Dartford Grammar School
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| Dartford Grammar School | |
| Image:Dartford Grammar School Logo.jpg |
|
| Established | 1576 |
|---|---|
| School type | Selective Secondary Foundation School |
| Headteacher | Anthony Smith |
| Students | 1242 |
| Location | Dartford, Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| LEA | Kent |
| Website | www.dartfordgrammar.kent.sch.uk |
Dartford Grammar School is a selective secondary (ages 11–18) foundation school in Dartford, Kent, England, which admits girls to its sixth form (ages 16–18). 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, as well as an increasing number of students from Essex. The current roll is 1242, including 461 in the sixth form. The school was founded in 1576 and has seen several different locations since this date. The headmaster is Anthony Smith. The main school colours are gold and maroon.
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[edit] Academic performance
Students at Dartford Grammar School enjoy exceptional academic success. In 2004, 99% of Year 11 gained 7+ grades A*-C in GCSE examinations. A very high proportion of Year 13 students proceed to university.
The school has been included in Ofsted's website as one of England's most successful schools and colleges, having been judged to be outstandingly successful in each of the two Chief Inspector's reports. Only 123 secondary schools in England have achieved this, and only three in Kent.
[edit] Locations and buildings
The school currently is located on Shepherds Lane, Dartford at the top of West Hill, having moved since lessons were initially given in the high street above the Corn Market house, which was demolished in 1769 before the school moved to its present location. The original school house is now referred to as the Hardy Building, and contains many teaching rooms as well as the administration office and a pond. The original field is now used to house the building additions, starting in the sixties with the Pochin building named after former headmaster Major Harold Pochin, a three-floored building that has undergone various internal changes to facilitate teaching larger classes.
Other buildings include the Stephenson building, named after the late head of Science Dr. Stephenson, which is used for the teaching of science, The Gwyn building, named after Edward Gywn, a former student, containing technology and business teaching rooms, as well as the majority of the new sixth form centre. The Beckets Sports centre is shared with the public in agreement with the school, in the same way as The Mick Jagger Centre, a £2.2m development financed with National Lottery funding by the Arts Council of England. The Mick Jagger Centre was opened in March 2000 by The Duke of Kent, hosts a number of performing arts events, and was recently visited by Tony Blair. The Keyes Building, named after the aforementioned Sidney Keyes contains many classrooms and also the large learning resources centre. The current school field is located next to Dartford Technology College, where the pavilion has recently been replaced.
[edit] House system
The students are divided into five Houses:
- d’Æth (gold)
- Gwyn (purple)
- Havelock (red)
- Vaughan (green)
- Wilson (blue)
D’Aeth, Gwyn and Vaughan are named after founders of the School. Havelock and Wilson are named after distinguished former pupils.
[edit] Notable former students
- Sir Henry Havelock, British general
- Henry Ambrose Hunt, meteorologist
- Mick Jagger, rock musician
- Sidney Keyes, pre-war poet
- Topsy Ojo, rugby player, London Irish fullback
- Min Patel, international cricketer
- Michael Pearson, clock-historian and author
- John Rushby, computer scientist
- Gerald Nelson, rock musician
