This article is for parents thinking about applying for a late transfer (known as ‘in-year’/ ‘casual admission’) at a Bexley grammar school for Year 8-9.
Essential information
Who?
The 12+ is for children applying for an in-year transfer place at a Bexley grammar school. In other words, the child did not start school in Year 7 in September in a grammar school in Bexley.
What?
The Cambridge Select Insight assessment – an online exam with an unfamiliar question format. The test is different compared to the standard 11 plus test (which is examined by Quest Assessments post-2026).
Why?
To determine if your child is suitable for a grammar school place when applying outside of the normal Year 7 entry round. Perhaps your child may not have attended an 11 plus tuition centre in Bexley (or elsewhere) and you would like to give them an opportunity to try to get into a grammar school. Or perhaps your child did sit the 11 plus exam but missed out on the pass mark.
Where?
Bexley. Each Bexley grammar school administers its own test and sets their own date, unlike the 11 plus exam, which is a borough-wide event and centrally organised.
How?
Your child takes the Cambridge Select Insight assessment, which is divided into timed sections and covers different subjects.
Is there anything else I should know?
Yes. When children join a grammar school in Year 7, they are a blank slate- metaphorically speaking. However, as schools know the children have passed the 11+, this means the children have the ability to learn difficult concepts well. The 12+ is slightly different. This is because a child joining a grammar school from Year 8 onwards is not a blank slate. In fact, they they are expected to arrive with some knowledge in different subjects since the school will not be able to teach a child from the very beginning. So the 12+ tries to check not only the aptitude of a child, but also how much existing knowledge the child has. Obviously, the 12+ will not be able test a child’s knowledge in every subject, but it will test a child’s knowledge in the core subjects.
Exam format & content
The Cambridge Select Insight assessment covers three key areas:
- Verbal Reasoning: Problem-solving using words, with a strong focus on vocabulary depth and breadth.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: Problem-solving using shapes and patterns, focusing mainly on one specific question type.
- Numerical Reasoning: Problem-solving using numbers and arithmetic.
What to expect
According to the familiarisation information Grammar School Pathway has seen, we note:
- Unusual question formats: Your child will see question types they have likely never encountered before, including drag-and-drop digits and sentence auto-completes.
- Highly time-pressured: The assessment is divided into sections, each with tight time limits.
- Completion may not be required: Your child does not need to finish every question in each section to do well. Accuracy matters more than rushing to the end.
How to apply for a late transfer (Year 8-9) place
Follow these steps to apply for an in-year grammar school place in Bexley.
Step 1: Contact Bexley Council Admissions
Call 0208 303 7777 to confirm your child’s eligibility and the current application process.
Step 2: Complete the official in-year application form
This is available on the London Borough of Bexley website. Do not apply directly to the school.
Online Application: London Borough of Bexley website (search “in-year admissions”).
Step 3: Register for the Cambridge Select Insight assessment
The council or host school will provide details and a test date (usually in November).
Step 4: Take the test
Your child will sit the assessment at the designated location and time.
Step 5: Wait for results and offers
This isn’t as big a day as National Offer Day, but if your child passes and a place is available, the school will contact you. If no place is available, you can request to join the waiting list.
Grammar schools in Bexley are often full, so passing the test does not guarantee an immediate place, but it allows you to join the waiting list for your child’s year group.
Also, please note that completing the 12+ in Bexley does not make your child eligible for a seat in a Kent grammar school.
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