Grammar schools in Tower Hamlets
There are no grammar schools in Tower Hamlets.
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 — Tower Hamlets is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Woodford County High School, about 7.1 miles away in Redbridge. 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 Tower Hamlets 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 Tower Hamlets the question is whether your home is inside it.
| School | Intake | How places are decided, 2027 entry | Tower Hamlets 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 Tower Hamlets 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 Tower Hamlets
Straight-line distance from the centre of Tower Hamlets — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodford County High School | Woodford Green | 7.1 miles | Girls | Good |
| Bexley Grammar School | Welling | 7.4 miles | Mixed | Outstanding |
| Ilford County High School | Ilford | 7.5 miles | Boys | — |
| The Henrietta Barnett School | London | 8.0 miles | Girls | Good |
| The Latymer School | London | 8.1 miles | Mixed | — |
| Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School | Sidcup | 8.2 miles | Mixed | 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.
Woodford County High School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children with the minimum score (104) (published source)
- 45 places (25%) for children entitled to the Pupil Premium (including Ever 6), in order of total standardised score (published source)
- Other children living in the Common Catchment Area, in score order (published source)
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)
Ilford County High School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children with the minimum score (104) (published source)
- 45 places (25%) for children entitled to the Pupil Premium (including Ever 6), in order of total standardised score (published source)
- Other children living in the Common Catchment Area, in score order (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)
The Latymer School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children, ranked within the top 900 test-takers (published source)
- Up to 20 places: Free School Meals/Universal Credit children ranked within the top 900 (published source)
- Up to 20 music places: children ranked within the top 700, selected by audition after passing the academic threshold (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)
Schools in Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets has 111 open schools. Browse all Tower Hamlets schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT