Blackfen School for Girls

Blackfen is the only non-selective 11-19 Girls School in the Bexley London Borough, situated in a pleasant residential area in the suburb of Sidcup.  The school’s popularity and success has grown over the years, leading to the current 7 forms of entry.

Blackfen School is a stand-alone Academy. Although it is not part of a larger chain of schools Blackfen is a founding member of the Penhill Academies Trust along with Sherwood Park School and Hurstmere School. Bexley Grammar School and Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School are also members of the Trust. The five schools work closely together as part of an Umbrella Trust. Each school has a separate Governing Body. The role of the Governing Body at Blackfen is to strategically lead the school. The Governing Body works closely with the staff team in both supporting and challenging the work of the school ensuring that the raising aspirations-releasing potential vision of the school is realised.

Blackfen School is a progressive and vibrant learning community that focuses on raising the aspirations and releasing the potential of every young person in their care. They aim to ensure that students leave Blackfen school as positive, happy and fulfilled young people who are equipped with the necessary skills, qualifications and experiences to make them successful in their future lives. They believe everything is possible and can be achieved through hard work, determination and perseverance. Blackfen’s young people have a growth mindset and their intelligence is not fixed. This culture underpins their aspirational ethos. The school’s beliefs are demonstrated through a learning community that thrives on innovative and challenging teaching, complemented by frequent visits and enrichment activities. Students participate in extra-curricular activities ranging from Music, Drama, Book Club and the Duke of Edinburgh awards to life changing trips to, for example, New York, Poland, Iceland, Rome and their partner school in India. The welfare programme is characterised by strong personal and academic support, as well as the development of students’ leadership skills. Their frequent rewards and celebrations for high-level attainment and progress are welcomed by students and their parents. The success of Blackfen students is underpinned by the support of parents/carers working in partnership with staff.

At Blackfen their passion is that young people enjoy their success in school, become mature, responsible, independent, outgoing and disciplined young adults and that aspiring to find and release personal talent becomes a life-long accomplishment.

The school is organised to provide 50 one hour periods a fortnight with students taught mostly in mixed ability tutor groups in Year 7, with setting in Maths; progression is established in various subjects from Year 8.  At Key Stage 4 students follow core subjects with three option choices; as such, most girls will take 9 GCSEs in total.

Our flourishing mixed Sixth Form offers a wide range of courses at A level, as well as vocational level 2 and 3 courses.

This information is intended to give you only a short thumbnail sketch of some of the features of a developing, successful and highly sought after school.  It is a school where teachers can teach and students can learn.