Head: Julian Metcalf
A highly competitive boys' grammar school in Kent with an Outstanding Ofsted rating.
0
Year 7 Places
0.0:1
Applicants/Place
Pass Mark
0
Pupils
Max Score
423
Qualifying Score
332
78% of max
Cutoff Score
372
88% of max
Applications
1,439
Offers Made
177
Catchment, then Score
Catchment area students get priority. Within catchment, places by test score.
Priority Area comprising Dartford Electoral Wards which pay council tax to Dartford Borough Council or live in the parishes of Ash-cum-Ridley, Crockenhill, Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Hartley, Hextable, Horton Kirby and South Darenth, Swanley, West Kingsdown
Local Authorities
Postcode Areas
Max distance: 3 miles
Sibling Priority
Pupil Premium
18 places
Appeals Deadline
2026-04-02
Process
Appeals heard online by Independent Appeal Panel. Must state grounds for appeal and provide evidence. Two-stage hearing with Stage 1 on 20 April 2026 and individual hearings 21-29 April 2026.
Waiting List
Waiting list maintained until August 2027, ranked according to over-subscription criteria and re-ranked as new applications received. Offers made from waiting list on 23rd April 2026.
1. Register
1 Jun 2026
2. Take Test
Kent Test
3. Results
15 Oct 2026
4. Offer Day
1 Mar 2027
A shared 11+ entrance exam used by 32 grammar schools, administered by GL Assessment, testing English, Mathematics, Reasoning. Three multiple-choice papers administered by GL Assessment. Each paper is 50 minutes. Uses Kent Test (PESE) for admission. 130 places for Priority Area residents, 50 places open to all addresses. Pupil Premium applicants need Kent test score at least 20 points higher than threshold. In-year applications require Cognitive Abilities Tests and written papers in English, Maths and Modern Foreign Languages.
Max
423
Qualifying Score
332
78% of max
Registration Opens
Registration opens for the 11+ exam
1 Jun 2026
Registration Deadline
Final day to register for the 11+ exam
1 Jul 2026
Exam Date
11+ entrance exam
10 Sep 2026
9:00am
Results Released
11+ results released to parents
15 Oct 2026
CAF Deadline
National Common Application Form deadline (set by each local authority — usually 31 October).
31 Oct 2026
National Offer Day
National Offer Day. All secondary school offers are released today.
1 Mar 2027
79.7
Attainment 8
Average achievement across 8 qualifications
99%
English + Maths 5+
Grade 5 or above in both
100%
English + Maths 4+
Grade 4 or above in both
99%
EBacc Entry
Entered the English Baccalaureate suite
7.97
EBacc APS
Average points across EBacc subjects
c
Avg A-Level Grade
Average grade achieved across all A-Level entries
Bar shows this school. Ticks mark the England state-funded average (grey) and the typical grammar-school average (indigo).
Grammar median computed from up to 163 grammars.
| Metric | Disadvantaged | Non-Disadvantaged | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 | 78.7 | 79.8 | +1.1 |
| E+M grade 5+ | 92% | 99% | +8pp |
| EBacc entry | 92% | 99% | +8pp |
Disadvantaged = pupils eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years, looked-after, or adopted from care. A small or zero gap is the goal — it means the school helps every pupil reach the same outcomes.
Eng+Maths 9-5
EBacc entry
Average grade: c
DfE doesn't publish the % at each grade band at school level — this is the school-wide average instead.
83%
Continued in education
HE + FE + other
82%
Higher Education
+14pp vs grammar avg
73%
Russell Group
Cohort destination breakdown
Destinations trend
Strongest at
Mathematics
180 entries
100%
+5.4pp vs school
English Language
179 entries
100%
+5.4pp vs school
Physics
159 entries
100%
+5.4pp vs school
Watch list
Combined Science
20 entries
0%
-94.6pp vs school
Insufficient subject-level data for ranking (need ≥5 subjects with pass rates).
Entry Requirements
Minimum point score of 52 for best 8 subjects, level 5 or above in English and Mathematics, at least a 7 in proposed Higher-Level subjects, grade 8 in Mathematics if proposed at Higher Level
Subjects Offered
Largest group: Asian (41.1%)
England avg ≈ 24%
≈ 16 pts below the England average — proportion of pupils whose family qualifies for free school meals (a measure of catchment affluence).
England avg ≈ 18%
≈ 18 pts above the England average — proportion of pupils whose first language is not English.
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form
Outstanding
Per-pupil funding
2025/26≈ £393 (-6%) below the English average
Most English state secondaries spend 75–80% of their budget on staff. Higher figures usually mean smaller class sizes; lower figures mean more spent on premises, supplies, or capital projects.
£4,642
Teaching Staff / pupil
£995
Educational Supplies / pupil
£453
Premises / pupil
Revenue reserve / pupil
£1,719
The school holds a surplus per pupil — money set aside that can absorb unexpected costs or fund future projects without affecting day-to-day teaching.
Total grant: £6,078,864 · 915 pupils funded
How the 2025/26 allocation broke down. Each stream is a signal about the school's intake — bigger deprivation / EAL / SEN top-ups indicate a school serving a more challenging cohort.
Basic entitlement
£5,117,330
Core per-pupil funding before any top-ups.
Pupil Premium
£82,775
Targeted funding for 77 disadvantaged pupils.
Deprivation top-up
£296,589
Aggregates FSM, FSM6 and IDACI deprivation bands.
EAL top-up
£61,158
English-as-additional-language premium — paid for pupils whose first language isn't English.
Prior attainment top-up
£2,189
Funding for pupils arriving below age-related expectations.
Notional SEN
£472,669
Earmarked SEN budget inside the schools block.
Lump sum
£142,484
Fixed per-school grant — size-independent.
Schools budget support grant
£58,498
Government pay-and-pension support grant.
National Insurance grant
£75,355
Compensation for the increase in employer NI contributions.
1,543 / 1,550(100%)
Subjects Offered
Entry Requirements
Minimum point score of 52 for best 8 subjects, level 5 or above in English and Mathematics, at least a 7 in proposed Higher-Level subjects, grade 8 in Mathematics if proposed at Higher Level
1:16.8
Staff:Pupil Ratio
100%
Qualified Teachers
2.58%
Absence Rate
2.87%
Persistent Absence
Becket Sports Centre with fitness gym, indoor courts and nets
Sports
Five rugby pitches, three outdoor cricket nets, four indoor nets, grass cricket square, artificial wicket, 60m all-weather track, six-lane long jump pit, high-jump fan, competition-grade throws cage, one indoor netball court, two outdoor netball courts, Becket Sports Hall
STEM
{"science labs":6,"IT suites":8,"technology workshops":2}
Arts
{"drama theatre":1,"music rooms":3,"art studios":2}
Library
Well-resourced library with study areas, computer access, and extensive book collection supporting curriculum and independent research
Capital Projects
Athletics facilities have improved significantly in recent years with new all-weather track and field facilities
Sports
Music & Performing Arts
Clubs & Societies
Duke of Edinburgh
true
Trips & Exchanges
Community Service
CAS programme includes volunteering at local primary schools
Uniform
{"suppliers":["John Lewis & Partners","Marks & Spencer"],"requirements":"Blazer, tie, shirt, trousers/skirt, shoes"}
School Meals
Hot meals are available in the school dining hall. Meals can be paid for online or by cash/cheque on the day.
Homework Policy
Students use personal planners and reflective journals for homework monitoring, with staff oversight of these planning tools.
Behaviour Policy
Promotes courtesy, cooperation and consideration, requires participation in co-curricular activities as non-negotiable, emphasizes self-discipline and positive relationships based on mutual respect.
Mobile Phone Policy
Mobile phones should not be used during lessons, but may be used at break times and lunchtime.
SEND Provision
SEND coordinator available, individual learning plans, exam access arrangements, pastoral support, liaison with external agencies
Enter your postcode to see directions to Dartford
Route 96 from Gravesend, Route 428 from Bexleyheath
Nearest Station: Dartford
Transport Info
School is accessible by public transport. Located on West Hill in Dartford with connections to central Dartford transport links.
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