Head of Japanese

A learning community developing international citizens

Dartford Grammar School is a selective secondary academy for boys, which admits girls to its sixth form. There are six forms of entry to Year 7, and all of the students joining the school are from the top 25% of the ability range. The students come from Dartford, neighbouring towns and villages, and nearby London boroughs. The current roll is 1,546, including 631 in the sixth form.

Location

The school is located on the west side of the vibrant principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent.  It is located 18 miles south-east of Central London, and is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west.  There are excellent transport links via the M25, M20 and A2/M2 and Dartford railway station is approximately 15 minutes walk from the school.

Buildings and Facilities

The school, founded in 1576, has occupied its present site since 1866. Additional buildings have been constructed since then, the major works in last 10 years being listed below:

2008 extension of sixth form centre adding five teaching rooms;

2009  the remodelling of the Mick Jagger Centre, to provide additional teaching rooms and new laboratories and a Food Technology suite;

2011    new sixth form study suite;

2012/13  extended sixth form centre;

2013/14  new science department;

2013/14  new Key Stage 3 transition area;

2014/15  new Performing Arts Centre and rejuvenation of part of the Hardy building;

2015/16  new dining hall and additional laboratories;

2017/18  new sixth form centre;

2017/18 extension and improvements to the Arthur Jones pavilion;

2018/19 new school shop and print room facility;

2021/22 new fitness suite and learning support department.

Ofsted Inspections

The school has been identified five times by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector as one of England’s most successful schools, showing a sustained period of outstanding achievement.

Extra-Curricular Programme

The school is exceptionally rich in extra-curricular activities. It offers 16 sports and competes with others in at least eight of them each year. Teams regularly gain county, regional and national success, and many students gain representative honours at one or more of these levels. The school achieves high standards in music, and has an orchestra, wind band, choir, chamber choir and many other ensembles. Drama productions are frequent. There are many other clubs and societies, with debating always a popular activity. The school’s impressive programme of community service is regarded as a particular strength. The school benefits from many close links with Europe, China and Japan. There are regular overseas cultural and sports trips, and other international visits.

External Links

The school has a very active Parents' Association, which provides valuable assistance and support. The school has strong links with local industry and with Higher Education. It has extensive links with many other institutions, and is also part of the world-wide International Baccalaureate Organisation network.

What the School Offers Teachers

The school provides its staff with the experience of teaching able and well-motivated students in an environment with high expectations of behaviour and well-developed systems of teacher-support. The school has a national reputation for the quality of its programme of professional development. The programme includes much that falls within specific subject areas.

The school is committed to participation in initial teacher training. Other aspects include a course for newly-qualified teachers, preparation for middle management, development of existing middle managers and preparation for senior management. While the school’s extensive programme of overseas visits give many staff international experience, the school ensures that its staff development has a further international dimension, for example in IB courses. Staff members have access to the school’s excellent facilities for sport and the performing arts.

Benefits include: Teachers’ Pension; Childcare Vouchers; and Free Gym Membership

Website

Further details of the school, including breakdown of performance figures, can be accessed through: www.dartfordgrammarschool.org.uk