Grammar schools in Bexley

If you’ve read the ‘about us’ page, you’ll know we moved to Bexley some years ago. One of the main reasons for this was due to the grammar schools. 

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Of course, Bexley isn’t the only London borough to have grammar schools, but it is one of the London boroughs with the highest number of grammar schools: four (shown as numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the map) .  

But why does that matter?

Typically, children trying to get into a grammar school will have to sit the 11+ exam set by the council – not the school. Passing the Bexley exam will not admit a child into a grammar school in Redbridge, for example, and vice versa. So in the case of Bexley, a child will only need to sit one 11+ exam for a chance to get into one of the schools in Bexley. 

Some schools may set their own exam, but these schools tend to be either private schools or highly selective schools. 

Overall, this is a great system. The alternative could have been that every school sets their own test and pupils would have had to take dozens of tests whilst in Year 5.

Parents should also bear in mind that some schools in Bexley are mixed schools, whilst others aren’t: 

Bexley Grammar School (BGS)

BGS was founded in 1937 and has around 1,500 boys and girls on roll (including sixth form). 

The GCSE pass rate is around 95%, whilst the IB pass rate for sixth formers is around 99%. 

In addition to being rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, it is one of the top 100 schools in the country according to The Times. 

Beths

Beths Grammar School is a boys school with a mixed sixth form. lt was founded in 1945 and has around 1,200 pupils on roll, including sixth form. 

The pass rate at GCSE is around 92%, whilst the pass rate at A level is 99%. 

Like BGS, Beths is also rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Beths is in the top 5% for progress 8 scores. 

Chislehurt & Sidcup Grammar School 

Founded in 1931 as Sidcup County Grammar School, it later merged with Chislehurst Grammar in 1975. Today, it operates as  Chislehurt & Sidcup Grammar School with around 1,100 boys and girls on roll. 

The GCSE pass rate is around 89% whilst the A Level pass rate is around 99%. 

The school has been rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted and has good progress 8 scores and also has a gold award for being a healthy school. 

Townley Grammar School 

Townley was founded in 1937 but was known as Bexley Technical High School for Girls. Townley is a girls’ school, but it has a mixed sixth form. In total, it has around 1,500 pupils on roll. 

The GCSE pass rate is around 95% whilst the A Level pass rate is around 99%. 

The school is recognised as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and is considered to be one of the top 100 schools in England by The Times. 

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