art rooms and (in the Summer of 2025) a redesigned drama performance space. 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 cultural and sports trips, 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 international trips via Operation Wallacea.

External Links The school has a very active Parents' Association, which provides valuable assistance and support. The school has strong links with Dartford town, 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 and we play a leading role in IBSCA. The school is also a part of BASS (the Boys Academic State Schools) network, the IBSL (International Boys’ School Coalition) and GSHA (Grammar Schools’ Heads Association).

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 including our recently renovated school gym, and an employee assistance programme.

Becket Sports Centre and The Mick Jagger Centre for the Performing Arts 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, 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.