Thousands of practice questions and up to 6 mock papers, all in the exact Dartford Grammar School 11+ format, on one simple plan. It starts with a free diagnostic.
Thousands of practice questions and up to 6 mock papers, all in the exact Dartford Grammar School 11+ format, on one simple plan. It starts with a free diagnostic.
If you have a curious boy who likes thinking beyond the textbook, Dartford Grammar School is one to look at carefully. It is a selective boys' grammar in Kent, taking boys from age 11 and welcoming girls into its sixth form, and it is one of the oldest schools in England, founded in 1576. For close to 450 years it has taught young people from Dartford and the towns around it, but what marks it out now is how outward-looking it has become. Boys study either Mandarin Chinese or Japanese from Year 7, part of a genuinely international approach built around the International Baccalaureate.
Dartford was an early believer in the IB, becoming the first state school in the world to teach the IB Middle Years Programme. Boys follow that in the lower school and the IB Diploma in the sixth form, which gives lessons a broad, balanced shape and a real emphasis on thinking for yourself. The Good Schools Guide calls it "a high performing school with a global outlook," with a distinctive IB offer and warm pastoral care behind it. Beyond lessons there is plenty to get stuck into, from chess and drama to gardening, an eco council and rugby.
Dartford suits a self-motivated boy who will take to a wide, international education and enjoy ideas for their own sake. It is led by headmaster Mr Julian Metcalf, who joined in September 2021 having previously been UK manager for the International Baccalaureate. For the right boy it is a place to think hard, look outward and find his own feet.
No
Does Dartford Grammar School have a catchment area?
There is no strict catchment, but once a boy has passed the Kent Test the school splits places between a priority area near the school and an open category, so where you live can affect your chances if it is oversubscribed.
Dartford Grammar offers the International Baccalaureate rather than A-Levels at sixth form. In 2025 its post-16 students achieved a B+ average grade across their academic qualifications (43.45 points per entry)
Dartford Grammar School uses the GL assessment for its 11+ entrance exam.
No, there is no interview stage as part of the 11+ admissions process for Dartford Grammar School.
Dartford Grammar School is a single-sex school for boys from age 11. Girls are welcomed into its sixth form.
The official website for Dartford Grammar School is https://www.dartfordgrammarschool.org.uk/.
There is no strict catchment area for Dartford Grammar School. However, after passing the Kent Test, places are split between a priority area near the school and an open category.
A child first needs to reach the required standard in the Kent Test, then name the school on the Kent application form. Places split into a priority area for boys living in the Dartford wards and named parishes, plus an open category for everyone else. Within each, children with an EHC plan naming the school and looked-after children come first, then a set number of pupil premium places, then remaining places ranked by Kent Test score, with nearer homes preferred if scores tie.
Entry runs through the Kent Test, which Kent County Council manages, so they handle illness, not the school. If your child is too ill to sit the test on the set day, tell your child's primary school and Kent's assessment team as soon as you can. With a doctor's note confirming the illness, Kent can arrange for your child to take the test on a later date once they are well enough.
