About Bexley Grammar School
The London Borough of Bexley has four selective grammar schools: Beths Grammar School (boys), Bexley Grammar School (co-ed), Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School (co-ed), and Townley Grammar School (girls). All four use the Bexley Selection Test — a single test that qualifies children for any Bexley grammar school. The test uses CEM 11+ format: two 50-minute papers covering Verbal Reasoning/Comprehension, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Mathematical Reasoning.
Bexley Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 67.3%. A-Level A*–B: 84.1%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Bexley Grammar School
Bexley Grammar School is a co-educational state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 192 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Bexley test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 13 September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 (via Bexley LA) — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Bexley Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (192 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Bexley Grammar School
Bexley Grammar School Admissions Criteria
The London Borough of Bexley has four selective grammar schools: Beths Grammar School (boys), Bexley Grammar School (co-ed), Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School (co-ed), and Townley Grammar School (girls). All four use the Bexley Selection Test — a single test that qualifies children for any Bexley grammar school. The test uses CEM 11+ format: two 50-minute papers covering Verbal Reasoning/Comprehension, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Mathematical Reasoning.
- ✓Register for the Bexley Selection Test via London Borough of Bexley (bexley.gov.uk/admissions) — opens 1st May 2026, closes midnight 31st May 2026.
- ✓Sit two 50-minute CEM-format multiple-choice papers in September 2026, covering Verbal Reasoning & Comprehension, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Mathematical Reasoning.
- ✓Achieve the Bexley LA qualifying score (age-standardised). The top 180 scorers across all Bexley grammar schools are guaranteed a place at their preferred school.
- ✓Children at Bexley, Dartford or Swanley primary schools are allocated test centres automatically. All others must register via the Bexley LA website.
- ✓Each school then applies its own oversubscription criteria once selective eligibility is confirmed.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority at each school).
- ✓Sibling priority at the preferred school.
- ✓Children who qualify under the Kent (Dartford) test may also be considered under 'Criterion 8' at some Bexley schools.
- ✓Apply via Bexley LA secondary school application form by 31st October 2026.
Bexley Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 192 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Bexley Grammar School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Bexley Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | Late April 2025 |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 (via Bexley LA) |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Bexley Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Bexley) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Bexley Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 13 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 (via Bexley LA), BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Bexley Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Bexley Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Bexley Grammar School
Bexley Grammar School selects through the Bexley Selection Test, produced by GL Assessment and shared across the four Bexley grammar schools — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day, with age-standardised scoring combined into a total.
- Paper 1 — English & verbal reasoning: comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
- Paper 2 — maths & non-verbal reasoning: Key Stage 2 mathematics and visual problem-solving.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Bexley Grammar School
Bexley Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Bexley Grammar School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Bexley Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Bexley Grammar School is nationally recognised for academic excellence and was rated Outstanding across all categories by Ofsted in 2022, with GCSE results placing it in roughly the top 5% of schools in England (around 69–75% of grades at 9–7 in recent years).
- GCSE: consistently excellent results, with a high Attainment 8 score and very strong English Baccalaureate performance.
- Sixth form: distinctively, all sixth-form students study the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma rather than A-Levels — one of only a few state schools in the UK to do so.
- Progression: high rates of entry to Russell Group and leading international universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Bexley Grammar School
Bexley Grammar School is a co-educational grammar in Welling, and one of the four grammar schools in the London Borough of Bexley. Admission to Year 7 is through the Bexley Selection Test, produced by GL Assessment and shared across all four Bexley grammars — two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day (English comprehension and verbal reasoning; mathematics and non-verbal reasoning), with age-standardised scores combined into a total. The top 180 scorers across the borough are given the highest priority.
The school offers around 210 Year 7 places and is heavily oversubscribed, with well over eight applicants per place. There is no fixed catchment area, but straight-line distance to the school is a key factor once academic and oversubscription criteria are applied. Always confirm the current qualifying standard and criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Established in 1955 and inaugurated by Sir Edward Heath, Bexley Grammar School sits on Danson Lane in Welling and became an academy in 2011. Its student body is organised into six houses, and its ethos explicitly values compassion, resilience and collaborative learning, with strong relationships between students and teachers.
The school offers a wide extracurricular programme — including Robotics, Engineering, STEM and Latin clubs, much of it run by pupils themselves — alongside its international, inquiry-led curriculum. For the full list of activities, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bexley Grammar School
How do I apply to Bexley Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Bexley Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026), then list Bexley Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Bexley Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Bexley Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Bexley Grammar School?
Bexley Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 192 places.
How many Year 7 places does Bexley Grammar School have?
Bexley Grammar School admits 192 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 (via Bexley LA) — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Bexley Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Bexley Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Bexley Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Bexley Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Bexley Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Bexley Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Bexley Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.