Dover Grammar School for Boys
99%
Capacity
899
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Dover Grammar School for Boys
Dover Grammar School for Boys stands out sharply against the Kent local authority average for Progress 8. While the LA average for secondary schools sits at -0.13, this school achieves a Progress 8 score of 0.54, placing it well above average nationally and ranking it 2nd out of 8 schools in the Dover area. That gap of 0.67 is significant and tells you this is a school where pupils make considerably more academic progress than their peers across the county. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 157 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 373 applications, with 198 of those as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of 2.38 reflects a strong local reputation, and 154 of the 157 places went to first-preference applicants. It’s a boys’ grammar school with a non-selective intake in terms of faith, and 20.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is a higher proportion than you might expect for a grammar.
Academically, the school delivers strong results across the board. At KS4, the Attainment 8 score is 59.1, and 93.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 79.5% hitting the higher grade 5 threshold. The EBacc average point score is 5.33, and 67.7% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. Progress in maths is particularly strong at 0.8, and English progress sits at 0.67. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.11, which is in line with the national average, and the average points per entry is 30.31, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C grade too, with 15.7% of students achieving AAB or higher. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted, and the school’s progress banding for KS5 is described as Average.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 awarded Outstanding grades for both personal development and behaviour and attitudes, while quality of education, leadership and management, and sixth form provision all remain Good. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 99% of respondents would recommend the school, and 82% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth form centre, and the school offers SEND support for dyslexia, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Clubs range from Model UN and Young Enterprise to coding and gardening. This is a school that suits families who want strong academic progress in a grammar setting, with a disciplined, high-expectation culture and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Astor Avenue, Dover, Dover, CT17 0DQ |
| Headteacher | Philip Horstrup |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 899 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.9% |
| School Capacity | 899 / 905 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 4 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.54)
453rd of 3,141
Nationally
77th of 461
In South East
2nd of 8
In Dover
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
38.9
'22/23
31.3
'23/24
30.3
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
2022/2365%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 123 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)65%
- FE college27%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Not sustained2%
- Sixth form college1%
- Employment1%
98% 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
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 60 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
1%
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)67%
- Employment22%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship2%
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- Sociology25
- Economics23
- History21
- Mathematics17
- Psychology17
- English Literature15
- Art and Design (Fine Art)14
- Biology13
- Design and Technology (Product Design)9
- Geography9
- Film Studies8
- Physical Education / Sports Studies8
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.
Ofsted Parent View
214 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed157
373
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
198 families put this school as their 1st choice (53% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:25
Source: dgsb.co.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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British84.1%
- Asian5.4%
- Mixed4.2%
- White (other)2.6%
- Black0.1%
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.
12
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
8
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 Dover Grammar School for Boys
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
Astor Avenue, Dover
Dover, CT17 0DQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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