GCSE results in Dartford stand out: an Attainment 8 score of 60.4, above Kent’s towns and towns in England
For Dartford, that is above both Kent’s towns (43.6) and towns in England (45.9). 23 state-funded schools are located in Dartford’s built-up area. Dartford grades A+ for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #4 of 87 in Kent. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Dartford’s secondary results beat 98% of English towns; its primary results beat 87%. 70% of the large town’s 11-year-olds meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England and 62% across Kent. The spread between primaries is wide: 92% at Leigh Academy Dartford, 56% at Temple Hill Primary Academy. Every school’s result ↓
Popular schools are full
14 of 22 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as their official capacity, including Dartford Grammar, Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Wilmington Grammar School for Boys and Wilmington Grammar School for Girls among the secondaries. A full school gives places by its admissions rules, usually by distance after siblings. Getting a place ↓
Grammar schools in town
Dartford Grammar School, Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Wilmington Grammar School for Boys and Wilmington Grammar School for Girls admit pupils by a test at 11. Their results count in Dartford’s School Grade, as they are state schools many local children attend. After 16 ↓
Westgate beats its intake
Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Westgate Primary School, 29% of pupils are on free school meals and 88% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 61%. Results and intake ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
School Grade
Dartford grades A+ for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (70% meet the standard)Better than 87% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (60.4 and 73%)Better than 98% of towns in England
Each of Dartford’s 14 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)
Each of Dartford’s 7 secondaries: Attainment 8 (2025/26)
England’s average schoolKent’s average school
The primary figure: 15 primaries in the town, 2,895 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 7 secondaries in the town, 1,303 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Map
Where Dartford’s 23 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Dartford’s built-up area.
PrimarySecondary (named)Special, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table. The 7 secondaries are named.
Results and intake
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals
Secondaries: Attainment 8 against free school meals
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 6% at Wilmington Grammar School for Girls to 42% at Temple Hill Primary Academy. Against schools with the same intake, Leigh Academy Dartford does best: 92% with 19% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 63%. 11 of 14 primaries and 4 of 7 secondaries are above the line.
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
Getting a place
How school places work in Dartford
Kent County Council handles applications for every state school in Dartford, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 3 of Dartford’s 22 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 14 schools are at or over it.
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys138%
Oakfield incl. nursery114%
Dartford Grammar School for Girls112%
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls108%
West Hill107%
Dartford Bridge incl. nursery106%
Wentworth103%
Leigh Academy Dartford incl. nursery102%
The Brent102%
Dartford Grammar102%
Show all 22 schools
Wilmington101%
St Anselm's100%
Our Lady's100%
The Gateway100%
Westgate100%
Leigh Academy Wilmington99%
Fleetdown97%
River Mill incl. nursery97%
Holy Trinity96%
Temple Hill incl. nursery93%
Dartford Science & Technology College90%
Sir Geoffrey Leigh88%
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
The schools
23 state schools in Dartford
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Letters of Dartford’s schoolsA13B5C4D01 without a letter
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Outstanding 2Good 5Report card 5Ungraded inspection only 11
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 5 of Dartford’s 23 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
Run by
Schools
Pupils
Their letters
Leigh Academies TrustLeigh Academy Wilmington, Sir Geoffrey Leigh, Leigh UTC Dartford, Leigh Academy Dartford
4
4,065
C+B−A+
Golden Thread AllianceTemple Hill, Oakfield, Fleetdown, West Hill
4
2,744
CA−B+B
Endeavour MATWilmington Grammar School for Boys, Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, Wilmington
Hawley has the best-graded schools nearby (A+). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
•
Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
•
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Dartford: 13% (England’s average school: 8%).
•
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
•
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
•
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
•
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
•
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
•
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Dartford
Are schools in Dartford good?
Dartford’s state schools earn an A+ against schools across England: primary results beat 87% of towns in England; secondary results beat 98% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Kent council.
What is the best secondary school in Dartford?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, Dartford Grammar School: Attainment 8 of 78.9 and 100% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Dartford?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, Leigh Academy Dartford: 92% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Dartford secondary schools have sixth forms?
Yes, all 7 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Dartford?
Through Kent County Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in Dartford are full?
14 of 22 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in Dartford?
23 open state-funded schools are located in Dartford’s built-up area: 15 primary, 7 secondary and 1 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
