Apply to Dover Grammar School for Boys, in plain English.
DGSB is a selective boys' grammar in Dover. Unusually, you can become eligible two ways: pass the Kent 11+ via your local authority, or pass the school's own Dover Boys Test (held the Saturday after the Kent Test). When there are more eligible boys than places, six tiers — including a staff-children priority — decide.
The three things to know first.
If you read nothing else on this page, read these. They're the bits that catch parents out.
Two ways in: Kent 11+ or Dover Boys Test.
Your son can be assessed via Kent's standard PESE (the 11+) or via the school's own Dover Boys Test — held the Saturday immediately after Kent Test day. Either one being passed makes him eligible for the 6 oversubscription criteria. You apply for the Dover Boys Test directly on the school's website (dgsb.co.uk).
You still apply through your council, by 31 October 2026.
Passing the test only makes your son eligible. To actually be considered for a place, you must list DGSB on your council's SCAFSecondary Common Application FormThe single form you submit to your home council listing up to six schools in order of preference. by 31 October 2026.
Pupil Premium ranks 2nd — but the SIF must arrive by 31 October.
Boys eligible for Pupil PremiumPupil PremiumChildren eligible for free school meals at any time in the last 6 years, or children in/previously in council care. sit in tier 2 — ahead of siblings, Health and staff children. To claim it, send the school's SIF (with evidence) to Mrs T Cook by 31 October 2026.
Six steps, spread over a year.
From registering for whichever test you choose to your son starting Year 7. Steps 4 and 5 both close on 31 October 2026.
If too many boys pass either test, these 6 tiers decide.
EHCPs (or Statements of SEN) naming the school are admitted first (reducing the 150 PAN). Every other eligible boy is sorted into the highest tier that applies, then distance to school decides inside each tier. The school notes that in recent years all eligible boys whose preferred school was DGSB have been offered a place.
In plain English: Boys currently in council care, or who left care via adoption, residence or special guardianship orders. Also explicitly includes boys adopted internationally from state care outside England.
What the document says: A child under the age of 18 years for whom the Local Authority provides accommodation by agreement with his parents/carers (Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is subject of a care order under Part IV of the Act. This applies equally to children who immediately after being looked after by the local authority became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order. Children who appear to Kent County Council to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted are also included.
In plain English: Boys eligible for Pupil Premium — registered for FSM at any point in the last 6 years (Universal Infant FSM doesn't count). At DGSB this beats siblings, Health and staff-children. You must return the SIF with evidence to Mrs T Cook by 31 October.
What the document says: A child is eligible for Pupil Premium where they have been registered for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last 6 years. This does not include children who have only been eligible to receive Universal Infant Free School Meals. Parents/carers wishing to apply under this criterion must ensure they complete the attached Supplementary Information Form, with evidence, and return it to the school by 31 October in the year of application.
In plain English: If your son will have a brother (or step-/foster-brother) already at DGSB when he starts in September 2027, he gets sibling priority.
What the document says: A brother or sister already attending the School at the time of entry. In this context brother or sister means children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters. If siblings from multiple births apply for a school and the school would reach its PAN after admitting one or more but before admitting all, the LA will offer a place to each of the siblings, even if doing so takes the school above its PAN.
In plain English: If your son — or a parent/guardian — has a medical, mental-health or social-care need that means this school in particular is the right one, you can ask for priority here. Written evidence from a doctor or qualified practitioner is required, showing the connection to DGSB.
What the document says: Medical/Health and Special Access Reasons will be applied in accordance with the School's legal obligations, in particular those under the Equality Act 2010. Priority will be given to children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Such claims will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or other practitioner who can demonstrate a special connection between these needs and the particular school.
In plain English: If a parent has worked at DGSB for at least 2 years, or has been hired into a hard-to-fill role, your son gets priority here.
What the document says: A child of a member of staff may be given priority for admission in the following circumstances: where the member of staff has been employed at the school for 2 or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made; and/or the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
In plain English: Distance from your home to a fixed point at the school (Astor Avenue, Dover), measured as a single straight line. Routes, bus times and travel difficulty are not considered. If two boys tie exactly for the last place, an independent adjudicator oversees a random draw.
What the document says: We use the distance between the child's permanent home address (defined in KCC's annual admissions prospectus) and the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point. In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place. This process, if required, will be overseen by an independent adjudicator.
Straight line, not driving time.
DGSB notes that in recent years all eligible boys whose preferred school was DGSB have been offered a place — so distance only really matters if competition increases. When it does, inside each tier the school uses the straight-line distance between your home and a fixed point at the Astor Avenue site.
Distance uses the National Land and Property GazetteerNLPGThe official UK address database. Distance is measured as a straight line between two address points: your home and a fixed point at the school. address point. For new-build homes not yet in that database, KCC uses planning coordinates.
See the approximate catchment on the GrammarBound mapInside tier 6, distance decides.
Both boys passed either the Kent Test or the Dover Boys Test, neither claims PP, neither has a sibling at the school, neither has medical priority, neither parent is staff. They both sit in tier 6. House A's straight-line distance is shorter, so it ranks higher. If two homes tie exactly, an independent adjudicator oversees a random draw.
Small external PAN, but it grows in practice.
DGSB has a Year 12 of 130 in total. The Published Admission Number for external candidates is 10, but the school notes this figure "is likely to be exceeded" because typically fewer than 120 internal students transfer in.
Grade 4 in English and Maths, plus subject criteria.
Students need at least grade 4 GCSE in both English (either Language or Literature) and Mathematics, plus the entry criteria for at least 3 full A Level subjects. Each A Level subject's own threshold is published on the school's website.
Internal first, then the same 6 Year 7 tiers.
Internal DGSB Year 11 transfers with the entry criteria come first. If external applications exceed the available places, the same 6 oversubscription criteria as Year 7 are applied to rank external candidates.
Refused candidates have a statutory right of appeal to an independent panel — write to the Clerk to the Governors via the school address.
You have two routes, and you can use both.
Waiting list
Eligible boys who requested a place are assigned to a waiting list, held for at least the first term of the academic year in oversubscription-criteria order, re-ranked each time a child is added or before an offer is made.
Appeal
The school will establish appeal arrangements that include an independent element. Details of admissions and appeals arrangements are published each year. Write to the Clerk to the Governors via the school address.
Applicants of other ages will be tested by the school to assess their ability against pupils in the relevant cohort. If they reach at least the same standard and there are spare places, they'll be admitted. As a grammar school, DGSB will notify you in writing within 15 school days of your in-year application — either with a date for assessment or the reason for refusal with appeal information.