Duke of York's Royal Military School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 18
Ofsted: Good

Duke of York's Royal Military School, Dover, CT15 5EQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Duke of York's Royal Military School is a secondary school in Dover for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 3rd of 6 secondary schools in Dover. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 8 February 2023, report published 29 March 2023

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 February 2023

Pupils' conduct is excellent at Duke of York's. They treat each other respectfully and work hard in lessons. Staff do not tolerate bullying, and any friendship issues or poor behaviour are quickly rectified. Sixth formers play a full part in the life of the school and are positive role models to younger pupils. All pupils live in the school's boarding provision and form close relationships with staff. This helps pupils to feel safe. They have adults to talk to if they encounter problems or are worried about something. Pupils embrace the exceptional enrichment activities that the school provides. Every pupil is involved in the rich school offer that includes hockey, rugby, swimming, squash, netball and a social skills club. Older pupils enjoy going to the 'duke box' gymnasium. Many pupils complete the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and follow the military traditions of the school by becoming a member of the Combined Cadet Force. Staff have high expectations of pupils and they live up to these. Pupils know that a lot is expected of them. Students achieve well by the time they leave the sixth form and pupils in key stages 3 and 4 achieve highly across the subjects that they study.

What the school should improve

  • Not enough pupils study the full range of EBacc subjects at GCSE. Consequently, they are not as well prepared for their next steps as they could be. Leaders need to ensure that higher proportions of pupils study all EBacc subjects by the end of Year 11 so that they have the best chance of success in the next stages of their education, employment or training.
  • Trustees do not fully appreciate how well leaders' improvement strategies work. This means that trustees are not able to hold leaders to account as robustly as they could. Trustees need to strengthen their knowledge of the impact of leaders' actions so that they hold leaders to account more effectively.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

80 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score55.0

55.0, 8.9 above the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths61.3%

61.3%, 15.9 percentage points above the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths78.8%

78.8%, 14 percentage points above the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc38.8%

38.8%, 1.7 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score4.80

4.80, 0.71 above the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

44 students

Average point score per A level entry34.26

34.26, 0.74 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C+, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

470 pupils on roll, with places for 722

Eligible for free school meals0%

0%, 26.5 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language16.6%

16.6%, 5 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support18.9%

18.9%, 4.1 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan0%

0%, 6 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Duke of York's Royal Military School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
St Edmund's Catholic School0.9 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 39.0
Dover Grammar School for Girls1 mileOfsted judgements: GoodAttainment 8: 59.9
Dover Christ Church Academy1 mileOfsted: Requires improvementAttainment 8: 30.4
Dover College1 mileNo Ofsted inspectionAttainment 8: 25.5
Dover Grammar School for Boys2 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstandingAttainment 8: 65.4

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
DYRMS - AN ACADEMY WITH MILITARY TRADITIONS
Age range
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Boarding places
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Alex Foreman
Address
Duke of York's Royal Military School, Dover, CT15 5EQ
Local authority
Kent
URN
136177

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.