Year 12 Admissions
Admissions
Dartford Grammar School admits new students to the Sixth Form every year from other schools, and is mixed in the truest sense of the word: we welcome girls and ensure they enjoy the best experiences both inside the curriculum and in our extra curricular offerings, which include music, the performing arts, language and sport.
Students study the International Baccalaureate Diploma, with no option to study A-levels. See below for more details on the programme of study.
Entry Requirements
Priority will be given to existing Dartford Grammar School students transferring from Year 11 who meet the entrance criteria. Admission to the Sixth Form will be as a result of applicants (girls or boys) obtaining a minimum point score of 52 for their best 8 subjects (calculated using the DfE equivalence tables – see website). Students should have level 5 or above in English and Mathematics. They should have at least a 7 in their proposed International Baccalaureate Diploma Higher-Level subjects. If Mathematics is proposed at Higher Level, the GCSE Mathematics grade must be 8.
Applications
Applications can be made directly to the school or via the Kent Choices process. This is explained in more detail on the applications page of the website which will go live when the process opens.
Programme of Study in Years 12 & 13
Dartford Grammar School offers a dynamic and varied Sixth Form Curriculum, and we have a strong team of experienced staff to guide our intake through our admissions process and beyond. Students study the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which offers the broadest of curricula with six subjects studied through ten terms. The IB Diploma is an international qualification that is recognised around the world: it offers a perfect mix of study with three subjects taken at a higher level and three at a standard level, prescriptive only in that the mix requires a balance of humanities, science and languages. It is a demanding qualification that requires organisation and dedication: however it is the finest of outcomes for any young person leaving to enter a competitive and increasingly global world of work, and we are proud of the results our students achieve.
The choices our students make are important both to their future careers and to their personal enjoyment and well-being, and all are counselled about subject choices before the journey through our sixth form begins. We also have a popular programme of induction at the end of their Year 11 to break the ice both with fellow students and staff, and to familiarise new intake with the layout of the school and our expectations regarding their approach to learning.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma at Dartford Grammar School
Subject choices
Students choose their six subjects, guided by the grouping options, selecting 3 subjects to study at Standard Level and 3 at Higher Level (according to their interests and strengths and also based on any requirements for their proposed onward path), in addition to the Core programme. Each subject attracts a maximum of 7 points in final exams, regardless of the level studied, and the Core supplies the extra 3 points to make the maximum mark of 45. Dartford Grammar School’s average point score is 37, which sits significantly above local, national and international benchmarks.
Detailed information on Subjects offered for the Diploma can be found here.
The Core Programme - three components
The Extended Essay: Students write a 4000-word extended essay. This is designed to allow students to engage in independent research through the in-depth study of a question relating to one of their diploma subjects. Each student is allocated a supervisor. Time is set aside to help students to complete the essay before the end of Year 12. The extended essay provides a focal point for university interviews and helps to give students the edge over their competitors.
Creativity Activity and Service (CAS): CAS credits students for their learning outside the curriculum. All students have a CAS afternoon which allows them to take advantage of CAS opportunities both in and out of school. Activities available in school include taking part in sport, Food Technology, art, music and drama. Many students choose to spend the afternoon in the community, for example, helping at local primary schools and volunteering. A significant number of students take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as part of the programme.
The Theory of Knowledge (ToK): The Theory of Knowledge asks students to reflect on the nature of knowledge in each of their subject areas. It provides excellent preparation for university interviews in the future. The Theory of Knowledge is examined through oral presentations and an essay.
Click here for our Sixth Form Diploma Guide
