Secondary Transfer

Academic success and ensuring children fulfil their potential is our absolute priority and children are very well prepared for the secondary phase of their education.

We have small classes and staff have high expectations for all of the children. This has led to a high success rate for children applying to grammar schools and independent schools. At West Lodge we prepare children thoroughly for the grammar school selection tests and, given the level of competition, we are very proud of their efforts in securing places at much sought after grammar and independent schools.

As a one form entry school, which is non-selective at the point of entry, results inevitably fluctuate from year to year but each year significant percentages of pupils gain places at Bexley and Kent grammar schools. In recent years a number of our children have also placed in the Top 180 pupils in the Bexley Selection Tests, a very significant achievement indeed. A smaller but equally significant percentage of pupils move on to selective independent destinations. Equally, there are some parents who opt for local non-selective state schools and we are proud that parents tell us how well their children are doing at these schools benefiting from the grounding they have had at West Lodge.

Although many parents starting thinking about schools at an earlier stage, the formal process of choosing an appropriate senior school begins in Year 5 with a one-to-one secondary transfer meeting with the Head Teacher where the options and suitability of different schools are discussed along with the support the children need. The Head Teacher and staff are always happy to meet with parents to discuss choice of senior school and provide support. We visit senior schools and over the years have built very good relationships with their Heads and senior staff.

Please see below the destinations of our leavers in recent years.