Foundation school · Kent

Dover Grammar School for Boys

11–18Ages
960Pupils
SecondaryPhase
SelectiveGrammar school
BoysPupils
Sixth formAges 16–18
118931URN

Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0DQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

0.9 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

340 applications for 157 places · 82nd of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

63.1of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

24th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 21 January 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Inspection history

21 January 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
16 October 2019
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.2applications per place, Year 7

0.9 below Kent median (3.1) close to England median (2.2)

340 applications · 157 places offered · 183 named it first

SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.

2026 2.2; Kent median median 3.1
2025 2.4; Kent median median 3.0
2024 2.3; Kent median median 3.2
2023 2.3; Kent median median 3.2
2022 2.0; Kent median median 2.9
2021 2.6; Kent median median 3.6
2020 2.3; Kent median median 3.1
2019 2.0; Kent median median 2.9
2018 1.9; Kent median median 3.1
2017 2.1; Kent median median 3.0
2016 2.6; Kent median median 3.3
2015 2.7; Kent median median 3.2
2014 2.6; Kent median median 3.1

More applications per place than the Kent median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Kent median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

Selective: register for the entrance test with the school first, usually by the summer before (dates vary). Dates

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	157	340	2.2	183	1.17
Sep 2025	157	373	2.4	198	1.26
Sep 2024	154	349	2.3	174	1.13
Sep 2023	145	335	2.3	156	1.08
Sep 2022	149	297	2.0	158	1.06
Sep 2021	143	374	2.6	149	1.04
Sep 2020	125	289	2.3	121	0.97
Sep 2019	137	271	2.0	147	1.07
Sep 2018	150	285	1.9	146	0.97
Sep 2017	138	292	2.1	147	1.07
Sep 2016	127	326	2.6	130	1.02
Sep 2015	120	326	2.7	144	1.20
Sep 2014	120	312	2.6	148	1.23

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

142 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)63.124th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths90%19th of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths99%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.54

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	142	63.1	90%	99%	–
2024/25	114	65.4	93%	97%	–
2023/24	127	59.1	80%	94%	+0.54
2022/23	132	60.2	85%	97%	+0.56

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Dover Grammar School for BoysThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 63.1Attainment 8 Selective
Astor Secondary School
0.2 km · Kent

2026

1.9applications per place 30.3Attainment 8
Dover Grammar School for Girls
1.3 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.4applications per place 56.7Attainment 8 Selective
St Edmund's Catholic School
1.5 km · Kent

Good2022

3.4applications per place 33.7Attainment 8
Dover Christ Church Academy
2.6 km · Kent

2026

2.7applications per place 35.8Attainment 8
Duke of York's Royal Military School
3.0 km · Kent

Good2023

2.1applications per place 58.9Attainment 8
Folkestone Academy
9.5 km · Kent

2026

2.6applications per place 38.0Attainment 8
The Harvey Grammar School
10.4 km · Kent

Remains Outstanding2022

2.4applications per place 65.2Attainment 8 Selective
Turner Free School
10.8 km · Kent

Good2022

3.5applications per place 39.4Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Foundation school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 118931 · 886/5459
Admissions policy: Selective
Capacity: 905 pupils · 960 on roll
Free school meals: 21.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0DQ
Local authority: Kent · Dover

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources