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Grammar Schools in Bexley: Complete Guide

Exam Information 6 min read
Table of contents
  1. About Bexley Grammar Schools
  2. Key information for 2027 entry into Bexley Grammar Schools at 11 plus (11+)
  3. Exam format for the Bexley 11 plus (11+) entrance exam
  4. Beths Grammar School
  5. Bexley Grammar School
  6. Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
  7. Townley Grammar School
  8. Examberry Papers

About Bexley Grammar Schools

Making the right choice between different grammar schools can be a tough decision for parents. Whilst all grammar schools offer great starts for children, it is often challenging to find comprehensive information concerning the different schools available and the best options for your children.

This guide aims to provide clear and concise information regarding the grammar schools in the London Borough of Bexley. There are four grammar schools in Bexley, all of which use the Bexley Selection Test to determine admission into Year 7: Beths Grammar School, Bexley Grammar School, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, and Townley Grammar School. Each has its own detailed guide covering places, admissions criteria and preparation. 

This guide includes general information, details about the tests, and key information about each school, including statistics, facilities, results, and Ofsted reviews.

In the coming sections of this article, the below listed key terms mean the following:

  • CAF: Common Application Form, the form you must submit to your local authority listing the schools of your choice in order of preference 
  • PAN: Published Admission Number, the number of places available for Year 7 entry in 2024 at 11 plus (11+) level
  • EHCP: Education, Health and Care Plan, a legal document that describes a person’s special educational needs
  • Pupil Premium: a grant that improves educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils
  • PLAC: (previously) looked after children

Key information for 2027 entry into Bexley Grammar Schools at 11 plus (11+)

Important dates:

  • Registration: opens 1 March 2026 and closes at midnight on 31 March 2026, with no late entries accepted
  • Exam dates: between 2 and 10 September 2026, with 7 to 10 September for children sitting at one of the four grammar schools
  • Academic test results: October 2026, with the exact date confirmed by the council each year
  • CAF deadline: 31 October 2026
  • National school offer day: 1 March 2027

Admissions information:

  • Scoring: scores are age-standardised and ranked- the 180 candidates with the highest scores are automatically considered the priority group for their chosen school
  • Eligibility criteria: Year 6, within the cut-off distance
  • Priority criteria: (dependent on the school) 
  • Appeals: Reviewed by an independent panel
  • Admission Contact details: 020 8303 7777, [email protected], www.bexley.gov.uk

Exam format for the Bexley 11 plus (11+) entrance exam

The Bexley Selection Test is provided by Quest Assessments and consists of two multiple-choice papers taken in the same session. There is no writing paper, all working is done in the test booklet, and rough paper is not provided. For more on this provider, see our Quest Assessments guide.

Each paper lasts around 50 minutes, plus time for instructions and practice questions, and is divided into individually timed sections.

The test assesses verbal ability and English comprehension, numerical reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.

The full session lasts approximately two and a half to three hours, including a short break between the two papers.

Beths Grammar School

School type: Boys’ grammar (mixed sixth form)

Number of pupils: 1,363

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 192

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 152

Headteacher: Richard Blyghton

Address: Hartford Road, Bexley, DA5 1NE

Catchment area: there is no catchment area for this school

Priority criteria: PLAC; children who achieve the highest 180 scores in the Bexley Selection Test; children who have a sibling at the school; children of permanent staff members; max. 12 places for children who get free school meals; children who live closest to the school; children who have passed a grammar school test in an authority that borders Bexley

2022 Results: GCSE: 70% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 70% of students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Good

School’s Contact details: 01322 556 538, [email protected], www.beths.bexley.sch.uk

Bexley Grammar School

School type: mixed grammar

Number of pupils: 1,460

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 210

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 62

Headteacher: Stephen Elphick

Address: Danson Lane, Welling, DA16 2BL

Catchment area: there is no catchment area for this school

Priority criteria: PLAC; children who achieve the highest 180 scores in the Bexley Selection Test; children who have a sibling at the school; children of permanent staff members; children who live closest to the school

Facilities: you can see a detailed list of the facilities here

2022 Results: GCSE: 74.9% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 82.2% of students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Outstanding

School’s Contact details: 020 8304 8538, [email protected], www.bexleygs.co.uk

Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School

School type: mixed grammar

Number of pupils: 1,479

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 192

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 82

Headteacher: Nigel Walker

Address: Hurst Road, Sidcup, DA15 9AG

Catchment area: there is no catchment area for this school

Priority criteria: PLAC; children who achieve the highest 180 scores in the Bexley Selection Test; children who have a sibling at the school; children of permanent staff members; children who live closest to the school

Facilities: lecture theatre; 4G Astroturf pitch; cafe area; dance and drama studios; cricket and tennis areas; designated music practice rooms 

2022 Results: GCSE: 69.7% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 80.8% of students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Good

School’s Contact details: 020 8302 6511, [email protected], www.csgrammar.com

Townley Grammar School

School type: Girls’ grammar

Number of pupils: 1,613

Ages: 11-18

PAN: 224

The Sunday Times Parent Power National Rank: 91

Headteacher: Nevita Pandya

Address: Townley Road, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AB

Catchment area: there is no catchment area for this school

Priority criteria: PLAC; children who get free school meals and achieve the qualifying score; children who achieve the highest 180 scores in the Bexley Selection Test; children who have a sibling at the school; children of permanent staff members; children who live closest to the school

Facilities: music technology suite and a recording studio; modern theatre, photography facilities and a dance studio; fitness suite and a sports hall; computing classrooms and a DT design room 

2022 Results: GCSE: 74% of students achieved grades 9-7, A Level: 76.2% of students achieved grades A*-B

Ofsted ranking: Outstanding

School’s Contact details: 020 8304 8311, [email protected], www.townleygrammar.org.uk

Examberry Papers

The most effective way to prepare for Bexley’s 11+ entrance exam is to use practice tests written by experts.

Each of our practice tests:

  • is written for the current Medway Test: multiple choice, with answers on separate answer sheets and no writing paper.
  • is available in PDF download and physical format.
  • familiarises your child with the types of questions they will face in the real exam.
  • includes answers to every question and also detailed, step-by-step explanations for all maths questions.
  • boosts your child’s confidence before the actual exam.

For Bexley 11+ preparation, we recommend the following packs:

Bexley 11+ Practice Tests

Key Recommendations

Please note:

Although our recommendations currently refer to GL Assessment practice materials, the Bexley Selection Test follows a similar format, question style and level of difficulty. We will be releasing dedicated Quest-style practice materials in due course.

Further Recommendations

Targeted Skills

Key Recommendations

Please note:

Although our recommendations currently refer to GL Assessment practice materials, the Bexley Selection Test follows a similar format, question style and level of difficulty. We will be releasing dedicated Quest-style practice materials in due course.

Further Recommendations

Targeted Skills

Free GL Assessment style Maths paper cover

Free GL Assessment style Maths paper

Get a full free Maths paper, written in the GL style by our in-house team, with answers included. We'll email it straight to you.

We'll also send occasional 11+ preparation tips. Unsubscribe whenever you like.

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