Dover Grammar School for Boys is a mainstream secondary school in Dover, Kent, for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 12 of its 960 pupils (1.3%) were getting SEN support and 8 (0.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 960 pupils
- Boys only
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Kent.
1.3% get SEN support
12 of 960 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
0.8% have an EHC plan
8 of 960 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism14
- Social, emotional and mental health5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Pupils
- 960 (places for 905)
- Admissions
- Selective (a grammar school)
- Headteacher
- Mr Philip Horstrup
- Free school meals
- 21% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kent
- School reference (URN)
- 118931
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Kent council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, January 2025; school remains Good (October 2019)
Inspected in January 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, October 2019).
Contact and getting there
Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0DQ
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Elms School Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- River Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 1.3 miles
- Dover Christ Church Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.6 miles
- The Sallygate School Independent · Ages 8–17 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Dover Grammar School for Boys
How many pupils at Dover Grammar School for Boys have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 12 of the 960 pupils (1.3%) were getting SEN support and 8 (0.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Dover Grammar School for Boys?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (14 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Dover Grammar School for Boys?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Dover Grammar School for Boys?
Through Kent council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Dover Grammar School for Boys?
You can ask for Dover Grammar School for Boys to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Dover Grammar School for Boys have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is River Primary School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is Dover Grammar School for Boys?
Astor Avenue, Dover, CT17 0DQ, in Kent.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.