Bexley Grammar School
92%
Capacity
1,250
Pupils
6.9x
Demand
About Bexley Grammar School
Bexley Grammar School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 1,470 applications for 212 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6.93. That means nearly seven families applied for every available spot, and 358 parents put it down as their first preference, of whom 171 received offers. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the sheer volume of applications — particularly the high number of first-preference choices — suggests strong confidence among families who know it well. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary in Bexley, with a headteacher named Steven Poole. It has capacity for 1,357 pupils and currently enrols 1,250, so it is running close to full. Just 3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably low and reflects the school's selective intake.
Academically, Bexley Grammar School is a high performer. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, it was rated Outstanding across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. Its Progress 8 score of 0.49 is well above the national average and significantly higher than the Bexley local authority average of 0.03. The school ranks 6th out of 16 schools of the same type in the borough, placing it in the top 37.5% locally. Nationally, it sits at 522nd out of 3,141 schools, which puts it in the top 16.6% of all schools. Attainment 8 stands at 74.7, and 99.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 7.35, with 98.7% of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including science labs, art studios, music rooms, a sports hall, an astro turf pitch, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There are plenty of extracurricular options: clubs range from gardening and eco club to Model UN, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, while sports include hockey, tennis, martial arts, and athletics. The school also provides support for a variety of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. With its selective intake and strong academic results, Bexley Grammar School is best suited to families whose children are likely to thrive in a high-achieving, structured environment and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process. The school is not a boarding option and operates a standard day-school model.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Address | Danson Lane, Welling, Bexley, DA16 2BL |
| Headteacher | Steven Poole |
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| Number of Pupils | 1,250 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 3.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,250 / 1,357 (92% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.49)
522nd of 3,141
Nationally
170th of 487
In London
6th of 16
In Bexley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2393%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 191 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)93%
- FE college3%
- Sixth form college2%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2375%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 211 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
48%
Russell Group
58%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)75%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained3%
- Further education2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed212
1,470
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
358 families put this school as their 1st choice (24% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British33.7%
- Asian29.7%
- White (other)11.5%
- Mixed9.2%
- Black0.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
14
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
10
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bexley Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Danson Lane, Welling
Bexley, DA16 2BL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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