Bexley Grammar School: 11+ Admissions, Scores and Results
Bexley Grammar School is a selective, co-educational secondary school in Welling, South East London. It admits pupils into Year 7 through the Bexley Selection Test, commonly known as the 11+, and is a popular option for families seeking a grammar school education.
However, passing the Bexley Selection Test does not automatically guarantee a place. Parents also need to understand the school’s admissions criteria, how home-to-school distance affects offers and how to interpret their child’s results.
This guide explains Bexley Grammar School’s 11+ admissions process, pass mark, catchment area and entry requirements, helping families plan their application.
Page Contents
Is Bexley Grammar School Selective?
Yes. Bexley Grammar School is a state-funded selective academy for pupils aged 11–18. Admission to Year 7 is based on the Bexley Selection Test and the school’s published oversubscription criteria.
The school has a published intake of 210 Year 7 places for September 2027 entry. Demand can be considerably higher than the number of available places, so meeting the selective standard is only one part of the admissions process.
Parents should distinguish between three important stages:
- Taking the test: Your child must be registered for the Bexley Selection Test by the deadline.
- Being deemed selective: Your child’s result must meet the applicable qualifying standard.
- Receiving an offer: Your child must also meet Bexley Grammar School’s admissions criteria and be allocated a place.
You can find the latest requirements on the official Bexley Grammar School admissions page.
Bexley Grammar School 11+ Admissions: How to Apply
Children applying for Year 7 in September 2027 take the Bexley Selection Test in September 2026, during Year 6 of primary school.
For this entry year, registration for the selection test ran from 1 March to 31 March 2026, with testing planned for the week commencing 7 September 2026. These dates have now passed.
The Year 7 Application Process
Parents applying for a future entry year should follow the relevant annual timetable.
- Register for the Bexley Selection Test. Registration is completed through the London Borough of Bexley when the registration window opens.
- Prepare for the test. Use age-appropriate practice to build confidence in the skills assessed.
- Check the results. The local authority publishes the arrangements for accessing selection test results.
- Complete the secondary school application. Apply through your home local authority and list schools in your genuine order of preference.
- Wait for offers. Places are allocated according to each school’s published criteria and the coordinated admissions process.
For September 2027 entry, the secondary school application deadline is 31 October 2026. Families applying for a later year should check the relevant dates rather than relying on this timetable.
Read the London Borough of Bexley’s secondary school application guidance for official deadlines and application instructions.
Can You Apply If Your Child Has Not Passed the Test?
Parents can include Bexley Grammar School on the secondary application even if their child has not been deemed selective. However, this does not mean a place will be offered.
The school’s admissions information explains that families may appeal after an unsuccessful application, provided they have applied and received a decision. Parents should also include suitable non-selective school options to ensure they have alternatives if a grammar school place is not offered.
Bexley Grammar School Pass Mark: What Score Does Your Child Need?
The Bexley Selection Test determines whether a child meets the selective standard for grammar school consideration. However, the qualifying score and the score needed to secure a place at Bexley Grammar School are not necessarily the same thing.
The school’s official appeals guidance refers to a Bexley Selection Test pass mark of 212. Parents should check the admissions information for their child’s specific entry year to confirm the applicable standard and how the score is used.
Even when a child meets the qualifying standard, the school may receive more eligible applications than it has places. In that situation, the published oversubscription criteria determine which applicants receive offers.
Does Passing the 11+ Guarantee a Place?
No. A qualifying result allows a child to be considered for a grammar school place, but it does not guarantee admission to Bexley Grammar School.
The outcome depends on the number of applicants, the school’s admissions criteria and the applicant’s position within those criteria. Home-to-school distance can be particularly important for families who do not qualify for a higher-priority category.
Parents should therefore prepare for the entrance test while also researching alternative schools and understanding the admissions rules.
Bexley Grammar School Catchment Area: How Far Away Can You Live?
Bexley Grammar School does not have a fixed catchment radius that guarantees admission every year. Instead, the distance at which places are offered can change according to demand and the school’s oversubscription criteria.
The school’s admissions FAQs state that, for the previous admission round, the last distance reached was approximately 1.8 miles as of March 2026, extending to around 2.1 miles as some waiting-list places became available.
These figures are historical guidance, not a guaranteed catchment for future applicants.
How Is Distance Measured?
Bexley Grammar School measures home-to-school distance in a straight line. This is different from road distance or the time it takes to travel to school.
The last distance at which a place was offered can change from one year to the next. A family living within the previous year’s distance is therefore not guaranteed a place, and living slightly further away does not automatically rule out an offer.
When comparing your chances, consider:
- Your child’s selection test result and selective status.
- Whether your child meets any higher-priority admissions criteria.
- Your home address under the school’s published distance-measurement rules.
- The number of applicants who qualify for places in that year.
- How waiting-list movement may affect later offers.
For the school’s own explanation, read the Bexley Grammar School admissions FAQs.
Should You Put Bexley Grammar School First?
Parents should list schools in their genuine order of preference. The coordinated admissions system considers the schools on the application and offers the highest-preference school for which the child qualifies.
Putting a school first does not itself improve a child’s position under that school’s oversubscription criteria. Equally, listing another school first does not generally make a child more likely to receive an offer from that school if they qualify for a higher preference.
Read the admissions criteria carefully before submitting your application, and include realistic alternative options.
Bexley Grammar School Results: When Are 11+ Results Released?
For September 2027 entry, Bexley Council’s published admissions information says parents can look up selection test results online in October 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed in its guidance.
The result helps parents understand whether their child has been deemed selective before finalising their secondary school preferences.
It is important to interpret the outcome correctly:
- Deemed selective: Your child has met the relevant selective standard and can be considered for grammar school admission.
- Not deemed selective: Your child has not met the standard for the usual selective route, although parents should review the school’s published guidance about appeals and any relevant review process.
- Offer received: Your child has been allocated a place at the school through the admissions process.
A selection test result is not the same as a confirmed school offer. For September 2027 entry, national secondary school offer day is 1 March 2027.
Parents should check the official Bexley Grammar School admissions policies for the arrangements that apply to the relevant year.
How to Prepare for the Bexley Grammar School 11+
A structured preparation plan can help children become more confident with timed questions, improve accuracy and identify areas that need further practice.
Before starting, check the official test guidance so that preparation reflects the format and skills relevant to the Bexley Selection Test.
Build Strong Core Skills
Begin by reviewing your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Focus on accuracy and understanding before increasing the difficulty or time pressure.
Useful preparation activities include:
- Verbal reasoning: Practise identifying word relationships, patterns and logical connections.
- Non-verbal reasoning: Develop confidence with shapes, sequences and visual patterns.
- Numerical skills: Practise calculations, number relationships and mathematical problem-solving.
- Timed practice: Introduce short timed exercises once your child understands the question types.
Use official information and suitable practice resources to establish which areas are relevant to the current test format. Do not assume every grammar school uses an identical entrance examination.
Use Practice Questions to Identify Gaps
Practice papers are most useful when parents review mistakes rather than simply counting correct answers. Ask your child to explain their reasoning, identify recurring errors and revisit topics that cause difficulty.
A practical weekly routine might include several short practice sessions, a review of challenging questions and one timed exercise when your child is ready. Keep the workload manageable alongside schoolwork, hobbies and rest.
Think Academy’s 11+ practice questions can provide additional practice for relevant English, maths and reasoning skills. Check the Bexley admissions guidance before selecting materials so that preparation remains appropriate to the actual assessment.
Is Bexley Grammar School a Good Choice for Your Child?
An entrance test result is only one factor when choosing a secondary school. Parents should also consider whether the school’s academic environment, pastoral support, curriculum and journey to school suit their child.
Bexley Grammar School is a co-educational school for ages 11–18, with specialisms in languages, science and mathematics. Families should review the school’s current information and arrange a visit to understand its teaching approach, facilities and wider opportunities.
When comparing schools, consider:
- Academic environment: Is your child comfortable with an academically selective setting?
- Curriculum: Does the school offer suitable subjects and opportunities for your child’s interests?
- Pastoral support: What support is available during the transition to secondary school?
- Travel: Is the daily journey manageable for your family?
- Admissions likelihood: Does your child meet the selective standard, and how do the oversubscription criteria affect your application?
- Alternative options: Which non-selective or other selective schools would also suit your child?
For a wider comparison, read our guide to the best grammar schools in the UK. It can help you explore other schools, but remember that individual admissions criteria and local selection arrangements differ.
Bexley Grammar School 11+ Admissions: Key Takeaways
Bexley Grammar School is a selective state school where Year 7 admission depends on the Bexley Selection Test and the school’s published oversubscription criteria.
The key points for parents are:
- Registration matters: Selection test registration has a separate deadline from the secondary school application.
- Passing is not a guarantee: Meeting the selective standard does not automatically secure a place.
- There is no guaranteed catchment radius: The last distance reached changes each year.
- Results and offers are different: Selection test results help determine eligibility, while final offers follow the coordinated admissions process.
- Preparation should be targeted: Use the official test guidance and relevant practice to build confidence in the skills assessed.
- List realistic alternatives: Include other suitable schools on your application.
For September 2027 entry, the secondary school application deadline is 31 October 2026. Families applying for other years should confirm the correct timetable with Bexley Council and Bexley Grammar School.
Help your child prepare for selective school assessments: Explore Think Academy’s 11+ practice questions to support structured practice in relevant skills.
Admissions policies, qualifying scores and distance criteria can change. Always check the official school and local authority guidance for your child’s entry year before making decisions
