Apply to Bexley Grammar School, in plain English.
Bexley Grammar uses the Bexley 11+ Selection Test — not the Kent test. This guide covers how to register, the six criteria that decide who gets a place (including the Top 180 guarantee and the 12 Pupil Premium reserved spots), and what to do if your child misses out.
The three things to know first.
If you read nothing else on this page, read these.
The Bexley test — not the Kent 11+.
Bexley Grammar uses the Bexley Selection TestBexley 11+A two-paper test of verbal reasoning, comprehension, non-verbal reasoning and maths reasoning. Administered by Bexley LA in September. run by Bexley LA — a completely separate process from the Kent PESE. Register directly with Bexley LA (not the school) by 31 March 2026.
Top 180 scorers get a guaranteed place at their preferred Bexley grammar.
The 180 children with the highest age-standardised scores across all Bexley grammar applicants are guaranteed a place at their preferred school. If your child scores in the top 180, they essentially choose their Bexley grammar — score is what counts.
Send the PP SIF by 31 October if claiming Pupil Premium.
12 places are reserved for Pupil Premium-eligible children. To access them, return the Supplementary Form for Pupil PremiumPP SIFBexley Grammar's form to verify Pupil Premium eligibility. Must be returned with a letter from the LA or primary school confirming eligibility. to the school by 31 October 2026 along with a confirming letter from your LA or primary school.
Four steps across the year.
If more children pass than there are places, these 6 criteria decide.
Only children deemed selective by Bexley LA are eligible. Within that group, the following order applies. Tap any criterion to see the exact wording.
In plain English: Children currently or previously in council care get top priority, regardless of score or address.
What the document says: Highest priority will be given to looked-after children and all previously looked-after children who apply for a place at the school.
In plain English: 12 places are reserved for Pupil Premium-eligible children who are deemed selective. Within this group, places go to children living closest to the school. You must complete the PP SIF and return it to the school by 31 October with supporting evidence — the school will not collect this information on your behalf.
What the document says: Up to 12 places are reserved for children who are eligible for receipt of Pupil Premium Grant funding at the time of application, and who are deemed selective, in rank order of distance from the school. Documentary supporting evidence must be provided and the Supplementary Form for Pupil Premium Information returned to the school by 31 October in the year of application.
In plain English: The 180 children with the highest scores across all Bexley grammar applicants get a guaranteed place at their preferred Bexley grammar school. The exact cut-off score varies each year. If your child is in the top 180, they effectively choose which Bexley grammar to attend.
What the document says: Those children identified as achieving one of the highest 180 standardised scores in the Bexley selection test. All children who take the Bexley selection test are ranked in order of their standardised scores. From this ranking exercise, the 180 children with the highest scores are guaranteed a place at their preferred grammar school within Bexley LA.
In plain English: If your child will have a brother, sister, half- or step-sibling at Bexley Grammar in Years 7–11 at the time of application, they get priority here. The sibling must live at the same address.
What the document says: Those children with a brother, sister or step/half brother or sister living at the same address who are currently attending Bexley Grammar School in Years 7–11 at the time of application.
In plain English: If a parent has worked at Bexley Grammar for at least two years at the time of application, their child gets priority here.
What the document says: Bexley Grammar gives priority to children of staff where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application was made.
In plain English: Any other child who passed the Bexley test, ranked by straight-line distance from home to school. The closer you live, the better your chance. Where distances are identical to three decimal places, the selection test score is used as a tiebreaker.
What the document says: Children will be admitted on the basis of proximity to the school measured in a straight line from the home address, with priority given to children living nearest to the school. Distance measured by the LA's computerised system from the gate of the home address to the middle gate entrance approved by the Governors. Where distance is identical to 0.001 of a mile, scores in the selection tests are used as a tie-breaker.
Straight line from gate to gate.
For criterion 6, distance is measured in a straight line from the gate of your home address to the middle gate entrance of the school, using the local authority's computerised measuring system. Road distance and walking time are not used.
Home address is taken as the child's permanent address at National Offers Day — the address at which the child lives with the main carer. Proof of residency will be required. If parents live at different addresses, the home for admissions purposes is where the child spends the majority of the school week.
See the catchment on the GrammarBound mapTwo criterion-6 children ranked by distance.
Both children are deemed selective but not in the top 180 and have no sibling or PP priority. Both fall into criterion 6 and are ranked by distance. Child A at 1.1 miles ranks above Child B at 3.2 miles.
You have two routes, and you can use both.
Waiting list
The waiting list is maintained until at least 31 December of the school year of admission and re-ranked each time a new name is added, using the same six criteria. Only children deemed selective can be on the waiting list.
Request via Bexley Grammar School directly.
Appeal
Contact the school's Admissions Officer to request an Appeal Form. The appeal must be returned before the end of March deadline. Appeals are heard by an independent School Appeals Panel.
Appealing does not affect your waiting-list position.