Dover College, Dover
Dover College is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 18 in Dover. It has a Church of England religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dover College in detail
Dover College in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Every child at Dover College is seen and valued: essential foundations for them to achieve their very best. That belief sits at the heart of our community, and it is why we speak so deliberately about what we stand for. Our values are simple to remember and meant to be lived."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, tennis, basketball, dance, choir and STEM.
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 14 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Dover College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Where pupils go next
Of the 32 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 34% went on to university or other higher education and 13% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 99 pupils (40.9%) received SEN support and 3 (1.2%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Dover Priory Rail Station, about 250 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ladywell, 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Dover College stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 422 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Kent (101), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
6 February 2024
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
28 January 2020
Regulatory Compliance
1 February 2017
Short Visit
20 June 2016
Short Visit
21 September 2015
Integrated
25 November 2014
About
Dover College is an independent day and boarding school in the English public school tradition located in Dover in south east England. It was founded in 1871, and takes both day pupils and boarders from the UK and internationally.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Dover College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
Keep up with Dover College
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Dover College.
- St Mary's Wraparound @ Jackinaboxeducation690m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 78
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 17
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 78 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 17 serious and 60 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
12 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
51%
Available places
242 pupils
478 places
236 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Dover
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Dover
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
99
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
42.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
242
Total Pupils
129
Boys
113
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Dover College
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Dover College
What are GCSE results like at Dover College?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Dover College can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Dover College last inspected?
Dover College is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2024.
How many pupils go to Dover College?
Dover College has around 242 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Dover College?
Dover College is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Dover College have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Dover College: St Mary's Wraparound @ Jackinaboxeducation (690m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Dover College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 78 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 17 serious and 60 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 12 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Dover College?
Dover College is at Effingham Crescent, Dover, Kent, CT17 9RH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)