About Townley Grammar School
Townley Grammar School for Girls admits 224 students annually. Admission is via the shared Bexley Selection Test (GL Assessment). Townley is one of the larger-intake Bexley grammar schools. Children register once with Bexley LA and the same results apply to all four Bexley grammar schools.
Townley Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 69.7%. A-Level A*–B: 72.9%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Townley Grammar School
Townley Grammar School is a girls state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 224 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.
Townley 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 (224 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 Townley Grammar School
Townley Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Townley Grammar School for Girls admits 224 students annually. Admission is via the shared Bexley Selection Test (GL Assessment). Townley is one of the larger-intake Bexley grammar schools. Children register once with Bexley LA and the same results apply to all four Bexley grammar schools.
- ✓Register for the Bexley Selection Test via Bexley Local Authority (1st–31st May 2026).
- ✓Sit two 50-minute multiple-choice GL Assessment papers in September 2026.
- ✓Achieve selective status (Bexley LA pass mark, age-standardised).
- ✓The top 180 girls scoring highest across Bexley may choose their preferred school.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls with a sibling currently attending Townley Grammar School.
- ✓Distance from the school used as the final tie-breaker.
Townley Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 224 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 Townley 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 — Townley 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 Townley 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 Townley 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 Townley 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 Townley Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Townley Grammar School
Townley selects through the Bexley Selection Test (GL Assessment), sat once for the borough's grammar schools — two age-standardised, multiple-choice papers with no fixed pass mark.
- Verbal skills: comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.
- Mathematics & non-verbal reasoning: Key Stage 2 maths plus pattern and spatial problem-solving.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Townley Grammar School
Townley 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 Townley 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 Townley Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Townley Grammar School is a high-performing Bexley girls' grammar with a strong record at GCSE and A-Level and a national reputation for its work with gifted and talented students.
- GCSE: around 74% of grades at 9–7 in a recent year, with a well-above-average Progress 8 score.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with around 76% of A-Level grades at A*–B.
- Ofsted: rated Outstanding, with recognition for its innovative approach.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Townley Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Bexley Selection Test, set by GL Assessment (Bexley moved to GL from CEM in 2023) and shared across the borough's grammar schools (Beths, Bexley Grammar, Chislehurst & Sidcup and Townley) — so a child sits it once. It is two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day: one on verbal skills (comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning) and one on mathematics and non-verbal reasoning. Scores are age-standardised and combined; there is no fixed pass mark, with the qualifying standard set by a panel after marking, and the highest-scoring children across Bexley prioritised.
The school admits around 224 girls to Year 7 and has no fixed catchment area. After looked-after children and pupils with an EHCP naming the school, priority runs through Pupil Premium applicants living within five miles, then siblings, then remaining applicants ranked by straight-line distance from the school. Register for the Bexley Test and name the school on the Common Application Form. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Townley Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Townley Road in Bexleyheath, in the London Borough of Bexley (DA6 7AB). The school is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and is recognised nationally for its ambitious, innovative approach and its focus on developing gifted and talented young women.
It offers a broad enrichment programme spanning STEM, the arts, leadership and global projects, within a supportive and aspirational environment. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Townley Grammar School
How do I apply to Townley Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Townley 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 Townley Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Townley Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Townley 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 Townley Grammar School?
Townley 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 224 places.
How many Year 7 places does Townley Grammar School have?
Townley Grammar School admits 224 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 Townley 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 Townley Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Townley Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Townley 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 Townley 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 Townley Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Townley 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.