to its current bottle green colour. An open-air swimming pool was built in 1975. A new headmistress, J. Hadman, took office in 1986. She renamed the houses and class groups, and introduced a new uniform. By 1989 the school had control of its own budget. Grant-maintained status and foundation school In 1991, the school ceased to be part of Kent Local Education Authority (LEA), and the following year became a grant-maintained school. In 1994, a new technology block opened and a two-storey temporary mobile was purchased to house the humanities department. In 1995, students at the school were among the first students nationwide to sit GCSEs covering the whole range of the UK's first National Curriculum. A 1997 OFSTED report described the school's curriculum as "unique" and the school environment as "stimulating and exciting". In 1998 another extension was completed, adding two science blocks, an IT/graphics room, an English suite, and two general classrooms. In 1999, the school was awarded "investor in people status". In January 2001 a new headteacher, Jane Wheatley, was appointed. The school was awarded Beacon school status in September 2001 and the school achievement award in April. In 2003, the school became the first specialist science school in Kent. In 2004, the school's centenary year, it was awarded the Artsmark Gold award. In September 2008 the school was re-accredited as a science specialist school. It was recognised as a high achieving school and awarded a second specialism in mathematics and computing. In 2009, Wheatley was appointed Executive Headteacher of both DGGS and Wilmington Enterprise College, and Sharon Pritchard was made responsible for the daily running of the school. On 31 August 2011, Wheatley stepped down and Pritchard took over as Headteacher. Academy In June 2017 Dartford Grammar School for Girls converted to academy status. The school is now sponsored by The Areté Trust. Headteachers Amy Acworth (née Brett): 1904–1928 Edith M Freyer: began 1928 Miss Janes (Miss James taught Botany) 1949–1971 M. Waite: 1971–1986 J. Hadman: 1986–1998 C. Unsted: 1998–2000 Jane Wheatley: 2001–2011 Sharon Pritchard: 2011– present Curriculum In September 2003, the school adopted a two-year Key Stage 3 programme, under which students can follow a more flexible curriculum over three years. The school is a specialist science school and has a second specialism in Maths and Computing. The school also received the ArtsMark Gold Award recognising its expertise in arts subjects. The school day consists