Dover College

Since September 2025, Phil Tattersall-King, who has been deputy head at Sibford School in Oxfordshire and deputy head (operational and co-curricular) at Bedales School for a decade. He is joined by his wife and two children.

Non-selective academically, and with every intention of remaining so – ‘It’s one of our great strengths.’ Instead, the school looks for potential, and a willingness to fit in to the school environment and contribute to its ethos: ‘Pray together, stay

A few head off to grammar school after year 6 having passed the 11-plus, and 15 per cent leave after year 11. ‘Our parents are not rich,’ says school. At 18, recent destinations include Cardiff, York, Kent and Bristol to do courses both academic and

In 2024, 7 per cent 8-9 at GCSE. At A level, 27 per cent A*/A.

That most refreshing of things in this county, a non-selective school and pleased to be so. The school slogan is ‘think differently’, and from juniors up to GCSEs, teaching is delivered via themes, eg ‘coffee, tea and chocolate’, ‘war and peace’ or

Parents raved about the learning support, which here is called individual needs. ‘Sending our children here was the best thing we ever did’; ‘The help we get for our son and his dyslexia has just been above and beyond.’ School keen to stress,

Drama facilities currently rather moth-eaten, but the school’s 150th anniversary is approaching and celebrations include an entirely revamped creative arts centre, to be run by the school’s director of performing arts, a recent appointment intended

Under new leadership, sport here is impressively varied and the approach is entirely inclusive: recently every single pupil in years 7 and 8 played in at least eight fixtures for the school, making this an excellent place for children who want to get

Available from year 7 upwards. Around a third of the students here board, and about two-thirds of the boarding community are from overseas and board full time (the UK boarders tend to go home at weekends). The school works to keep a good balance of

In many ways, the teacher we spoke to summed up the appeal of this likeable school as we strolled across the beautiful old college green, dotted with junior pupils having a kickabout: ‘In three years, I’ve never had to raise my voice. The children

Day pupils drawn mostly from a 20-mile radius – Canterbury, Ashford etc – ferried hither and yon by network of school minibuses. Predominantly Caucasian demographic of these reflects the area, but strong international intake ensures diversity and

Fees are extremely reasonable: weekly boarding here will set you back less than a day place at one of our leading London schools. A range of scholarships available at 11+, 13+ and 16+: academic, art and DT, drama, music, sport and all rounder.

Excellent value for money, something we don’t often say in our line of work; sending your child here will genuinely set them up. But also a place that is human in its outlook: healthy, kind, and vigorous in its quest for excellence. As one student