Dartford Grammar School for Girls 11 plus is a well known grammar route in Dartford, Kent, and it often suits families who want a focused academic environment with a strong sixth form pathway. The school is close to Dartford Station, so the commute can feel very doable for many families across North West Kent and nearby London areas.
Most families feel calmer once two things are clear. First, Dartford Grammar School for Girls admissions is a two part admin process. You register for the Kent Test so your child can be assessed, then you apply through your home local authority to be considered for an offer. Second, places are not offered just because a child is selective. When the number of eligible children is higher than the number of places, the oversubscription rules decide who is offered a place.
A useful early step is to put your whole grammar school application UK timeline on one page so deadlines do not sneak up when Year 6 gets busy: grammar school application UK timeline.
| Key detail | Information |
| School type | Girls grammar school, ages 11 to 18 |
| Location | Shepherds Ln, Dartford DA1 2NT, United Kingdom |
| Year 7 places | 180 |
| Entry route | Kent Test selective assessment |
| Priority area | Borough of Dartford plus named parishes listed in the admissions policy |
| Location |
For the clearest published rules, the school’s Year 7 admissions policy and oversubscription arrangements for September 2026 entry explains eligibility, ranking, and how distance is measured.
The easiest way to think about Dartford Grammar School for Girls admissions is as a sequence of small tasks, with one calm folder for logins, emails, and confirmations.
Your child must be registered for the Kent Test within the published registration window. The dates for this year are set out clearly in the Kent Test registration update, which is worth reading once carefully and then turning into a simple checklist.
Kent Test registration is not the same as applying for a school place. Your actual school preferences are submitted through your home local authority. Kent County Council explains timings in this starting secondary school in Kent timeline update.
The Kent Test determines whether your child is assessed as selective. That selective decision is what makes a child eligible to be considered by grammar schools in Kent.
When there are more eligible applicants than places, Dartford Grammar School for Girls applies a priority order. It first considers children in care and previously in care, then girls eligible for Pupil Premium, then a set number of places for girls living in the priority area, followed by remaining eligible applicants outside the priority area.
Within each priority group, applicants are ranked by highest aggregate Kent Test score. Distance is used only as a tie break, and if scores and distance are still tied, an independent random selection is used.
Offers are sent on national offer day through your home local authority. If you do not receive the offer you hoped for, next steps usually include waiting list placement, checking address and preference details, and considering an appeal only where there is a clear rules based reason.
| Milestone | Date |
| Kent Test registration opens | 2 June 2025 |
| Kent Test registration closes | 1 July 2025 |
| Kent Test date (Kent primary pupils) | 11 September 2025 |
| Kent Test assessment decision sent | 16 October 2025 |
| Secondary application opens | 1 September 2025 |
| Secondary application deadline | 31 October 2025 |
| Pupil Premium supplementary form deadline | 1 November 2025 |
| National offer day | 2 March 2026 |
| Appeal deadline (first tranche) | 2 April 2026 |
The school uses a priority area approach rather than a simple distance only model. Eligible children are considered first within the priority area allocation before places are offered to eligible children outside it.
Distance is measured as a straight line, not travel time, and is only used as a tie break when applicants are otherwise equal on priority and score. Keeping address evidence consistent across Kent Test registration and local authority applications helps avoid later issues, especially if a family moves during Year 6.
Entry is through the Kent Test selective assessment. Preparation tends to work best when it focuses on method, question familiarity, and calm timed practice rather than trying to cover every possible topic.
For bright but anxious children, routine often matters more than volume. Familiar formats, short timed sets, and careful review usually build confidence faster than long sessions.
Appeals are a structured process based on rules and evidence, not a personal plea. A sensible starting point is reading the school admission appeals guidance from the Advisory Centre for Education. Many families accept the offered place, join waiting lists, and appeal only where there is a clear reason that fits the admissions code.
The Kent Test assesses grammar school suitability through a mix of English, maths, and reasoning. Most children do best when question types are learned early and speed is added only after accuracy is secure.
Official style familiarisation can help multiple choice layouts feel normal early on. GL Assessment free familiarisation materials are often used for this stage.
Preparation works best when it feels like training rather than judgement. The key themes for this route are strong reading comprehension, maths fluency, verbal reasoning technique, and timed multiple choice routines.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor FYT focused on Dartford Grammar School for Girls. It benchmarks your child’s current level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured Dartford Grammar School for Girls Places with Find Your Tutor.
It is the Kent Test, with key dates set out in the key dates table above. Build preparation so your child peaks in late summer rather than burning out in spring. Keep the final week light with short warm ups and early nights.
The Dartford Grammar School for Girls entrance exam route is the Kent Test. It includes English and maths skills plus reasoning style questions. Preparation should focus on question types, timing, and calm accuracy.
Yes. Test registration is a separate step from the secondary school application. Put the registration deadline in your calendar early so it does not get lost in Year 5.
Yes. Sitting the test alone cannot lead to an offer. Your preference list is what allows the coordinated admissions system to consider you.
Yes, you can apply, and eligible children are considered from any address. Priority area places are considered first, then remaining places are offered to eligible applicants outside the area. It helps to be realistic and to include sensible backup preferences.
It means your child has met the Kent Test standard for grammar assessment. That makes them eligible to be considered by grammar schools. It does not guarantee an offer at any one school.
The school applies its published priority order. Inside a priority group, applicants are ranked by Kent Test score. Distance is then used as a tie break.
It is measured as a straight line measurement from the home address to the school using the method described in the admissions policy. Travel time and route do not affect the measurement. Keep your address evidence organised in case it is requested.
The school uses distance as the next tie break. If score and distance are still tied, an independent random selection process is used. This is rare but it can matter in dense areas.
Yes, Pupil Premium is a stated priority group in the oversubscription criteria. Families using this route usually need to complete the correct supplementary form by the deadline. It is worth checking the exact requirements early.
Yes, you have the right to appeal. Appeals work best when they are evidence based and focused on the admissions code. Many families also join the waiting list at the same time.
Waiting lists are maintained for a defined period and are reranked using the same published criteria. Movement can be quick for some schools and slow for others. Try to stay practical and keep your child steady.
No, tutoring is not required. Some children do well with a calm home routine and consistent practice. The right choice is the one that protects confidence while keeping progress visible.
Start with method and familiarity, not speed. Learn a few question types and repeat them until your child feels confident. Add timing only once accuracy is steady.
Keep sessions short and visual, like a puzzle habit. Children often improve fastest when they see repeated pattern families. Praise method and effort rather than score.
