Dane Court Grammar School
106%
Capacity
1,227
Pupils
3.3x
Demand
About Dane Court Grammar School
Dane Court Grammar School sits within the Kent local authority, a county with a strong grammar school tradition, and it competes with some of the most selective schools in the region. In the Thanet district, it is ranked first out of nine secondary schools, placing it firmly at the top of its local landscape. However, across the wider Kent authority, its ranking is tenth overall, with the top three peers — Dartford Grammar School, The Judd School, and Dartford Grammar School for Girls — all posting higher Progress 8 scores. This context matters: Dane Court is a standout performer in its immediate area, but it operates in a county where the grammar school bar is set exceptionally high. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary with a sixth form, and it is significantly oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 534 applications for 163 places, with 240 of those as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.28. That level of demand suggests local families see it as the clear first choice in Thanet.
Academically, the school’s results are well above average across the board. Its Progress 8 score of 0.69 is classified as well above average nationally, and it sits far above the Kent local authority average of -0.13. The Attainment 8 score is 68.6, and 95.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 93.6% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 6.53, and 86% of pupils entered the EBacc, with 72.7% achieving a grade 4 or above in that suite of subjects. Breaking down Progress 8 by subject, English stands out with a score of 1.07, while maths is 0.44 and the EBacc element is 0.74. The sixth form was rated Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection, and the school’s overall effectiveness is Good, with all other categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — also rated Good. The previous inspection in 2007 had rated the school Outstanding overall.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, gymnasium, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports offered range from rowing and martial arts to netball and hockey, and there is a broad selection of clubs including Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a gardening club. The school’s SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, visual impairment, and social and emotional mental health needs. With 20.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Dane Court is best suited to families in Thanet and surrounding areas who want a high-performing grammar school with a strong sixth form, a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, and a proven track record of adding significant academic value. The oversubscription figures make it clear that securing a place is competitive, so early preparation for the Kent test is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs, Thanet, CT10 2RT |
| Headteacher | Martin Jones |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,227 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,227 / 1,154 (106% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 May 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 6 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.69)
290th of 3,141
Nationally
50th of 461
In South East
1st of 9
In Thanet
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2386%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 174 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)86%
- FE college10%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2357%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 211 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
24%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)57%
- Employment26%
- Not sustained9%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed163
534
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
240 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British73.9%
- Mixed8.3%
- Asian6.8%
- White (other)5.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dane Court Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs
Thanet, CT10 2RT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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