Ofsted: Outstanding schoolGrammar School trending_up High Demand emoji_events #1 in Kent public Top 1% UK

Dartford Grammar School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Julian Metcalf

corporate_fareDARTFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL

location_onDartford, DA1 2HW

language Visit Website phone 1322223039

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2022

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Students

1,516

trending_up

Attainment 8

79.9

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GCSE Rank

#1 in Kent

#24 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Dartford Grammar School is a Academy converter secondary school in Dartford, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Highly competitive: 3.5× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

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School Summary

Dartford Grammar School is an academy converter in Dartford, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of DARTFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL. The school has approximately 1,543 pupils on roll, of whom 9% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 79.9, placing the school #1 in Kent and #24 of 3,216 nationally. 98.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 81.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 2 A-level subjects.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 3.5× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

79.9

Grade 5+ E&M

98.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)81.0%

Entering EBacc98.90%

EBacc APS7.99

2024

Progress 8 Score

1.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

78.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc100.00%

EBacc APS7.83

2023

Progress 8 Score

1.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

78.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc100%

EBacc APS7.79

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.92

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

79.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc99%

EBacc APS7.93

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc100%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.75

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

74.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc99%

EBacc APS7.4

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.93

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

73.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc100%

EBacc APS7.27

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)99%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)99%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)99%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)99%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)99%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-level subjects offered2

2024

2023

2022

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

06 December 2022

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2022-12-06

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2008-05-21

Section 5 RTI Historic EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.6%(10 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,543 pupils. During this period, there were 10 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,543	10	0.6%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,544	8	0.5%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,537	6	0.4%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,539	15	1.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,543	17	1.1%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,514	10	0.7%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,516	17	1.1%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,516	17	1.1%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,531	19	1.2%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,534	26	1.7%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,533	21	1.4%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,544	1	0.1%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,546	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,549	4	0.3%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,507	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,507	7	0.5%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,510	14	0.9%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,468	3	0.2%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,471	7	0.5%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,474	18	1.2%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,482	7	0.5%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,483	16	1.1%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,485	7	0.5%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,415	4	0.3%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,414	12	0.8%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,413	8	0.6%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 31 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 30 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Physical Disability 8 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

7.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree77%

agree21%

disagree1%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree50%

agree38%

disagree8%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree31%

agree16%

disagree2%

don't know1%

not applicable50%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes4%

no96%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree47%

agree47%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree81%

agree17%

disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree69%

agree29%

disagree1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree66%

agree32%

disagree1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree78%

agree21%

disagree1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree80%

agree19%

disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree60%

agree34%

disagree3%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes99%

no1%

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