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Important update from TheSchoolRun

For the past 13 years, TheSchoolRun has been run by a small team of mums working from home, dedicated to providing quality educational resources to primary school parents. Unfortunately, rising supplier costs and falling revenue have made it impossible for us to continue operating, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close. The good news: We’ve arranged for another educational provider to take over many of our resources. These will be hosted on a new portal, where the content will be updated and expanded to support your child’s learning.

What this means for subscribers:

  • Your subscription is still active, and for now, you can keep using the website as normal — just log in with your usual details to access all our articles and resources*.
  • In a few months, all resources will move to the new portal. You’ll continue to have access there until your subscription ends. We’ll send you full details nearer the time.
  • As a thank you for your support, we’ll also be sending you 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep.

A few changes to be aware of:

  • The Learning Journey weekly email has ended, but your child’s plan will still be updated on your dashboard each Monday. Just log in to see the recommended worksheets.
  • The 11+ weekly emails have now ended. We sent you all the remaining emails in the series at the end of March — please check your inbox (and spam folder) if you haven’t seen them. You can also follow the full programme here: 11+ Learning Journey.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for being part of our journey it’s been a privilege to support your family’s learning.

*If you need to reset your password, it will still work as usual. Please check your spam folder if the reset email doesn’t appear in your inbox.

The 11+ test in Bexley

Bexley 11+ parents' guide
Children living in the London Borough of Bexley can sit the 11+ test for entrance to one of the area's grammar schools. We explain the facts parents need to know about the Bexley test.

Which schools require an 11+ pass?

There are four grammar schools in Bexley:
 

What do the tests involve?

The Bexley test, which is used by all four schools, covers:
 

  • Verbal ability: vocabulary, comprehension and verbal reasoning.
  • Numerical reasoning: mathematical problem-solving, up to and including Year 5 level.
  • Non-verbal reasoning: the ability to see how objects relate to each other and to make logical deductions.

There are two test papers, each containing mainly multiple choice questions relating to all of these areas. Each paper lasts about 50 minutes, and is broken down into sections, each of which has an allocated amount of time. Children take both papers on the same day, with a break of 30 minutes in between.

What version of the test is used?

Previously, CEM tests were used for the 11+ in this area. However, CEM will no longer be providing 11+ tests from September 2023. It has been reported that Bexley will move away from CEM to GL. 

Exam Papers Plus & TheSchoolRun.com

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How do you arrange for your child to take the test?

If you want your child to take the Bexley test, you'll need to register your child at www.bexley.gov.uk or phone 020 8303 7777. Registrations are open from May to July; the test sessions which take place mid-September.

Where are the tests held?

Children who attend a primary school in Bexley will usually take the test at their own school. Children who don't go to primary school in Bexley will be invited take their test either at one of the four grammar schools in the area, or another secondary school in Bexley.

What is the pass mark?

The test scores are weighted so that 50% is for verbal ability, and 25% each for numerical and non-verbal ability. The results are standardised: in other words, adapted to take account of your child's exact age. The highest possible score is 280.

The Bexley Selection Panel decides each year on the threshold mark for children to be considered selective, but this doesn't guarantee them a grammar school place.

There are currently 800 places in the four grammar schools in Bexley; in 2019, 6424 children sat the test and 2027 achieved the selective standard.

If there are more selective level children than places, each school will allocate its places based on their oversubscription criteria. In most cases, the deciding factor is proximity to the school. The 180 children who achieve the highest scores each year are guaranteed a place at their preferred grammar school in Bexley.

How can I help prepare my child?

The local authority discourages parents from tutoring their children for the test as they should be able to make a good attempt at all questions using the knowledge they've gained at school, but you can boost their chances of success by working on their study skills and encouraging them to read widely across a range of books.

When you register your child for the test, you'll receive practice questions and a familiarisation booklet so your child knows what the test will look like and what sort of questions to expect. More information about the Bexley selection test is available on the council website.

While every effort has been made to ensure the information we provide about individual schools is accurate, admissions arrangements for Year 7 entry change regularly so it is essential to check for the most up-to-date advice on schools' own websites.

NB: TheSchoolRun receives a small commission from sales made through Exam Paper Plus.