Eltham College
Same Bromley area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 17 August 2026
Babington House School is a private secondary-stage school in Chislehurst, Greater London, with a published age range of 3-18.
Private school Co-ed Ages 3-18 Sixth form No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 3-18
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
Babington House School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 3-18
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Babington House School's story begins with Madame Rossel's 1887 foundation and her interest in fostering the arts. Since 1959 it has been administered as an educational charity, and the school now occupies Elmstead Grange, the former Bilbrough family home near Elmstead Woods station. That setting and history give its co-educational day-school model a more distinctive character than a generic through-school description suggests.
The structure runs from Nursery and Prep through Senior School and Sixth Form for ages 3 to 18. In the senior years, GCSE study includes AQA English Language and Literature, Edexcel Mathematics and AQA Geography, alongside science, history and French, German or Spanish. Debating, sport, music, drama and art extend the curriculum into the co-curricular life of the school.
Year 7 entry is a defined process with 40 places. External applicants take one-hour English and mathematics papers plus a one-hour online test covering vocabulary, proofreading, spelling, punctuation, grammar, perceptual speed and accuracy, and non-verbal reasoning. The taster day, a school reference and, where the school has not met the child, an interview with the Headmaster and Head of Seniors also inform offers.
For 2027 entry, the examination and scholarship-registration deadline is 6 November 2026 and the entrance examination is on 20 November. Academic, art, drama, music and sport scholarships can be worth up to 30%. Some other entry points accept applications through the year when places arise, with assessment and reference requirements varying by phase.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 88.6% grade 5+ in English and maths and 59.8 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 0% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Bromley and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 59.8
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 88.6%
- EBacc APS
- 5.24
- EBacc entry
- 34.3%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Bromley and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 3-18
- Headmaster
- Mr David Laird
- Pupil roll
- 466 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Grange Drive, Chislehurst, Greater London
- Postcode
- BR7 5ES
- Area
- Bromley
School leadership
- Headmaster
- Mr David Laird
School contact
- School phone
- 02084675537
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 02084675537
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 3-18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- Check school fees page
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
- Papers and stages
- 3 stages
- Format
- Mixed format
Papers and rounds
-
Round 1
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Year 7 entrance examination
External Year 7 applicants sit a one-hour English paper, a one-hour Mathematics paper and an online test including non-verbal reasoning and language/accuracy tasks.
-
Round 2
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
Years 8-10 senior entry assessments
Applicants for Years 8 to 10 complete Maths, English and an online test, then attend a taster day and may be interviewed.
-
Round 3
Interview
Sixth Form predicted-grade and reference review
Sixth Form entry is based on predicted GCSE grades, two years of reports, a school reference and subject choices.
Published assessment components
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Interview are listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
-
English
-
Maths
-
Verbal reasoning
External Year 7 applicants sit a one-hour English paper, a one-hour Mathematics paper and an online test including non-verbal reasoning and language/accuracy tasks.
-
Non-verbal reasoning
External Year 7 applicants sit a one-hour English paper, a one-hour Mathematics paper and an online test including non-verbal reasoning and language/accuracy tasks.
-
Interview
Sixth Form entry is based on predicted GCSE grades, two years of reports, a school reference and subject choices.
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
11+ (2027 entry) examination and scholarship registration deadline
6 November 2026
Examination and scholarship registrations close on 6 November 2026.
-
11+ (2027 entry) entrance examination
20 November 2026
The entrance examination is on 20 November 2026.
-
11+ (2027 entry) offers
Week commencing 7 December 2026
Offer letters are sent in the week beginning 7 December 2026.
-
11+ (2027 entry) acceptance deadline
2 March 2027
Acceptances are due on 2 March 2027.
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 59.8 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 88.6% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 88.6% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 5.24 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 0% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 34.47 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 7 November 2023
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2023 records an inspection beginning 7 November 2023. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Babington House School handle admissions?
Babington House School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Babington House School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Babington House School?
11+ (2027 entry) examination and scholarship registration deadline: 6 November 2026. 11+ (2027 entry) entrance examination: 20 November 2026. 11+ (2027 entry) offers: Week commencing 7 December 2026. 11+ (2027 entry) acceptance deadline: 2 March 2027
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Babington House School?
Babington House School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 7 November 2023.