Apply to Dover Grammar School for Girls, in plain English.
DGGS is a selective girls' grammar (Community school, KCC-administered) in central Dover. Like DGSB, it offers two routes to eligibility: pass the Kent 11+ or pass the school's own Dover Test, held on a Saturday in September. KCC's 5-tier model decides who gets a place.
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 Test.
Your daughter can be assessed via Kent's standard PESE (the 11+) or via the school's own Dover Test — a parallel route specifically confirmed by the Schools Adjudicator in 2019 (ADA3580). The Dover Test normally takes place on a Saturday in September. Either passing makes her eligible.
You apply through your council, by 31 October 2026.
List Dover Grammar School for Girls 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, even if you don't live in Kent. The school does not take direct applications.
PP ranks after siblings and Health — but the SIF still matters.
Unlike many academies, DGGS (as a KCC Community school) places Pupil Premium in tier 4 — after siblings and Health. Return the SIF to the school by 31 October 2026 to be ranked under this criterion.
Six steps, spread over a year.
From registering for whichever test you choose to your daughter starting Year 7. Steps 4 and 5 both close on 31 October 2026.
If too many girls pass either test, these 5 tiers decide.
EHCPs naming the school are admitted first (reducing the 140 PAN). Every other eligible girl is sorted into the highest tier that applies; distance is the tiebreaker inside each tier. Tap any tier to see KCC's exact wording.
In plain English: Girls currently in council care, or who left care via adoption, child arrangements or special guardianship orders. Also covers girls adopted from state care outside England.
What the document says: A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) at the time of making an application to a school. A previously looked after child means such children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who appear to the admission authority to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
In plain English: If your daughter will have a sister, step-sister or foster-sister already at the school in September 2027, she gets sibling priority.
What the document says: Current Family Association — a brother or sister in the same school at the time of entry. In this context brother or sister means children who live as brother and sister in the same house, including natural brothers or sisters, adopted siblings, stepbrothers or sisters, foster brothers or sisters.
In plain English: If your daughter — or a parent/guardian — has a medical, mental-health, social or special-access need that makes this school in particular the right choice, you can ask for priority here. Written evidence from a qualified practitioner is required, showing the connection to DGGS.
What the document says: Medical, health, social 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 those 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: Girls eligible for Pupil Premium — registered for FSM at any point in the last 6 years (Universal Infant FSM doesn't count), or who were adopted from local authority care. Send the SIF to the school by 31 October 2026.
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. Parents wishing to apply under this criterion must ensure they complete the attached Supplementary Information Form and return it to the school by 31 October in the year of application.
In plain English: Distance from your home to a fixed point at the school (Frith Road, Dover), measured as a single straight line. If your daughter lives at two addresses, KCC uses the one where she sleeps the majority of school nights (Sunday to Thursday); if equal, it uses the address closer to the school named as the first preference.
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 data. Where a child lives at more than one address, we will distance to the home at which they sleep for the majority of school nights (Sunday to Thursday) in the first academic year, using community school term dates excluding school holidays. In the unlikely event that a child spends an equal time at both addresses, KCC will use the address that is closer to the school that is named as the child's first preference.
Straight line, not driving time.
Inside each tier — and again to fill the last few places — DGGS uses the straight-line distance between your home and a fixed point at the Frith Road site. Routes, bus times and travel difficulty are not considered. There's also a tiebreaker rule for split households.
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 5, distance decides.
Both girls passed either the Kent Test or the Dover Test, neither claims PP, neither has a sibling at the school, neither has medical priority. They both sit in tier 5. House A's straight-line distance is shorter, so it ranks higher. If two addresses tie exactly, an independent random draw decides.
Open to external applicants; subject grade hurdles.
The Published Admission Number for the Sixth Form is 150. The school may enroll above this if there are sufficient places on the particular combination of courses requested by suitably qualified applicants.
Three 6s plus three 5s, with 4 in English and Maths.
Minimum requirement: three grade 6s and three other GCSEs at grade 5, plus at least grade 4 in English and Maths. To study most A Level subjects you'll need a grade 6 in that subject; for Maths, MFL or Science you'll need a grade 7; for Economics a grade 7 in Maths plus a 6 in Business or related; for Further Maths a grade 8 or 9 in Maths (as your 4th A Level).
By entry criteria above.
If applications exceed the available places, priority is awarded to those who meet the entry requirements above. Note: short courses count as half a GCSE for these purposes.
Applicants from overseas with non-UK qualifications may need to demonstrate the required standard, possibly via additional tests in a range of subjects.
You have two routes, and you can use both.
Waiting list
The waiting list is 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
All applicants refused a place have the right of appeal to an independent panel constituted under the School Admission Appeals Code. Lodge an appeal at kent.gov.uk/schoolappeals.
If you move to Kent after Kent Test and Dover Test day, your daughter will still need to be assessed. Until the end of the first term, all Kent grammars use the Kent Test. After that, DGGS uses its own assessment — an electronic CAT (cognitive ability test) plus a written test, with a threshold mean score for each year group. The test can only be taken once per academic year.