Dartford Grammar School for Girls
112%
Capacity
1,248
Pupils
7.0x
Demand
About Dartford Grammar School for Girls
Dartford Grammar School for Girls sits in the Kent local authority, where it ranks third among all state secondary schools by Progress 8 score, just behind its nearest neighbour, Dartford Grammar School, and The Judd School. It is one of 16 schools in the county rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its Progress 8 score of 0.82 places it well above the Kent average of -0.13. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 179 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 1,257 applications, with 384 families listing it as their first preference. That works out to roughly seven applicants for every place, and only 151 first-preference offers were made. The school is a girls-only state secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it has no religious character. Its headteacher is Sharon Pritchard, and it serves 1,248 pupils, operating slightly above its official capacity of 1,119.
Academically, the school’s performance is strong across the board. Its Progress 8 score of 0.82 is rated well above average, meaning pupils make significantly more progress than similar students nationally. The Attainment 8 score sits at 75.3, and every single pupil achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths (the basics 9-4 measure), with 99.4 per cent reaching the higher 9-5 threshold. The EBacc entry rate is 88.3 per cent, and 84.9 per cent of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the average points per entry is 41, equivalent to a B grade, and 24.4 per cent of A-level entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form value-added score is -0.16, which is below average, though the school’s overall sixth form provision was rated Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including science labs, an astro turf pitch, a gymnasium, art studios, tennis courts, a library, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include tennis, athletics, swimming, cricket, hockey, badminton, rowing, rugby, and basketball. There is also a substantial programme of extracurricular clubs, from film club and debate to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and Model UN. The school’s SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its high oversubscription and strong academic outcomes, this school is best suited to families who are confident their daughter will thrive in a selective, high-achieving environment and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Shepherds Lane, Dartford, Dartford, DA1 2NT |
| Headteacher | Sharon Pritchard |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,248 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,248 / 1,119 (112% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (20 Oct 2021): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 1 Sept 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.82)
177th of 3,141
Nationally
28th of 461
In South East
2nd of 10
In Dartford
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
42.6
'22/23
39.0
'23/24
41.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2390%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 177 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)90%
- FE college5%
- Sixth form college2%
- Employment1%
100% 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
2022/2375%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 175 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
36%
Russell Group
41%
Top-third HE
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)75%
- Employment14%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained3%
- Further education1%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics86
- Biology68
- Chemistry64
- Psychology62
- Economics35
- History27
- Business Studies:Single26
- Government and Politics21
- English Literature20
- Geography18
- Religious Studies17
- Physics16
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed179
1,257
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
384 families put this school as their 1st choice (31% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:20
Source: dartfordgrammargirls.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian39.6%
- White British7.8%
- Mixed6.4%
- White (other)4.2%
- Black0.2%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
10
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dartford Grammar School for Girls
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
Shepherds Lane, Dartford
Dartford, DA1 2NT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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