All about: Dover College

Dover College is a private, co-educational secondary school situated in the southern English city of Dover, Kent. The school takes boarders aged between 11 to 18, while it also operates as a day school for pupils aged between 3 to 18. Established in the latter half of the 19th Century, the school occupies the site of a 12th Century Priory. This article provides all details about Dover College.

History and location

Dover College was founded in 1871 by a group of local Kent businessmen and lesser magnates, the leader of whom was then-Mayor of Dover Dr Astley. Astley was a figurehead who felt that the town should have its own public school (as independent, fee-paying schools are often termed in England) to improve Kent education. The first headmaster of the school was a Cumberland man, Canon William Bell. The school grew under his influence from its initial intake of 15 boys, and many new buildings were added to the school's site during and after his 21 years in charge. The school had become fully co-educational by 1974, and boasts in its publicity material that it was one of the first English public schools to do so. The college also reached its largest size of 420 pupils during the 1970s. The school is located in Dover and its catchment area covers a wide section of East Kent, including the towns of Ashford, Deal, Dover itself, Ham, Folkestone, Hythe, Newington, Northbourne, Sandwich and many more. Full details of the catchment area can be obtained from the school itself, but there is a minibus service and an apparently excellent road network which makes the school highly accessible. Dover College is just over an hour away from from London St Pancras railway station, using the High Speed Train. This handy link allows students based in London to use the train on Monday morning at the beginning of their weekly boarding.

Learning and lifestyle

As an independent Kent college, the school charges fees, full details of which are available from the school itself. These fees include the curriculum, school books, stationery, equipment, choral music and games. It also includes lunch for those paying day fees, while breakfast, lunch and dinner and accommodation are covered by the fees charged for the boarders. The school encourages parents of prospective students to register for their admission as soon as possible by contacting the school directly. Registration forms can be downloaded from the school's official website, or can be requested to be sent by post or picked up in person from the school. Potential applicants should note that as of 2011, a non-refundable administration fee of £55 is charged for UK residents. Overseas residents are charged £65.