Apply to Townley Grammar School, in plain English.
Townley uses the Bexley 11+ Selection Test — not the Kent test. This guide covers how to register, the seven criteria that decide who gets a place (including 20 Pupil Premium reserved spots — more than most Bexley grammars — and the Top 180 guarantee), and what to do if your daughter 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+.
Townley 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.
Townley reserves 20 Pupil Premium places — more than most Bexley grammars.
Most Bexley grammar schools reserve 12 PP places. Townley reserves 20 — and they are filled by score then distance, not purely by distance. Return the PP SIF with supporting evidence by 31 October 2026 to access this priority.
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 daughter scores in the top 180, she effectively chooses which Bexley grammar to attend.
Four steps across the year.
If more children pass than there are places, these 7 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: 20 places are reserved for Pupil Premium-eligible children who are deemed selective. Within this group, places go first to the highest scorers; distance is only used as a tiebreaker between children with the same score. Return the PP SIF to the school with supporting evidence by 31 October 2026.
What the document says: Up to 20 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 score, then 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: If fewer than 20 Pupil Premium places are filled by criterion 2, this criterion allows PP-eligible children who scored within 2% below the selective threshold to take the remaining places, in score order. This is a safety net that means the 20 PP places will always be fully used if there is sufficient PP demand just below the pass mark.
What the document says: If fewer than 20 places are allocated under criterion 2, any remaining places reserved for PP children will be offered to PP-eligible children who scored within 2% below the selective threshold score, in order of score.
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 daughter is in the top 180, she effectively chooses 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 daughter will have a sister, half- or step-sister living at the same address who is attending Townley in Years 7–11 at the time of application, she gets priority here.
What the document says: Those children with a sister or step/half sister living at the same address who are currently attending Townley Grammar School in Years 7–11 at the time of application.
In plain English: If a parent works at Townley Grammar, their daughter gets priority here.
What the document says: Townley Grammar gives priority to children of staff employed at the school at the time at which the application was made.
In plain English: Any other girl who passed the Bexley test, ranked by straight-line distance from home to school. The closer you live, the better your chance.
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 main gate of the school.
Joining Year 12 from outside.
Townley recruits approximately 100 external students into Year 12 each September.
Academic requirements
The standard entry requirement is an average point score of 6.0 from your best 8 GCSEs, with English and Maths at grade 5 or above. Individual A-level subject requirements also apply.
For performing arts courses, a lower APS of 5.5 is accepted for applicants who pass a school audition.
How to apply
Approximately 100 external places are available for September 2027 entry. Apply directly to the school — contact the admissions office for the sixth form application form and prospectus.
Visit townleygrammar.org.uk for current deadlines.
Straight line from gate to gate.
For criterion 7, distance is measured in a straight line from the gate of your home address to the main gate 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 Offer 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-7 children ranked by distance.
Both children are deemed selective but not in the top 180 and have no PP, sibling, or staff priority. Both fall into criterion 7 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 and re-ranked each time a new name is added, using the same seven criteria. Only children deemed selective can be on the waiting list.
Request via Townley Grammar School directly.
Appeal
Contact the school's Admissions Officer to request an Appeal Form. Appeals are heard by an independent School Appeals Panel.
Appealing does not affect your waiting-list position.