Dover Grammar School for Girls

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Students and staff share a love of learning. The level of challenge and intellectual rigour in lessons is consistently high and, as a result, all groups of students make rapid and sustained progress.

They consistently achieve examination results which are well above the national average. The strong relationships between teachers and students contribute to outstanding attitudes to learning. Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and plan their lessons well.

Questioning is very effective and students learn very well by themselves. Marking and feedback to students are strong. However, they do not consistently have the opportunity... to respond to guidance for improvement, particularly in their written work.

There is an extensive range of artistic, cultural and community activities, which have a positive impact on students' achievement and personal and social development. Students' moral and social development is exemplary. As individuals they regulate and manage their own behaviour very well and exhibit high levels of peer support for each other.

They greatly appreciate the trust the school places in them and, as a result, their behaviour is outstanding. The sixth form is outstanding. Sixth form students make a very valuable contribution to the school community.

Students have high academic aspirations and are very well prepared for the next stage of their education. Students new to the sixth form comment on the work ethic and the level of individual responsibility expected of them. They work with younger students in a variety of contexts and are wonderful role models.

The headteacher, senior team and governors share a determination to improve outcomes for students. They have been successful in improving the quality of teaching which has raised achievement. The leadership of a few middle leaders and the governing body could be developed further.

Information about this school

Dover Grammar School for Girls is a smaller than average-sized selective girls' school. It has a humanities specialism. The vast majority of students are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is below average. The proportion of students for whom the school receives the pupil premium (additional government funding for students known to be eligible for free school meals, looked after children and service family children) is below average but above that of similar selective schools. There are no looked after children and no children from service families currently at the school.

The proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs supported through school action is low compared with most schools. The proportion supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also low. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.

The school does not use any alternative provision. Boys are admitted into Year 12 and make up just under a sixth of the sixth form roll. A small number of students from a neighbouring school also attend for some sixth form lessons.