As a parent at Dartford Grammar School (DGS) and a firm believer that the school community should extend beyond geographical boundaries, I would like to propose the introduction of Sibling and Staff Priority (hereafter referred to as the Policy) within DGS’s admission criteria.

Such a Policy change would be fair, lawful and desirable for DGS, bringing the following benefits:

• Strengthens the school community, fostering deeper engagement among families and members of staff, encouraging long-term involvement, strengthening intergenerational bonds and helping the school maintain institutional memory and a stronger sense of community;
• Supports recruitment and retention of teachers (and other members of staff), especially at a time when school funding is under increasing pressure;
• Reflects common practice across selective schools, as Siblings priority is already granted by 26 out of 32 grammar schools in Kent and all 4 grammar schools in Bexley;
• Aligns with Kent County Council (KCC), which recognises “Current Family Association” as a legitimate and desirable basis for prioritisation within its determined admissions scheme;
• Is fully lawful, as confirmed by the Department for Education (DfE) in writing, in several occasions;
• Has precedents within Kent, where Mayfield Grammar School, as an example, combines a sibling priority rule with score-based ranking within designated catchment areas — mirroring DGS’s existing admissions policy;
• Does not compromise DGS’s high academic standards, as based on my proposal both siblings and children of staff would still need to pass the Kent selection test and achieve a qualifying aggregate score — i.e. at 40 points above the KCC threshold — to be eligible for admission.

Based on an extensive analysis of all Kent and Bexley Grammar Schools over the last 5 years, only around 10% of places would be allocated under this Policy every year, with the great majority in favour of IA applicants.

I am kindly seeking your support in inviting the DGS Governors to review this proposal and to consider the broad practical, financial and emotional benefits that this Policy would bring to DGS and the broader school community

Please sign below and share this petition if you support this policy change.

Many thanks for your time.