Hello,

Has any child from Petts Wood been successful getting into a Bexley grammar school this year?

I have heard of children in Petts Wood who sat and passed the Bexley tests for 2021 but haven't obtained a place at one of the schools. How widespread was this? Given 2022 entry is another bulge year, I am wondering if it is worth the hassle of getting kids to do these tests if they pass but ultimately won't obtain a place?

Thanks for reading.

I know of a couple of children from a school in Bickley that have got places at the Bexley Grammars (not top 180)

I know of one who got Beths this year on offer day, and a couple who got Chis&Sid on offer day last year. There are quite a few who got Townley in the Orpington area in the May allocations too.

Thanks Fmmg. So that's one for sure this year...

I know of another in Petts Wood who got Chis n Sid on offer day this year from Petts Wood.

My advice is that you never know what is going to happen each year. My daughter started at Chis and Sid in 2019- which was a bulge year. It went out as far as Bromley on National Offer Day.

I agree, it changes every year but if it helps Chis & Sid came out 4.03 miles on offer day. I’m not sure if “around 4 miles” puts you in catchment or not.

How do you know 2022 is going to be a bulge year? Is this just for specific schools or areas? And grammar and non-selective too?

There were high birth rates till a few years after 2010 - see chart in this story

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/en ... 81f685aea/

I don't think there's anything like a direct relationship to pressure on Bexley grammar places though. Chis and Sid was v tight for places in 2018 then came out much much further the next year. Lots of factors involved.

This has more detail and shows 2010 as the peak year but with rates nearly as high in 2011 and 12 before a big drop off from 2013:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/281 ... ingdom-uk/