Best secondary schools in Bexley: A complete 2026 guide

Bexley is one of the few outer London boroughs that has kept a full set of state grammar schools, which shapes the whole secondary school landscape. Alongside the grammars, the borough has a strong group of non-selective academies and comprehensives, plus a handful of faith and community schools that local families regularly shortlist.

This guide is for parents weighing up secondary options in Bexley, whether you are considering the grammar route or looking at the non-selective comprehensives. It covers the schools most families end up looking at, plus how Bexley's selective testing process works alongside the wider pan-London admissions system.

We have based this list on schools that have a long track record of strong results, positive Ofsted reputations, and consistent demand from local families. We have mixed grammar schools and non-selective comprehensives so that the list works whatever route you are considering.

We have not invented Ofsted ratings or specific exam results. Where we describe a school's strengths we have used qualitative language based on widely reported information. You should always check the most recent Ofsted report and the Department for Education's compare-school-performance service before making a decision.

Bexley has no major independent secondary schools within its borders. Families looking at private secondary education usually consider schools in neighbouring boroughs such as Bromley, Greenwich, or further into Kent. Eltham College in Greenwich, Bromley High School, and Sevenoaks School in Kent are all within reasonable commuting distance for Bexley families.

If you are seriously considering private education, factor in the daily commute alongside the fees. A long bus or train journey at the start and end of every school day adds up over seven years, especially during exam season when energy matters most.

Bexley Grammar in Welling is a co-educational state grammar school. It is the only mixed grammar in the borough and one of the few co-educational selective state schools in London.

The school is known for an international focus, with the International Baccalaureate offered alongside A Levels in the sixth form. Admission is through the Bexley selective tests, with a defined catchment priority area.

Townley Grammar in Bexleyheath is a girls' state grammar school with a boys' sixth form. It is among the more academically successful state schools in south-east London.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, an active creative arts programme, and a thriving sixth form. Admission is through the Bexley selective tests, with priority given to high-scoring girls living within the catchment area.

Beths Grammar in Bexley is a boys' state grammar school with a co-educational sixth form. It has a long-standing reputation for strong academic results and a broad extra-curricular offer.

The school is known for solid results across the curriculum, particularly in maths and sciences, and a sixth form that admits girls from across the borough. Admission to Year 7 is through the Bexley selective tests.

Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar in Sidcup is a co-educational state grammar school. Although it sits within Bexley borough, it draws applicants from both Bexley and Bromley and is often grouped with both boroughs' grammar offers.

The school is known for strong academic results, a well-regarded sixth form, and a positive school community. Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar has no defined catchment area, admission is borough-wide for any child reaching the selective standard, with siblings and distance used as oversubscription criteria.

Cleeve Park in Sidcup is a co-educational academy that has built a strong local reputation. It is one of the more popular non-selective options for families who do not pursue the grammar route.

The school is known for steady improvement in results, a structured behaviour culture, and a broad subject offer at GCSE. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

Hurstmere in Sidcup is a boys' non-selective secondary that has built a positive reputation in recent years. It is one of the few single-sex non-selective schools in the borough.

The school is known for a structured environment, active sports provision, and consistent GCSE results. Admission is non-selective and primarily distance based.

Welling School is a large co-educational academy with a long-standing presence in the borough. It serves a wide catchment across Welling and the surrounding area.

The school is known for a broad curriculum, active extra-curricular programme, and a sixth form that admits students from across the borough. Admission is non-selective and primarily by distance.

Trinity CofE School in Belvedere is a co-educational Church of England secondary with a clear faith ethos. It is one of the most popular faith options in the borough.

The school is known for solid academic results, a strong community feel, and an active programme of pastoral and faith-based support. Admission gives priority to children of practising Anglican families, with a small number of places available to applicants of other faiths or no faith.

Leigh Academy Bexley in Erith is a co-educational secondary academy that serves a wide catchment in the north of the borough. It is part of the Leigh Academies Trust and was formerly King Henry School (and previously Erith School).

The school is known for steady improvement, supportive pastoral structures, and a broad curriculum. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

League table position is only one factor. The right school depends on your child's personality, your home location, and what matters most to your family.

For families considering the grammar route, think carefully about whether the test preparation and the academic culture suit your child. A grammar place is not automatically the best outcome for every able pupil. Some children flourish in the high-achieving but less pressured environment of a strong non-selective school like Welling or Cleeve Park.

Practical factors matter too. A long bus journey across the borough adds up over seven years. Sixth form provision varies between schools, and SEND provision varies even more. It is worth asking specific questions on open day even if you do not currently expect to need that support. Visit on a normal weekday if you can, not just at the polished open evening.

Bexley is part of the pan-London admissions system. You apply through the Bexley online portal, listing up to six schools in order of preference. The deadline is 31 October in Year 6 for entry the following September. National offer day is 1 March.

If your child is sitting the Bexley grammar tests, you must register separately, usually by mid-summer of Year 5 or early Year 6. The Bexley selective test is run as a single-stage process with two papers. Your test result is shared with the grammars and used in their oversubscription criteria, with catchment priority then applied for most of them.

If your child is not offered a place at any of your preferred schools, you will be offered the nearest school with availability and can join waiting lists for the schools you preferred. You also have the right to appeal, although appeals at oversubscribed grammars and comprehensives are difficult to win.