Dartford Grammar School for Girls Review 2026: A Century of Academic Excellence

When the official opening took place on 31 October 1904, Dartford County School welcomed just 75 girls to its Essex Road campus, with only two full-time staff and visiting masters for art and singing. Over 120 years later, Dartford Grammar School for Girls has evolved into one of Kent's most selective and successful state schools, educating over 1,000 girls from 11 to 18. The school's journey from modest beginnings through wartime evacuation and bomb damage to its current Outstanding status represents a sustained commitment to academic rigour and student care. With 47% of GCSE entries earning grades 9-8 in 2024, the school ranks 182nd in England for secondary performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 4% nationally and 2nd in Dartford. At A-level, 73% of grades achieved A*-B, with the school ranking 361st nationally (FindMySchool ranking). This selective grammar school admits only the top 25% of candidates through the Kent Test, creating a highly motivated peer group bound by strong academic expectations and a supportive ethos that feels distinctly collaborative rather than competitive.

The school occupies a purposeful campus on Shepherds Lane, where bottle-green uniforms and the six house system (Chartwell, Hever, Ightham, Knole, Leeds, and Penshurst) create immediate visual identity. The houses, named after historic buildings and estates in Kent, function as genuine communities within the school, fostering inter-house competition in academic, sporting, and creative domains. Walking through the buildings, you encounter spaces that reflect decades of investment: the technology block opened in 1994; the swimming pool built in 1975 still serves pupils daily.

The atmosphere combines purposefulness with genuine warmth. Girls move between lessons with focused energy, yet informal conversations with staff and between year groups suggest real relationships rather than transactional hierarchy. The school's principal values — Respect, Responsibility, Excellence, Dedication and Creativity — are not mere posters; they structure decisions about admissions, discipline, and celebration. An Ofsted inspection in October 2021 judged the school Outstanding, affirming that students are "guided and supported well in achieving very high standards of attainment." Mrs Sharon Pritchard, Headteacher since 2011, has sustained this culture of high expectation paired with care. The school's journey through wartime evacuation (40 girls and two teachers were evacuated to Devon between 1940 and 1942) and bombing appears embedded in institutional memory; there is a sense of resilience and gratitude for safe spaces to learn.

GCSE Performance

At GCSE in 2024, 47% of grades achieved 9 or 8 (the top two grades), compared to the England average of just 27%. A further 25% of entries earned grade 7, meaning 72% of all entries reached grade 7 or above. This is substantially above average. The Attainment 8 score of 75.3 significantly exceeds the England average of 45.9, indicating strong performance across a broad range of subjects. The Progress 8 measure, at +0.82, shows pupils make well above-average progress from their starting points (determined by the selective 11-plus entry process), a remarkable achievement given the already high-attaining cohort.

The English Baccalaureate — a measure of breadth covering English, mathematics, sciences, languages, and humanities — shows 79% of students achieved grade 5 or above in all five disciplines, well above the England average of 41%. This indicates the school's commitment to maintaining rigorous breadth alongside specialism.

A-Level Performance

In the sixth form, 73% of A-level grades achieved A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. A* grades represent 13% of entries, and A grades a further 29%. The school ranks 361st in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it firmly in the top 25% nationally and 2nd in Dartford. The cohort size is substantial — students are selecting from 20+ A-level subjects — yet standards remain elevated across all offerings.

The curriculum is ambitious and knowledge-rich. Girls follow a two-year Key Stage 3 compressed into three years, allowing early entry to GCSE study and deeper exploration of chosen subjects. The structure reflects the school's specialist designations: science (awarded in 2003 and renewed in 2007) and mathematics and computing (second specialism added in 2007) receive particular investment and staffing. Science teaching benefits from graduate specialists; the science department alone employs the equivalent of 16 full-time teachers, all with subject degrees, supported by five technicians.

Teaching follows what the school describes as a "knowledge-underpinned" curriculum, where facts, concepts, and procedures are interleaved and repeatedly revisited to deepen understanding. Lessons are structured around clarity of expectation: the school day consists of five one-hour periods, allowing uninterrupted teaching and learning. Staff across departments are experienced; turnover is low, and many have taught at the school for over a decade. This continuity creates consistency in standards.

The curriculum includes modern languages as a genuine strength. Girls choose from French, German, Spanish, Japanese, or Mandarin, reflecting the school's commitment to internationalism. Study visits and exchanges to Cambodia, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain enrich language learning with cultural context.

In 2024, 78% of sixth form leavers progressed to university. One student secured an Oxbridge place (specifically Cambridge); beyond Oxbridge, girls regularly progress to Russell Group universities including Edinburgh, Durham, and Bristol. The Raising Aspirations programme supports students entering competitive courses including Medicine, Law, Finance, and Economics. Many enter Higher Level Degree Apprenticeships, reflecting careers guidance that emphasises multiple pathways.

The sixth form culture emphasises both academic achievement and personal development. The motto Own Your Journey, Create Your Future captures the school's approach to student agency in sixth form years. Girls lead student-led societies, participate in the Electives Curriculum (additional qualifications beyond the core A-levels), and complete a Learning for Life programme focused on leadership and character. University applications receive targeted support, with clear guidance on the demands of different institutions and courses.

Music and Performing Arts

The school's music programme reflects the specialist status and Artsmark Gold Award recognition. Named ensembles include a Gospel Choir and Ukulele Club, alongside traditional concert and wind bands. Music lessons are taught by subject specialists, and girls at all ability levels access instrumental tuition. The performing arts benefit from dedicated facilities: the school houses a 25-seat music recital space, practice rooms, and a drama studio where student productions receive technical support and audience space.

Drama and Creative Production

Student-led drama productions occur multiple times per year, ranging from small ensemble pieces to large-scale musicals. Recent productions have included ambitious interpretations of classic texts, with girls both acting and taking on technical roles. The involvement of younger students as crew members and stage hands deepens investment in the arts beyond performance.

Sport and Physical Education

Sport is integral but not dominant. PE is compulsory for all girls, and the curriculum includes traditional team games (netball, tennis, hockey) and individual pursuits (swimming, trampolining). An open-air swimming pool, built in 1975, remains in regular use. Inter-house matches and fixtures create friendly competition. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award runs across Years 9-13, with girls completing Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels; these expeditions are embedded in the school calendar and encourage resilience alongside outdoor skills.

STEM and Technology

The school's second specialism in Mathematics and Computing drives sustained investment. Computing lessons use modern facilities with projectors and interactive boards. Girls engage with coding, digital design, and information technology as both subjects and tools. The science fair, held annually, celebrates practical science and includes outreach to local primary schools, positioning sixth formers as mentors and deepening their understanding through teaching.

Community and Service

The Philanthropic Society, founded in 1907, remains the oldest student society and continues its original mission. Every year, girls lead fundraising campaigns for chosen charities. Recent efforts include bake sales for Dementia UK, contributions to the NSPCC Numbers Day (raising £520), and sponsorship drives for Children in Need (£1,309.96 raised). The school celebrates these efforts formally, recognising students who demonstrate leadership in philanthropic ventures. This emphasis on service feels embedded rather than performative; the Sixth Form Philanthropic Representatives lead whole-school campaigns with genuine impact.

Leadership and Clubs

Sixth formers are encouraged to develop and lead their own clubs, creating student-led societies that shift with changing interests. The school lists clubs including Debating, Sign Language, Touch Typing, Knitting, and Cooking — activities spanning academic enrichment, practical skills, and pure recreation. Curriculum Enhancement days and weeks pause regular lessons to explore topics in depth, bringing external speakers and specialist practitioners into the school. The annual Humanities Lecture series brings visiting scholars; the school-wide Political Exercise is an important annual event where students engage in democratic processes around real social issues.

Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent Test, a standardised exam taken by 32 Kent grammar schools. The test covers English, Mathematics, and Reasoning (Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Spatial). Girls must achieve a total score of 332 or above and no single score lower than 107 to qualify. In 2025, the school offered 180 places with nearly 1,300 applications, creating fierce competition. If more than 180 girls meet the qualifying threshold, oversubscription criteria apply: first priority goes to looked-after children, then those eligible for Pupil Premium (free school meals within the past six years), then students living within the priority area (comprising much of Dartford and surrounding parishes including Ash-cum-Ridley, Bean, Swanley, and others). Beyond the priority area, places are allocated by Kent Test score, with ties broken by distance from the school.

The 11-plus examination demands sustained preparation. Many families engage tutors; whilst the school itself does not recommend tutoring, the selective nature of the entry means most applicants will have accessed some form of practice or coaching. Registration for the Kent Test typically opens in June and closes in July of Year 5, with the exam held in September of Year 6 and results released in October.

Entry to sixth form (Year 12) is open to external candidates. Internal students progress automatically if they meet subject requirements for their chosen A-level subjects. External applicants must submit their GCSE Statement of Results on results day in August and meet specified grade thresholds. Applications close at noon on results day, meaning the process is swift and competitive.

The school day consists of five one-hour periods, typically running 8:50am to 3:20pm. Clubs run at lunchtime and after school. Term dates follow the Kent calendar. Transport links are excellent: Dartford railway station is approximately 15 minutes' walk from the school, with connections to London and beyond. Parking on campus is limited during school hours but available in the evenings and holidays.

Selective entry demands preparation and carries rejection risk. Passing the Kent Test requires sustained effort, and many girls will have invested considerable time and sometimes money in preparation. Even those who pass the test may not secure a place if more than 180 qualify. Families should prepare psychologically for rejection and consider it a realistic outcome.

The school is girls-only for all of secondary school. This is not a limitation for all families, but girls who prefer co-educational environments should look elsewhere. The all-girls setting fosters particular dynamics: girls are visible in leadership roles, STEM subjects, and sport without navigating mixed-gender dynamics. This suits some families brilliantly; others prefer broader social preparation.

Bottle green uniform and house tradition create strong institutional culture. This appeals to families valuing visible community markers and tradition. Families uncomfortable with formal uniforms or house-based competition may find the environment rather formal.

The sixth form attracts external students, changing the community. Current students progress automatically if they meet A-level requirements, but the intake also includes 30-40 external girls. This creates vibrancy and diversity but also means the smaller sixth form community is less established than the main school.

Dartford Grammar School for Girls delivers academic excellence paired with genuine pastoral care, proving that selective grammar education need not be sterile or exclusively competitive. The school's 120-year history, including wartime resilience and sustained improvement, underpins an institution that feels confident without arrogance. Results place it among the most successful state schools in England; Ofsted Outstanding status confirms this is not exam results alone but quality of teaching, student wellbeing, and breadth of opportunity. Best suited to girls who thrive on academic challenge, value community and service, and fit the selective entry criteria. The main barrier is securing a place; those who do receive education that genuinely changes trajectories.