Townley Grammar School Review 2026: Elite State Grammar with Arts Excellence

The 2023 Ofsted inspection awarded Outstanding across all categories, a rating that stands as a true marker of school quality. Established in 1937 as a technical school for girls, Townley now operates as a state academy grammar school with academy status, serving girls in Years 7-11 and admitting boys into its mixed sixth form. The school occupies a 17-acre campus in Bexleyheath, straddling the London Borough of Bexley, and serves a diverse intake of approximately 1,600 pupils. With 73% of A-level grades at A*-B and 50% of GCSE entries graded 9-8, the school ranks 180th in England for GCSE performance and 432nd for A-level results (FindMySchool rankings), placing it firmly in the top tier of state-funded institutions nationally. What distinguishes Townley most sharply from other high-performers is the genuine breadth of its offer; this is neither a narrow academic hothouse nor a school compromising rigour for inclusion, but rather a genuinely ambitious selective grammar with an extraordinary commitment to the arts, character education, and intellectual independence.

The school's motto, drawn from Enlightenment philosophy, captures the essence of what leaders and teachers actively foster here. Pupils describe arriving to find a place that takes their voices seriously — the school's choice of English texts was shaped by pupil input, deliberately ensuring that the diversity within Townley's community is reflected in what students study. This sense of genuine agency filters through daily life. Behaviour is exemplary not because of coercive systems but because pupils themselves understand the stakes and take responsibility for maintaining the culture. Staff rarely need to correct behaviour; students arrive to lessons ready to engage, take pride in their work, and handle disagreements with maturity.

The 17-acre grounds provide breathing room that urban London schools often lack. Beyond the Victorian main building (extended thoughtfully over decades), students move between modern facilities built or renovated since 2006; the architectural diversity itself signals that this is an institution confident enough to layer heritage and innovation without self-consciousness. The building completed in 2006 contains a professional-standard theatre with tiered seating for 150, a recording studio, a large sports hall, five science laboratories, and additional ICT suites. More recently, the Ada Lovelace Suite — a dedicated computing complex with five spacious classrooms, MacLab, design room, and conference facilities — testifies to the status computing holds within the curriculum.

Miss Sarina Totty took over as interim headteacher in October 2025, following the leadership of Nevita Pandya. The recent Ofsted inspection (February/March 2023) noted that trustees, leaders and staff are "incredibly ambitious for pupils," a phrase that captures the tone more accurately than any amount of praise could. This is not aspirational rhetoric; it is demonstrated through curriculum design, staffing investment, and the sheer range of opportunity available to every year group. Pupils clearly relish their learning, describing lessons with genuine enthusiasm and speaking openly about their achievements without arrogance.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, Townley achieved exceptional GCSE outcomes across a cohort of pupils who had qualified through rigorous selection. The attainment 8 score of 76.2 far outpaces the England average of around 45.9. At grade level, 50% of all entries achieved grades 9-8, with a further 22% securing grade 7. This means 72% of all GCSE entries landed in the top band, a figure that underscores both the quality of the intake and the teaching effectiveness that transforms strong candidates into outstanding achievers. Reading the data in context: 51% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above across the English Baccalaureate subjects, well above the England average; the Progress 8 score of +0.66 indicates that pupils make above-average progress from their starting points, a finding that should quieten any concern that these results reflect only selection effects.

The school ranks 180th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 4% of schools nationally. Locally, Townley ranks 1st among Bexleyheath schools, a distinction reflecting both the selective admissions process and the consistency of the teaching.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form returns even more striking results. In 2025, 73% of all A-level grades landed at A*-B, with 37% achieving A*-A. These proportions far exceed the England average (around 47% at A*-B nationally). One hundred students achieved at least three A* or A grades, a marker of truly elite performance. The school ranks 432nd in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), securing a place in the top 25% of sixth forms nationally.

University destinations reflect this academic calibre. In 2024/25, 20 students progressed to Oxford, Cambridge, or secured places on medicine courses. Beyond Oxbridge, leavers regularly secure places at Russell Group universities including LSE, UCL, Warwick, Edinburgh, Bristol, Bath, Loughborough, and York. The 2024 leavers' cohort saw 232 students progress to university, with 74% of leavers overall entering higher education.

The curriculum is academically ambitious by design, not by accident. Every pupil learns Latin as well as at least one modern foreign language, a decision that signals the school's philosophy: breadth and depth are not trade-offs but interlocking commitments. Dance has become unexpectedly central to the offer and is described by pupils as "the beating heart of the school," a phrase that appears in Ofsted's own language. Mathematics, science, and engineering provision is rich; the school benefits from partnerships with Rose Brufeld College, Trinity College of Music, Laban, the Royal Ballet, and Tate Modern, collaborations that bring external expertise and authentic creative challenge into the daily curriculum.

Subject leaders think deeply about the building blocks of knowledge. In languages, for instance, pupils return repeatedly to core topics — family, interests, school — across Years 7-9, each iteration adding vocabulary, new tenses, and more complex grammar. This spiral approach means that by the time pupils reach GCSE, they can read, write, and speak with genuine confidence. Teachers check understanding frequently, using varied techniques to spot gaps and misconceptions; when errors emerge, they are corrected promptly. Independent learning is actively fostered; many sixth-form students choose to undertake the extended project qualification, and all students have access to the school's online learning platform, which houses a wide range of additional resources. Sixth-form students describe lessons with maturity and discernment, praising excellence where they find it and providing honest feedback when teaching falls short.

Reading is deliberately promoted school-wide. Time is set aside daily for pupils to read, and leaders have identified the needs of pupils who struggle with literacy upon arrival; support is deployed swiftly. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are identified early, and the school ensures that they receive the support necessary to access all learning alongside their peers.

The school's sixth form is large, mixed, and genuinely integrated. Internal progression from Year 11 to Year 12 is not automatic; sixth-form entry requires an average point score of 6.0 across students' eight best GCSE subjects, with English and mathematics both at grade 5 or above. This threshold is academically demanding but achievable for strong GCSE achievers. Around 100 external places open to sixth-form entry each year, allowing bright students from other schools to join the community.

Post-sixth form, the destination picture is clear: the vast majority progress to university. Beyond the 20 Oxbridge places mentioned, students secure entry to leading Russell Group institutions. Leavers also increasingly explore apprenticeships and other post-qualification routes, a breadth of option that the school actively presents to students. In the 2024 cohort, 74% progressed to university, 2% to further education, 4% to apprenticeships, and 10% to employment — a distribution that reflects the school's genuine commitment to helping each student find their own path rather than imposing a single expectation.

The co-curricular offer is genuinely extraordinary and spans performing arts, sport, subject enrichment, leadership, and personal development. This is not a list of token activities; the school runs over 50 clubs simultaneously, and participation in co-curricular life is actively encouraged and monitored by leaders to ensure all pupils engage with at least some provision.

Music: A Defining Strength

The school holds the Gold Arts Mark and maintains a serious music programme that sits comfortably alongside top academic results. Three choirs (including the Senior Choir), two orchestras, a concert band, and string and woodwind ensembles form the backbone. Full-scale productions have included Benjamin Britten's Missa Brevis, Holst's Ave Maria, Vivaldi's Gloria, Oklahoma!, Cats, The Sound of Music, and Hairspray. These are not school productions in the casual sense; they involve full orchestras, professional-quality staging, and demands on student musicians that stretch genuine talent. The Music Technology Suite and Recording Studio provide students with access to industry-standard equipment, allowing those with genuine interest to record original work or explore production. Regular partnerships with Trinity College of Music and residencies at external venues cement the seriousness of the music programme.

Drama: Highly Accessible and Professional

The school's 150-seat professional theatre enables full-scale productions each year. Recent productions have included SIX (the modern musical about Henry VIII's wives), Frozen, and extensive work in classical drama. What is striking is the genuine democratisation of drama; while major productions showcase highly polished work, the school also runs year-group drama as curriculum activity, clubs for different skill levels, and collaborative projects. Year 7 and 8 drama groups performed scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth during the 2023 inspection, while A-level students tackled more demanding work. The Drama Studio and Dance Studio provide additional spaces for rehearsal and smaller-scale productions.

STEM: Innovation and Depth

The school specialises in STEM as a core curriculum emphasis. The Ada Lovelace Suite represents this commitment physically. Beyond the curriculum, clubs and activities reflect genuine sophistication: debating competitions, coding clubs, robotics projects, and mathematical enrichment societies thrive. Students participate in Science Olympiad and Mathematical competitions; girls are actively encouraged into fields where female participation has historically been lower, and the school's partnerships with industry and universities provide mentoring and exposure to STEM careers.

Sports: Genuine Inclusion Alongside Excellence

Sport is compulsory and embraced by pupils, rather than endured. Bexley Schools Athletics Championships were dominated by Townley girls across multiple year groups in the last year, while the Year 9 Rounders team won their championship. The Year 8 Sports Hall Athletics team reached the London Youth Games Final. Yet the sports offer is deliberately broad: football, netball, hockey, rounders, tag rugby (including non-traditional participation), volleyball, badminton, and tennis all feature. A Sports Leadership programme equips interested students to plan, organise, and deliver sporting experiences to younger pupils in primary schools. The large sports hall, gymnasium with fitness suite, and outdoor fields provide the facilities, while the culture of inclusion means that sport is genuinely for everyone, not only the elite.

The House System and Student Leadership

Townley operates a vertical house system spanning Years 7-13, designed to foster integration and allow older pupils to mentor younger ones. House Captains (two Year 12 students per house) lead their entire house from Years 7-13, creating continuity and responsibility. House activities — Question Time sessions, inter-house tournaments, bake-offs, quizzes, and fundraising events — build community. The House Council serves as the main vehicle for student voice, meeting at least twice per half-term to propose and enact change within the school. Pupil-led initiatives have influenced school catering, diversity integration, and the new school website. Duke of Edinburgh's Award runs through multiple levels, with students engaging in personal challenge, skill development, and service work.

Character Education and Personal Development

The school's unique Townley 21C and EDGE programmes deliberately develop independence, creativity, critical thinking, and leadership. Character education is pervasive rather than bolted-on; pupils are encouraged to reflect on significant issues including British values, the rule of law, and diversity. International trips span Delhi, Arnsberg, France, Spain, Japan, Argentina, Morocco, and Silicon Valley; adventure holidays in the UK and residential trips broaden horizons. The school's commitment to global awareness runs deep, evidenced by formal exchanges with schools in India and Germany and a deliberately inclusive approach to celebrating diverse cultures through Black History Month, Asian celebrations, and international visitor programmes.

Entry to Year 7 is through the Bexley Selection Test, a competitive examination taken across Bexley's four grammar schools. The test comprises two papers (English, and Mathematics/Problem-Solving) assessing verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Approximately 30% of candidates achieve the qualifying standard. In recent years, around 2,200 candidates have competed for 224 Year 7 places. Success in the test is necessary but not sufficient; oversubscription criteria then apply: first preference is given to looked-after children, then children who achieved the top 180 test scores automatically receive places, followed by pupils with siblings at the school. Distance from home to school then determines remaining places (measured in a straight line to the middle gate entrance), with test score used as a tie-breaker. Families should note that passing the test does not guarantee entry and that distance is an active factor; the school advises use of tools like the FindMySchool Map Search to verify current distances compared to the last distance offered.

Sixth-form entry is open to both internal and external candidates. Internal progression requires an average point score of 6.0 across eight GCSE subjects, including English and mathematics at grade 5 or above (or grade 6 minimum for those pursuing performing arts subjects). Around 100 external places become available each year. Applications close in January; offers are made in April.

The school became an academy on 1st January 2012 and operates as the admissions authority for Year 7 entry. Applications are coordinated by the London Borough of Bexley.

The school operates a strict uniform policy. School day runs from approximately 8:50am to 3:20pm (specific times should be verified with the school). The Dining Hall offers hot and cold meals at breakfast, break, lunch, and after school; a Coffee Bar serves freshly made sandwiches and snacks; the Piazza and Terrazza outdoor seating areas provide pleasant dining environments. Free school meals are available to eligible pupils; the school operates a cashless system to ensure that those receiving meals are not identified by other pupils.

Transport links are good. The school is well-served by buses and has convenient access to Bexleyheath Station and Bexley Station. Abbey Travel provides a coach service covering Petts Wood, Orpington, Green Street Green, and Chelsfield. Parking onsite is limited; visitors are advised that there is no visitor parking available. The school is located very close to Bexleyheath Town Centre, adding to accessibility.

Leaders have developed an exemplary programme for personal development, with careful thought given to how students develop independence, character, and curiosity. The 21C and EDGE programmes embed critical thinking, creativity, and self-directed learning. Pastoral care is a genuine strength; heads of year and tutors form a central support structure, and the school provides counselling services. Students know they can speak to staff about concerns and trust that they will be heard and supported. Safeguarding culture is strong; staff receive regular training and are alert to local risks. Leaders work effectively with outside agencies to address concerns promptly. Bullying occurs rarely and is resolved quickly when reported.

The school's character education programme is ambitious and well-executed. Pupils are taught to respect fundamental British values and reflect on significant ethical issues. The result is a cohort of genuinely thoughtful, self-aware young people who engage maturely in discussions and think critically about their own beliefs and actions.

Selective Entry is Genuinely Competitive. With around 2,200 candidates competing for 224 places, entry is far from automatic. Families should undertake realistic self-assessment of their child's academic ability and consider the time investment in preparation for the Bexley Selection Test. The test has been redesigned to reduce tutoring advantage, but preparation remains almost universal in practice.

Adjustment to Peer Group. Most pupils have been the strongest in their primary school; arrival at Townley means joining a cohort of similarly capable peers. This adjustment — humbling at first, ultimately healthy — requires resilience and a secure sense of self.

Single-Sex Until Sixth Form. Years 7-11 are girls only; boys join in the sixth form. Families uncomfortable with single-sex education through GCSE should look elsewhere.

Entrance Culture and Intensity. Academic standards are high and expectations are clear. Pupils thrive in this environment of intellectual challenge, but it is not a setting for those who prefer a lower-pressure approach. The culture is ambitious without being anxious, but it is unquestionably demanding.

Townley Grammar is a genuinely elite state school that has managed the rare feat of combining academic rigour with genuine breadth, maintaining selection while fostering inclusion, and honouring tradition while embracing innovation. The 2023 Ofsted judgment of Outstanding across all categories reflects a school that is functioning at the highest level across education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership. Results place it among the strongest state-funded schools in England nationally. What makes Townley distinctive is not that it achieves these results, but how it does so: through a commitment to music, drama, and the arts that rivals any school in the country; through character education that is lived rather than preached; through staff who genuinely know and care about pupils as individuals; and through a student culture that prizes both intellectual ambition and personal integrity. Best suited to academically able girls from diverse backgrounds who are ready for genuine intellectual challenge, who want to experience music, drama, or sport at a high level, and who thrive in an environment where excellence is the expectation and ambition is celebrated. The main barriers to entry are the selective admissions process and the distance threshold in an oversubscribed cohort; for families who navigate these successfully, the education offered is genuinely exceptional.