Grammar schools in Southwark
There are no grammar schools in Southwark.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any — Southwark is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Bexley Grammar School, about 8.1 miles away in Bexley. Nearest is not the whole answer, though: these schools rank children by test score, and most put children living in their own area first.
Could a child from Southwark get a place?
Passing the test is not enough. These schools rank children by test score, not by distance from home. Most put children living in a set area first, so from Southwark the question is whether your home is inside it.
| School | Intake | How places are decided, 2027 entry | Southwark postcodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Henrietta Barnett School | Girls | Girls in the top 300 of the first test who live within 3 miles of the school come first. The remaining places of the 120 go in order of test score wherever the child lives. (school's policy) | none within 3 miles |
From each school's own admission arrangements for September 2027 entry. Priority groups such as looked-after children and children on Pupil Premium come before these rules. The postcode share uses ONS postcode centres and straight-line distance, so it counts postcodes, not households; a home near the edge of an area should be checked with the school.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: deadline to apply for a secondary place, through Southwark Council even for schools in another council
Each school or group of schools sets its own test, with a registration window months before the test itself, and parents register their child directly.
Nearest grammar schools to Southwark
Straight-line distance from the centre of Southwark — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bexley Grammar School | Welling | 8.1 miles | Mixed | Outstanding |
| Wallington County Grammar School | Wallington | 8.2 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| The Henrietta Barnett School | London | 8.5 miles | Girls | Good |
| Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School | Sidcup | 8.6 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Wilson's School | Wallington | 8.6 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Sutton Grammar School | Sutton | 9.2 miles | Boys | Good |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Bexley Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children (published source)
- Up to 12 places: Pupil Premium children deemed selective, ranked by distance from the school (published source)
- Guaranteed Grammar School Place: LA-wide top 180 standardised scores in the Bexley Selection Test (across all Bexley grammar schools) (published source)
Wallington County Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Sons of permanent staff employed at the school for two or more consecutive years (published source)
- Places in rank order of combined SET and second-stage score — up to 110 places for priorities 1 to 3 (published source)
The Henrietta Barnett School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children ranked in the top 300 Round One test results (published source)
- Pupil Premium girls ranked in the top 300 Round One test results, with current-school confirmation (published source)
- Girls living within 3 miles of the school (measured at application, straight line), who sit the Round Two test — ranked by score if oversubscribed (published source)
Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children (published source)
- Up to 12 places: Pupil Premium children deemed selective, ranked by distance from the school (published source)
- Guaranteed Grammar School Place: LA-wide top 180 standardised scores in the Bexley Selection Test (published source)
Wilson's School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children, in score order (published source)
- 14 places for boys eligible for free school meals, in score order (published source)
- 9 places for boys above the benchmark in the Sport Aptitude Test, in order of that test (published source)
Sutton Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Sons of staff employed at the school on a permanent contract for at least two years (published source)
- Up to 10 places for boys eligible for the Pupil Premium living in SM1–7, KT4, KT17, CR0 4 or CR4 — in order of combined SET and second-stage score (published source)
Schools in Southwark
Southwark has 110 open schools. Browse all Southwark schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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