The foundation of Dartford Grammar School dates from the year 1576 when William Vaughan, Edward Gwyn and William Death, local gentry, donated land and property near the Market House in Dartford High Street. Income from this source was to be used to employ a schoolmaster. Dartford Grammar School was for many years based in a small room over the corn Market House in Dartford High Street. The number of pupils taught there at any one time was small, rarely more than six. Pupils were given a traditional classical education with an emphasis on English grammar, reading, writing, arithmetic, Latin, Greek and French. From about 1678 onwards, Dartford Grammar School stopped using the Market House premises. There is some evidence to suggest that the school ceased to function for over fifty years. No schoolmaster was appointed by the Trustees and rents received from the Market House tenancy were allowed to accumulate. Income was eventually invested in South Sea annuities worth £700 in stock. In 1765, James Sanham was appointed as schoolmaster. He ran a private school in Dartford but also agreed to take on a limited number of Grammar School foundation scholars.