Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Dartford Grammar School for Girls has a justifiably strong local reputation for pastoral welfare and academic excellence. All pupils benefit from exceptionally strong teaching in most areas.

This leads to outstanding outcomes for nearly all pupils. Pupils attain outstanding results in their GCSEs, building on the excellent start they made in primary schools. A large majority of pupils stay on into Years 12 and 13 and achieve extremely well at A level.

Others join the sixth form from elsewhere and achieve equally well. The school is extremely well led. The headteacher has very high expectations for everyone.

She leads purp...osefully. Her commitment to the pupils is clearly seen. Senior leaders carry out their individual roles skilfully and collaborate well as a team.

They are business-like and efficient in all that they do. Highly effective governors support and challenge the school rigorously. Governors are suitably qualified and experienced for their roles.

The school provides a very successful traditional academic curriculum. It also encourages pupils to excel in creative disciplines such as art, dance, drama and music. Excellent artwork adorns every available space.

The school makes an exemplary contribution to pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils are taught to respect themselves and build their own sense of self-worth. The school is an inspiringly cohesive and culturally integrated community where all groups co-exist and cooperate admirably.

This prepares pupils well for life in modern and diverse Britain. The school's pastoral system is regarded by all as a real strength. Issues are dealt with quickly and well.

Pupils benefit from a rich and varied programme of clubs, activities and extra-curricular learning opportunities. The vast majority of parents are delighted that their children attained a place at the school and are doing so well.

Information about this school

Dartford Grammar School for Girls is an above average-sized school which is growing.

The local authority has asked governors to expand the number of pupils to assist with an increasing demand for places. A few boys join the school each year to follow 16–19 study programmes. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below average.

The proportion of pupils who are from black or minority ethnic groups is above the national average. Other than White British pupils, the largest single group of pupils are Black African. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average. The school benefits from a very stable population which enjoys below-average levels of deprivation. The school works with a local, informal cluster of primary schools to increase the number of disadvantaged pupils who are entered for and sit the Kent selection test at the age of 11.

The school uses no alternative providers of education. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for attainment and progress. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.