Best secondary schools in Dartford: A complete 2026 guide

Dartford sits inside Kent, one of the few counties in England that still runs a full grammar school system. That makes secondary admission in Dartford fundamentally different from neighbouring boroughs in Greater London. The Kent Test, taken in Year 6, determines whether children are eligible for the area's selective grammar schools, and Dartford has four well-known grammars alongside a strong group of non-selective comprehensives and academies.

This guide splits the borough's options into three groups: Private (independent), grammar, and state. The split matches how Dartford parents actually decide, since each route has its own admissions process and timeline.

Whether you are weighing up the Kent Test, considering an independent place, or focused on the area's non-selective options, this guide covers the schools that often come up in local conversations and how the Kent admissions process actually works.

We have based this list on schools with strong Ofsted reputations, consistent results, and long-standing demand from local families. We have included grammar schools, independents, and non-selective options so the list works whatever route you are considering.

We have not invented Ofsted ratings, founding dates, or specific exam results. Where we describe a school's strengths we have used qualitative language based on widely reported information. Always check the most recent Ofsted report and the Department for Education's compare-school-performance service before making a decision.

Dartford itself is mostly a state-school area, with the grammars taking much of the academically selective demand. The independent sector inside the borough is limited, and families who want a private route generally look at independents in the wider Kent area or just over the border into south-east London.

Sutton Valence School in mid-Kent is one of the independents that Dartford families consider when they want a private route. It is a co-educational day and boarding school with a long history, set in the Kent countryside.

The school is known for a broad curriculum, strong sport and music, and a wide A Level sixth form. Entry is by the school's own assessment and interview. Most Dartford families looking at Sutton Valence weigh up the commute carefully alongside the academic and pastoral fit.

Many Dartford families also consider independents further north into Bexley, Bromley, and Greenwich on the south-east London side, where there is a broader independent sector. These sit outside Dartford and Kent themselves but are part of the practical decision for many families weighing up a private option.

Independent admissions run on their own timeline, usually with assessments in autumn or early spring of Year 6. That means you can pursue both state and private routes in parallel.

Dartford has four state grammar schools, two for boys and two for girls. All admit on the basis of the Kent Test, taken in September of Year 6. Some also have additional assessments on top of the Kent Test, particularly for places allocated outside the standard catchment process.

The Kent Test is run by Kent County Council, and registration is separate from the main secondary application. You usually need to register by July of Year 5 or early Year 6 to sit the test.

Dartford Grammar is a boys' state grammar school in central Dartford. It is among the more academically successful state schools in the country and generally produces strong GCSE results.

The school is known for delivering the International Baccalaureate Diploma (rather than A Levels) at sixth form, an emphasis on languages and a strong record of university progression. Admission is through the Kent Test plus the school's own additional assessment for places.

Dartford Grammar School for Girls is the equivalent girls' grammar in Dartford. Like its boys' counterpart it has a long-standing strong academic reputation.

The school is known for solid GCSE and A Level results, an active sixth form, and strong extra-curricular provision. Admission is through the Kent Test and the school's own additional criteria.

Wilmington Grammar for Boys is a state grammar in Wilmington, just south of Dartford. It is part of the Endeavour Multi Academy Trust alongside its sister school for girls.

The school is known for solid academic results, a structured environment, and strong sixth-form pathways. Admission is through the Kent Test.

Wilmington Grammar for Girls is the sister grammar to Wilmington Grammar for Boys. It serves the same local catchment and shares the trust's broader academic approach.

The school is known for steady results, a strong sixth form, and active pastoral support. Admission is through the Kent Test.

Dartford's non-selective sector is led by the Leigh Academies Trust, which runs several local secondaries. These are the schools that come up most often when families either choose not to pursue grammar or do not pass the Kent Test.

Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy (renamed from Leigh Academy on 1 September 2024; the name Leigh Academy Dartford now refers to a separate primary school in the trust) is a large co-educational non-selective secondary in Dartford that is part of the Leigh Academies Trust. It is among the more popular non-selective options in the area.

The school is known for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, a broad curriculum, and a strong sixth form. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance, with priority for siblings and for children attending feeder primaries.

Leigh Academy Wilmington, formerly known as Wilmington Academy, is a non-selective co-educational secondary in Wilmington, also part of the Leigh Academies Trust. It serves the local catchment and offers a broad academic and vocational curriculum.

The school is known for active pastoral support, a steady record of improvement, and pathways into the trust's wider sixth-form provision. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

Stone Lodge School in Dartford is a newer co-educational secondary, part of the Endeavour Multi Academy Trust (the same trust as the Wilmington Grammars). It serves the growing population on the eastern side of the borough.

The school is known for a broad curriculum, active pastoral structures, and pathways into the trust's wider sixth-form offer. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

Leigh Academy Longfield is a co-educational non-selective secondary in Longfield, serving the south-eastern side of the borough. It is part of the Leigh Academies Trust.

The school is known for a broad curriculum, supportive pastoral provision, and active enrichment programmes. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

The Leigh UTC is a University Technical College in Dartford, offering specialist technical and engineering pathways alongside core academic subjects. It is part of the Leigh Academies Trust.

The school is known for its technical focus, links with industry partners, and a curriculum aimed at students who want a practical, applied route to engineering, computing, or design careers. Admission is non-selective and begins at Year 10, with a 14 to 19 age range.

Dartford's grammar system shapes the decision in a way that does not apply in non-selective boroughs. A grammar place is not automatically the right outcome for every able child, and Dartford's non-selective options including Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy and Stone Lodge have built strong reputations of their own.

Think carefully about whether the Kent Test preparation, the academic pace, and the long-term grammar culture suit your child. Visit on a normal weekday if you can, and talk to current parents rather than relying only on the open day pitch.

If you are considering an independent, factor in fees over seven years and the commute to schools further into Kent or over the boundary. The Leigh UTC's technical pathway from Year 10 is a genuinely different option and worth visiting even if it has not been on your shortlist.

Dartford applications go through Kent County Council, not the pan-London system, because Dartford is in Kent. You apply through the Kent online portal, listing up to six schools in order of preference. The deadline is 31 October in Year 6, for entry the following September. National offer day is 1 March.

If your child is sitting the Kent Test, you must register separately, usually by July of Year 5 or early Year 6. The test takes place in September of Year 6, and results are published in mid-October, before the main application deadline. Some Dartford grammars also have their own additional assessments on top of the Kent Test, and these have separate registration deadlines.

If your child is not offered a place at any of your preferred schools, you will be offered the nearest school with availability and can join waiting lists. Independent schools sit outside this process and run their own entry timelines. Children living in neighbouring London boroughs can apply for Kent schools, but cross-boundary applications can be more complicated on timing and tie-breakers.