Only boys who attain the required standard in the prescribed arrangements for selection by reference to ability and aptitude will be eligible to be considered for admission to the School.

Eligibility for consideration
These arrangements require that, in order to be eligible for consideration for admission to the School at age 11, would-be pupils must either
(a)  be recommended by the head teacher of their primary school as suitable for a grammar school education and attain satisfactory scoring across tests taken at Dover Grammar School for Boys. The tests used will be Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests and tests set to address the National Curriculum Key Stage 2 targets in English and Mathematics. The minimum scoring for entry will be that which will reasonably predict that at the end of Year 11 the candidate will attain qualifications sufficient to embark on Sixth Form studies at the School, given the curriculum through the School with its particular spread of subjects, time allocation to them and style of delivery. It is anticipated that this level will correspond approximately with that which would be attained or exceeded by 25% of the age group nationally. Arrangements to take the tests will be announced by the governing body in the local press.
or (b)  be selected for grammar school education by the procedures of any local education authority.

Numbers
The maximum number of intended admissions for the year commencing 1st September 2003 will be 120 at age 11.

Over-subscription
Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied, in the order set out below, to decide which eligible children to admit.
Eligible boys who are in the care of Kent County Council.
Eligible boys who have a brother currently attending this School.
Eligible boys who by the location of their homes have the greatest ease of access to the School.
The measure used is the shortest available walking route from home to school, which may include footpaths.
Priority may be given to boys who live closer to the School, but for whom this is not the nearest school.
Places will be allocated according to the over-subscription criteria without regard to the dates on which candidates are identified as being eligible for consideration. In particular, places will not be offered until all those who applied before the deadline have had their ability assessed.

Waiting Lists
In the case of over-subscription, after all places have been offered following the criteria, a waiting list will be kept in case some boys prove unable to take up the places offered. Eligible boys will be placed on a waiting list in descending order, according to the over-subscription criteria.

Admission to other age groups up to Year 11
Applicants of other ages will be tested to ascertain their ability in comparison to pupils already at the School in the appropriate cohort. If they are of at least the same standard and there are spare places available, they will be admitted.

Admission to the Sixth Form
Prospective Year 12 students who wish to take courses offered by the School must demonstrate motivation and ability appropriate to the course as measured by their performance at GCSE or equivalent. Three GCSEs at grade B or above plus two at grade C or above will normally be regarded as a minimum requirement. Students wishing to transfer from other schools into the Sixth Form may make application. In the event of over-subscription priority will be given to those students transferring from lower years in Dover Grammar School for Boys.

General
The School will agree any changes to its admissions arrangements with the Secretary of State for Education. It will establish arrangements for appeals against non-admission which will include an independent element. Details of admissions and appeals arrangements will be published each year.