Townley Grammar School 11 plus is a popular girls grammar route in Bexleyheath, and it often sits on shortlists for families who want a focused academic environment with a large year group and a well organised structure. The school is close to Bexleyheath Station and Danson Park, so the daily routine matters in real life, not just on paper.
Most families feel calmer when two things are clear early. First, Townley Grammar School admissions follows the Bexley Selection Test timetable, then the local authority application is what actually triggers an offer. Second, the test is designed to sample a broad range of ability areas, so preparation works best when it is steady and balanced rather than intense and narrow.
A useful early move is to map your grammar school application UK timeline on one page so deadlines do not creep up as Year 6 gets busy. This practical guide keeps it simple: grammar school application UK timeline.
| Key detail | Information |
| School type | Girls grammar school, ages 11 to 18 |
| Location | Townley Rd, Bexleyheath DA6 7AB. |
| Year 7 places | 224 |
| Test route | Bexley Selection Test |
| Offer route | Via local authority coordinated admissions |
| How places are prioritised | Selective standard first, then published oversubscription rules |
| Location |
For the clearest published rules for September 2026 entry, start with Townley Grammar School Year 7 admission arrangements for 2026 entry, which sets out eligibility, oversubscription criteria, distance measurement, waiting lists, and appeals.
Townley Grammar School selection is based on the borough wide Bexley Selection Test, and families must register within the published window. The London Borough of Bexley admissions team summarises the full timeline clearly in Starting at Secondary School September 2026 information for parents, which is useful to keep on hand through Year 5 and Year 6.
Registered children sit the test during the week of 8 September 2025, either in their own primary school or at a test centre. Both papers are taken in one session with a short break in between, which is why stamina and calm pacing matter as much as ability.
The published content covers comprehension, verbal ability including vocabulary, numerical reasoning, and non verbal reasoning. Fifty percent of marks come from verbal ability and comprehension, with 25 percent from numerical reasoning and 25 percent from non verbal reasoning. This balance helps guide preparation so no single area quietly pulls the overall score down.
Because GL Assessment provides the papers for this route, it can help to use GL Assessment free familiarisation materials so the multiple choice layout feels normal well before test day.
Test registration allows your child to sit the assessment, but offers only come through the secondary application system. Many London families apply using eAdmissions. The secondary application period runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 October 2025.
Townley publishes a supplementary form for Year 7 entry for this cycle, closing on 31 October 2025. This can affect priority criteria, so it is important to read the school instructions carefully rather than assuming it does not apply.
National offer day is 2 March 2026, with replies due by 17 March 2026. Waiting lists can move as families finalise decisions and travel plans. If you are considering an appeal, many parents find it helpful to read ACE Education guidance on school admission appeals to understand what panels can consider and what evidence is most useful.
| Milestone | Date |
| Selection test registration window | 1 May 2025 to 31 May 2025 |
| Selection test week | Week of 8 September 2025 |
| Secondary application opens | 1 September 2025 |
| Secondary application deadline | 31 October 2025 |
| Townley supplementary form deadline | 31 October 2025 |
| Results shared to parents | October 2025 (exact date to be confirmed) |
| National offer day | 2 March 2026 |
| Reply deadline | 17 March 2026 |
Townley does not operate a simple catchment guarantee. Your child must first meet the Bexley selective standard. After that, places are allocated using published oversubscription rules, meaning two children who both qualify can still have different outcomes.
Distance is measured as a straight line from the home address to the student entrance point defined in the admissions arrangements. Travel time is not considered. This is why it helps to do one real travel trial at school start time using the TfL Journey Planner, especially if you are balancing routes from Bexleyheath, Sidcup, or Welling.
Townley admissions for Year 7 are based on the Bexley Selection Test rather than interviews. Preparation is therefore about familiarity with question types, calm timing habits, and accuracy across all tested areas.
The papers include separately timed sections, which makes answer sheet habits, careful reading, and moving on when stuck particularly important on the day.
Preparation works best when it feels like training rather than judgement. For Townley, the focus is comprehension habits, verbal ability vocabulary and technique, numerical reasoning flexibility, and non verbal pattern confidence under calm timed conditions.
You can adapt the structure using this Year 5 revision plan.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor FYT focused on Townley Grammar School. It benchmarks your child’s current level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured Townley Grammar School Places with Find Your Tutor.
The selection test is scheduled for the week of 8 September 2025. Your child’s exact sitting details depend on where they test. Register early and keep the whole week clear in case of session allocation.
The Bexley test content is comprehension, verbal ability, numerical reasoning, and non verbal reasoning. Preparation should cover all areas, because the weighting means one weaker area can pull the total down.
Yes. Test registration is a separate step from applying for a school place. Registering allows your child to sit the test, but the council application is what creates an offer.
Yes, families outside the borough can register and apply. Offers still follow the published oversubscription rules, including distance and priority criteria, so living further away can make offers harder.
Townley’s published admission number is 224 places. This matters because it frames how competitive the selective group can feel in some years.
First your child needs to be deemed selective. After that, places are offered using the school’s published oversubscription rules, which include priority groups and distance as a factor.
Townley does not publish an interview stage for Year 7 admissions through the Bexley test route. The selection test outcome and oversubscription criteria do the work.
Many London families apply online using eAdmissions. Paper routes exist for families who cannot apply online, but online is usually the simplest option.
You can, but it is risky to list only grammar schools. A calm approach is to include at least one local all ability option so your child has a secure offer route on offer day.
It means your child has met the published selective standard in the Bexley Selection Test. It does not automatically mean an offer is guaranteed, because oversubscription rules still apply.
The school publishes straight line distance measured from your home address to the student entrance. It is not based on travel time.
The published rules explain tie break methods when offers are close. It is sensible to keep address evidence consistent across registration and the council application.
Yes, waiting lists are part of the process and can move after offer day. Accept the offered school first so September is secure, then stay on the waiting list where relevant.
Late registration is not accepted for this route, so contact the admissions team quickly to ask what options remain. It also helps to build a balanced preference list so you are not relying on one outcome.
No, tutoring is not required, but structured support can help some children. The most important thing is a consistent plan that builds skill and confidence without making Year 6 feel like a constant exam.
