I felt overwhelmed with excitement

It was my first day at BGS, and I felt overwhelmed with excitement by how enormous the school was.  I felt lonely at first, but with the help of the fantastic teaching staff, those mixed emotions quickly disappeared.  I made new friends quickly, and I soon started finding my way around the many classrooms and science labs for my different lessons.  It will be the same for you too!  You may also experience some new subjects that you have not done before.  At first, I felt enthusiastic about trying things I had never done before.  I especially enjoy science because I really like doing practicals, such as looking at things under a microscope and using a Bunsen burner.

Extra Curricular Clubs and House System

I was pleasantly surprised to see the vast number of extracurricular clubs listed on the tutor noticeboard, ranging from orchestra and unicode to Dungeons & Dragons.  Some clubs take place before school starts, some are after school, and there are plenty to choose from during lunch break too. There are also some unique Houses, which gave me a real Harry Potter feeling.  My House is Kirkman!

The canteen is outstanding and has a wonderful selection of hot food.  There are plenty of seats where you can sit with your new friends.

Ewan, Year 7

You will get a timetable which shows all the subjects and rooms

Hi, I’m Tia, a Year 7 student who joined BGS just a few weeks ago. I was new to BGS and understand it might sound scary, stepping into a new school, especially if you don't know anyone. It can be hard navigating the school, but once you get settled in, it will be super fun!

Studying new subjects and following a timetable

At the start of the year, you will get a timetable which shows all the subjects and rooms. Most of the subjects you have in Year 7 are the same as primary, although you might be introduced to some new ones such as FBCS, Latin, etc. It will be confusing, having to check the room number, then navigating your way around, but you can ask someone from the higher years or staff, and they will be happy to help!

Tia, Year 7

Made me feel at home

I would say that I am settling in well, and I have already made memories and have the most amazing friends.  I felt a bit nervous coming here (but very excited as well).  I have really enjoyed the beginning of the next chapter of my life.  I feel more responsible and independent at this school, which makes me feel more confident.  I have found all the new subjects I have learnt very interesting and fun.  I am very impressed with how much the school has made me feel at home.

Jack, Year 7

I have found my people – school has been amazing!

My time here so far has been really fun.  I’ve had a chance to speak to people older than me, people who have good advice and people who can relate.  I still remember how scared I was that I wouldn’t fit in, but now that I have found my people – school has been amazing!  

We all share our gifts and talents with each other

You will never need to worry about being alone just because you look different, you like other things, or simply don’t want to do the things your friends do.  Here at BGS, everyone is different, they are unique in their own ways and that's good.  We all share our gifts and talents with each other.  Everyone will always help you.

Aarbi, Year 7

Teachers genuinely care about your future

My transition from primary school to secondary school went much smoother than I anticipated.  BGS has such a welcoming environment and a rich education.  Teachers genuinely care about your future and provide the necessary support. 

I’ve also really enjoyed the extracurricular events and House systems.  There are many clubs to attend without needing any experience and many competitions to participate in.  I found that it has never been easier to fill my week up with fun, welcoming events.  When I walked into the school, I immediately felt at home; teachers and even random people said good morning and when I joined I felt comfortable enough to ask anyone for directions.  I would strongly recommend BGS to any Year 6 students.

Hugo, Year 7

I was quite nervous and scared

Hello, my name is Iyla! And when I first came to Bexley Grammar School, I was quite nervous and scared but also felt very excited. What if I'm late for class? What if I'm not good at the subject? What if it’s all too hard? All these types of questions were in my head, but I'm happy to say that I had nothing to worry about. Everyone here is so kind and understanding, and they do their best to make sure you are comfortable and happy.

Everyone is looking to make new friends

When I was coming to BGS, I had some friends coming with me from primary school, but I still talked to many other people. Everyone is in the same position as you, so everyone is looking to make new friends. It is such an amazing school, and I'm so proud to be part of its community. It helped me experience different passions, friendships and I hope it does the same for you!

Iyla, Year 7

A Message from Mr Gilmore, Headteacher, to Year 6 Pupils 2026​

Hello and welcome to this Open Day special edition of our school e-newsletter. I hope you find it full of helpful information from our current Year 7 student ambassadors, who are the best people to tell you everything that you need to know about starting our school. I have been at Bexley Grammar School for over 20 years and I can honestly say that every day I'm proud of our warm and welcoming students. I'm sure that you will find it much less daunting than you imagine when you join a school with such children and young adults, and dedicated staff who will help you to settle in. There are no silly questions when you start our school, just things that you don't know yet, and there are plenty of Year 7 staff and Sixth Form Peer Mentors to support you. Our school e-newsletters demonstrate many of the excellent opportunities, visits and extracurricular clubs that are on offer at BGS and I encourage you to read through some previous additions here. However, there is nothing like experiencing things for yourself, and I'm sure you will have lots of fun and make many friends when you become part of our exciting community. From September, you will be able to participate in trips, sports and music concerts as well as enjoying lessons in a range of subjects, some of which will be familiar to you and some of which will be brand new. There really is something for everyone, inside and outside of the classroom, at BGS. There is a great deal to look forward to when you start school here. Parents / Carers will have the pleasure of meeting your Form Tutors to touch base after your first few weeks and then further opportunities to meet the Parents' Association and attend school events in the Autumn Term. We really are a community built on relationships and I look forward to welcoming those of you who are successful in joining us in September 2027.