Townley Grammar School 11+ Guide 2026

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Townley Grammar School is the only girls' grammar school in the London Borough of Bexley, with a published admission number of 224 places for Year 7 entry. Located on Townley Road in Bexleyheath, it is one of four selective schools in Bexley, all of which use the same entrance process: the Bexley Selection Test, with papers provided by Quest Assessments. For September 2027 entry, the test was taken between 2 and 10 September 2026, at the four grammar school test centres from 7 to 10 September or at primary schools acting as test centres from 2 September, and results are emailed to parents from 4pm on Friday 2 October 2026. This guide covers everything families need to know about Townley's entry requirements, test format, scoring, key dates, and how to prepare effectively.

What Is Townley Grammar School?

Townley Grammar School is a selective girls' academy located in Bexleyheath, part of the London Borough of Bexley. It became an academy on 1 January 2012 and is the admissions authority for its own intake. Get Information about Schools records 1,669 pupils on roll. The school admits only girls to Year 7 through the Bexley selective process, though the sixth form welcomes male students.

Townley describes two specialisms: Performing and Visual Arts (recognised as a Specialist School in September 2004 and re-designated as a High Performing Specialist School in 2008) and Mathematics and Computing (from September 2009). The school's website has co-curricular pages for the arts, sports, STEM, the house system, the Duke of Edinburgh award and the Townley Baccalaureate.

Bexley has four grammar schools in total: Beths Grammar School (boys), Bexley Grammar School (mixed), Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School (mixed), and Townley Grammar School (girls). All four schools share a single test — the Bexley Selection Test — so a family registering their daughter for the test enters a single process that covers all four schools simultaneously. Applications are then made separately through your home local authority (Bexley residents use Bexley's eAdmissions), listing preferred schools on the Common Application Form (CAF).

For a broader introduction to the 11+ process across grammar schools, see our guide to what the 11+ exam involves and our 11+ tuition page for details of how Leading Tuition approaches selective school preparation.

What Is the Bexley Selection Test (Quest) — 2026 Format?

The Bexley Selection Test is a paper-based two-paper examination, with the papers provided by Quest Assessments. An important point for families to understand from the outset: the Bexley Selection Test is taken in two paper booklets, and Bexley says achieving a selective standard in the Kent Test or any other selection test will not be considered for it.

The test consists of two separate booklets, both taken in the same session on the same day. Each paper lasts approximately 50 minutes, plus additional time for instructions. The full session runs from two and a half to three hours including a short break between the two papers. Both papers consist entirely of multiple-choice questions. All rough working must be done in the test booklet — no separate rough paper is provided.

The three subject areas assessed are:

Verbal ability and English comprehension — tests vocabulary, English comprehension, and verbal reasoning skills. This component is weighted at 50% of the total standardised score, the largest single share.

Numerical reasoning — tests mathematical problem-solving ability. Content does not exceed what children are expected to learn by the end of Year 5. This component carries 25% of the total score.

Non-verbal reasoning — tests the ability to recognise patterns, understand relationships between objects, and make logical deductions. This component also carries 25% of the total score.

The invigilator leads students through the test, instructing them when to move to the next section. Children should bring two sharp HB pencils, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener in a clear bag or case. Wristwatches may be worn, but smartwatches (including Apple Watch and Android devices) are not permitted. Mobile phones must be switched off before entering the room. A small snack and bottle of water may be brought for the break between papers.

For more on the test provider, see our Quest Assessment for Bexley Grammar Schools guide.

How Many Places Are Available and What Is the Selective Standard?

Townley Grammar School has a published admission number (PAN) of 224 places for Year 7 entry. Across all four Bexley grammar schools combined, a total of 800 places are available for September 2027 entry. Townley's 224 places are 28% of the 800 places across the four schools.

In the 2025 test cycle, 5,866 children sat the Bexley Selection Test, and 2,070 were deemed selective — approximately 35 per cent of all candidates. However, being deemed selective does not automatically guarantee a grammar school place. The test results are used in two ways:

First, the 180 children with the highest total age-standardised scores are placed in one of the highest priority groups for their preferred grammar school, and Bexley says achieving the selective standard does not guarantee a place unless a child is among the top 180 highest scorers. At Townley, this group ranks after looked-after children and the Pupil Premium places, and before siblings and staff children.

Second, all other children who achieve the selective standard but rank outside the top 180 are considered for remaining places under Townley's oversubscription criteria, with sibling and staff-child priorities ahead of distance from the school. In oversubscribed years, children in this group who do not live close enough to Townley may be deemed selective but still not receive an offer.

Townley also has 20 places available for children attracting Pupil Premium who achieve the qualifying selective score, ranked by standardised score and then by distance. These children are placed in a dedicated priority category (Category 2 in the oversubscription criteria), ahead of the general selective pool but after looked-after children.

What Are the Key Dates for Townley Grammar School 11+ 2026?

The following dates apply to the September 2026 test for children starting secondary school in September 2027. These children were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 and are in Year 6 during the 2026–27 academic year. The dates below are those published by the London Borough of Bexley.

A critical point: registration for the September 2026 test closed on 31 March 2026. The London Borough of Bexley accepts no late registrations under any circumstances and there is no appeal process. Bexley says a child who moves into the area while in Year 6 and did not register from a previous address before 31 March 2026 can be tested for the first time in secondary school. Testing in Years 7, 8, or 9 is available for children attending an all-ability secondary school. Bexley says to contact your preferred Bexley grammar school for details.

For a broader view of 11+ and grammar school test dates across London and the UK, see our 11+ exam dates guide.

How Is the Bexley Selection Test Scored?

The Bexley Selection Test uses an age-standardised scoring system. All children who take the test are ranked in order of their total age-standardised score. The standardised scores are then weighted and combined to produce a total score used to determine selective status.

The weighting applied to each component is:

50% verbal ability (vocabulary, comprehension, and verbal reasoning) + 25% numerical reasoning (mathematical problem-solving) + 25% non-verbal reasoning (pattern recognition and logical deduction) = total weighted age-standardised score.

The average total weighted age-standardised score is 200, and approximately two-thirds of all candidates score between 170 and 230. Bexley places the top 180 highest scorers in one of the highest priority groups for their preferred grammar school.

The selective score is determined by the London Borough of Bexley in conjunction with the four grammar schools. Townley's admissions policy says Bexley Council decides how many children should be deemed selective and selects the selective score accordingly. In 2025, 5,866 children sat the test and 2,070 were deemed selective — a selectivity rate of approximately 35 per cent. Bexley's own guide is that approximately 30% of applicants are deemed selective.

Test papers are marked externally. The London Borough of Bexley does not hold raw scores and cannot respond to subject access requests or freedom of information requests about raw scores. A headteacher review process takes place after results are published and after the secondary school application deadline. If a child is not deemed selective but parents believe there are grounds for a review, Bexley says to still include a grammar school preference on the secondary school application and to discuss with the school headteacher whether a review request should be submitted. The Independent Review Panel can change selective decisions only in exceptional circumstances; its decision is final.

What Are Townley Grammar School's Oversubscription Criteria?

In the first allocation of places, Townley Grammar School considers only applicants deemed selective by the London Borough of Bexley. If there are fewer than 224 such applicants, all will be admitted. Where there are more applicants than places, the school applies the following oversubscription criteria in this order (its policy counts the two Pupil Premium steps as separate criteria):

1. Looked-after children (LAC) — children in public care or who have previously been looked after and subsequently became subject to adoption, residence, or special guardianship orders.

2. Pupil Premium children — 20 places are available for children attracting Pupil Premium who achieve the qualifying selective score, ranked by standardised score and then by distance. Families must list Townley Grammar on the CAF and submit the school's Supplementary Information Form (SIF). If fewer than 20 places are filled in this category, further places are offered to Pupil Premium children, ranked by standardised score and then by distance, up to a maximum of 2% below the standardised selective score.

3. Guaranteed Grammar School Place (top 180) — girls identified by the London Borough of Bexley as achieving one of the 180 highest scores in the selection tests who list Townley as a preference on the CAF.

4. Sibling — girls who will have a sibling attending Townley Grammar at the time of application. Siblings include full brothers/sisters, adopted siblings, and step/half siblings living at the same address.

5. Staff children — children of staff employed at Townley Grammar for two or more years, or of staff recruited to fill a demonstrable skill shortage vacancy.

6. Distance — distance from home to the school entrance, measured in a straight line using the local authority's computerised system. Bexley says most places are offered based on the distance between home and school.

Townley's oversubscription criteria include no catchment area, and Bexley says the test is open to all children, regardless of where they live. In principle, any child who is deemed selective and lists Townley on their CAF can be considered. Bexley says other selective pupils are not guaranteed a place, as offers depend on the school's admissions criteria, such as distance and sibling priority.

How Should Your Daughter Prepare for the Townley Grammar 11+?

Effective preparation for the Bexley Selection Test requires a clear understanding of what distinguishes it from other 11+ tests in London. The key points that shape preparation are: the two-paper booklet format, the scoring weighting (50% verbal ability) and the familiarisation material Bexley points to on the Quest website.

When to start: Bexley says the test is taken at the beginning of Year 6, so children now in Year 5 have until the start of Year 6 to prepare. The September 2026 test has now been taken, and results are emailed to parents from 4pm on Friday 2 October 2026. For children now in Year 5, the test is taken at the beginning of Year 6, so the priority before then should be full timed paper practice and stamina building rather than new skill acquisition.

Use paper-based practice materials: Because the Bexley test is taken in paper test booklets, practise on paper rather than only on online platforms. Practice should be done on paper and under timed conditions: both papers are timed, all working out is done in the test booklet, and the questions are multiple-choice.

Quest-specific VR and NVR materials: Quest Assessments is the Bexley Selection Test provider, and Bexley says familiarisation exercises and information on preparation for the test can be found on the Quest website. Families should start with those familiarisation materials, then add timed practice papers on the same verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning content.

Focus areas by component: Given the 50% weighting of verbal ability, English comprehension and vocabulary practice deserve a large share of preparation time. Maths problem-solving up to Year 5 level is the core of numerical reasoning preparation. NVR is about recognising patterns, understanding relationships between objects and making logical deductions, so practise those question types.

Build stamina for the full session: With each paper lasting approximately 50 minutes and the full session running up to three hours including the break, children need to be accustomed to sustained concentration over a long period. Practising full-length timed papers helps build this stamina.

Bexley says familiarisation exercises and information on preparation for the test can be found on the Quest website, and its selection-test page links to a Pupil Information Booklet and a Parent Information Booklet. Quest cannot respond to individual concerns from parents; enquiries go to the School Admissions Team at selectiontests@bexley.gov.uk. Townley Grammar School works with Atom Learning to give students eligible for Pupil Premium free access to online Key Stage 2 and 11+ practice through an Atom Home account. Parents complete the form on Townley's free 11+ familiarisation page, and access starts once the child's primary school has verified their Pupil Premium status.

Leading Tuition is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 59 reviews, read on 3 October 2026, and 91% of our students achieve their desired grades.

Reviewed September 2026: dates, figures and rules checked against London Borough of Bexley's Bexley Selection Test and secondary-admissions pages, Townley Grammar School's 2027/28 admissions policy and website, and Get Information about Schools.

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