King Edward VI Grammar Schools: Locations and Admissions Guide
Birmingham is home to eight grammar schools that share a common entrance test and offer selective education to academically able pupils. Six of these schools belong to the King Edward VI Academy Trust, while Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls are also part of the Birmingham grammar school admissions group.
The schools are located across Birmingham, from Aston and Handsworth to Kings Heath and Bartley Green. They include boys’, girls’ and mixed sixth-form provision, with each school operating its own admissions criteria and arrangements for allocating places.
For parents considering a grammar school place, understanding the differences between the schools is important. Although applicants sit the same entrance test, the qualifying requirements, priority areas and oversubscription criteria can vary.
This guide covers the King Edward VI grammar schools, their locations, the Birmingham 11+ entrance test and how to apply for a Year 7 place.
Page Contents
How Many King Edward VI Grammar Schools Are There?
There are six grammar schools within the King Edward VI Academy Trust:
- King Edward VI Aston School
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
- King Edward VI Five Ways School
- King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
- King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls
Two additional schools participate in the same Birmingham grammar school admissions process:
- Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
All eight schools use the shared Birmingham grammar school entrance test. However, they have separate admissions policies, so parents should check the entry requirements for every school they intend to include on their application.
It is also worth distinguishing these state grammar schools from the independent King Edward VI schools in Birmingham, which have separate admissions arrangements and entrance examinations.
King Edward VI Grammar Schools: Locations and School Profiles
The eight Birmingham grammar schools are spread across different parts of the city and surrounding areas.
1. King Edward VI Aston School
Location: Frederick Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6DJ
Type: Boys’ grammar school
King Edward VI Aston School is a selective boys’ grammar school located in Aston, north Birmingham. It provides secondary education and sixth-form provision.
Admission to Year 7 is based on performance in the Birmingham grammar school entrance test and the school’s published oversubscription criteria.
Parents should check the school’s admission arrangements carefully, particularly its priority categories and distance requirements.
2. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Location: Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7QJ
Type: Boys’ grammar school
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys is a selective grammar school in Kings Heath, south Birmingham.
The school is part of the King Edward VI Academy Trust and uses the shared Birmingham entrance test for Year 7 admissions.
Applicants must achieve the required standard in the entrance examination before being considered under the school’s admissions criteria.
3. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Location: Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7QJ
Type: Girls’ grammar school
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls is a selective girls’ grammar school located close to Camp Hill School for Boys.
Although the two schools share the same entrance-test arrangements, they have separate admissions policies and application preferences.
Families should review the girls’ school’s individual oversubscription criteria when deciding whether to apply.
4. King Edward VI Five Ways School
Location: Scotland Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 4BT
Type: Mixed grammar school
King Edward VI Five Ways School is a selective co-educational grammar school in Bartley Green, south-west Birmingham.
Unlike several other schools in the group, Five Ways admits both boys and girls into Year 7.
Applicants sit the shared Birmingham entrance test, with places allocated according to the school’s published admissions criteria.
5. King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
Location: Grove Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 9ET
Type: Boys’ grammar school
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a selective boys’ grammar school in Handsworth, north-west Birmingham.
The school admits boys into Year 7 and provides education through to sixth form, where girls can also apply.
Its published admission number is 150 places for Year 7 entry. Applicants must sit the Birmingham grammar school entrance test and achieve the required qualifying standard.
The school applies its own oversubscription criteria, including provisions for eligible Pupil Premium applicants, children with a qualifying priority score and other applicants who meet the qualifying standard.
Parents should pay particular attention to the school’s catchment area and priority categories, as achieving the qualifying score does not automatically guarantee an offer.
6. King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls
Location: Rose Hill Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 9AR
Type: Girls’ grammar school
King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is a selective girls’ grammar school located in Handsworth.
It is separate from King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, although both are part of the King Edward VI Academy Trust and use the shared Birmingham entrance test.
Applicants must meet the academic requirements and are considered under the school’s individual admissions arrangements.
7. Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
Location: Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NH
Type: Boys’ grammar school
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School is a selective boys’ grammar school in Sutton Coldfield, north of Birmingham.
Although it is not one of the six grammar schools within the King Edward VI Academy Trust, it participates in the same Birmingham grammar school admissions process.
Its admissions policy includes different priority categories, including provisions for eligible Pupil Premium applicants and children living within its designated priority area.
The school has its own admissions criteria, so parents should not assume that the same entrance-test score will secure a place at every Birmingham grammar school.
8. Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Location: Jockey Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 5PT
Type: Girls’ grammar school
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is a selective girls’ grammar school in Sutton Coldfield.
It participates in the Birmingham grammar school entrance test alongside the King Edward VI schools and Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School.
Admission is based on meeting the required academic standard and satisfying the school’s individual admissions criteria.
Birmingham Grammar Schools: Comparison Table
| School | Gender | Location |
|---|---|---|
| King Edward VI Aston School | Boys | Aston |
| King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys | Boys | Kings Heath |
| King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls | Girls | Kings Heath |
| King Edward VI Five Ways School | Mixed | Bartley Green |
| King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School | Boys | Handsworth |
| King Edward VI Handsworth School | Girls | Handsworth |
| Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School | Boys | Sutton Coldfield |
| Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls | Girls | Sutton Coldfield |
All eight schools use the shared Birmingham grammar school entrance test, but each has its own admissions policy and oversubscription arrangements.
What Is the King Edward VI Grammar School 11+ Entrance Test?
The King Edward VI grammar schools use a shared entrance examination organised by the King Edward VI Foundation and the Birmingham grammar school admissions group.
Children only need to sit the test once to be considered for the participating schools. The test is designed to assess academic ability across different subject areas.
The assessment includes:
- Verbal reasoning.
- Non-verbal reasoning.
- Mathematics.
- Reading comprehension and literacy skills.
The examination uses multiple-choice questions, with answers recorded on a separate answer sheet. Results are standardised to account for differences in children’s ages.
Although the examination is shared, achieving the required score does not guarantee admission to every school. Each school applies its own admissions policy when allocating places.
What Is the Birmingham Grammar School Qualifying Score?
For September 2027 entry, the published qualifying score for Birmingham grammar schools is 205.
The published priority score for the King Edward VI grammar schools is 224.
These scores have different purposes:
- Qualifying score (205): the minimum standard required to be considered for a grammar school place.
- Priority score (224): a higher score used within specific priority categories in the relevant admissions arrangements.
Achieving the qualifying score does not guarantee a place. The final outcome depends on the school’s admissions criteria, available places and the number of applicants in each priority category.
The required scores and priority arrangements can change between admission years, so parents should always check the latest information.
King Edward VI Grammar Schools: Catchment Areas and Admissions Criteria
Although all eight schools use the same entrance test, they do not necessarily allocate places in the same way.
Each school publishes its own admissions policy, which explains how applicants are prioritised when the number of qualifying applications exceeds the number of available places.
Common admissions considerations include:
- Looked-after and previously looked-after children.
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium.
- Applicants living within a designated catchment or priority area.
- Children with siblings already attending the school.
- Entrance-test scores and distance from the school.
For example, King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys has specific priority arrangements for eligible Pupil Premium applicants and qualifying candidates living within its catchment area.
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls also have their own individual admissions criteria.
Parents should therefore avoid assuming that one school’s catchment rules or score requirements apply to another.
How to Apply to a King Edward VI Grammar School
Applying for a grammar school place involves two separate stages.
Step 1: Register for the Birmingham Grammar School Entrance Test
Parents must register their child for the shared entrance test through the West Midlands Grammar Schools website.
Registration normally takes place when children are in Year 5, with the examination sitting taking place in Year 6.
Only one test is required for consideration by the participating Birmingham grammar schools.
Step 2: Receive the Entrance Test Results
The Foundation publishes the results before the local authority secondary school application deadline.
For September 2027 entry, results were scheduled to be issued on 16 October 2026.
The results provide parents with their child’s standardised score and information about whether they have achieved the qualifying standard.
Remember that receiving a qualifying score is not the same as receiving an offer of a place.
Step 3: Complete the Local Authority Application
Parents must submit their secondary school preferences through their home local authority.
You should list the grammar schools you wish to apply for in your preferred order.
The entrance test registration does not automatically apply for a school place. A school must also be included on the local authority preference form to be considered.
Step 4: Receive Your School Offer
National Offer Day is 1 March 2027 for September 2027 entry.
If your child qualifies for more than one school, the local authority applies the equal preference system and offers the highest-ranked school on your preference form for which your child meets the admission criteria.
How to Prepare for the Birmingham Grammar School 11+
Preparation should cover all four areas of the entrance examination. Children need to develop accuracy, confidence and the ability to work through unfamiliar questions under timed conditions.
Improve English Comprehension and Literacy
Reading comprehension assesses a child’s ability to understand written passages, identify key information and interpret language.
Useful preparation areas include:
- Vocabulary and word meanings.
- Reading comprehension.
- Inference and interpretation.
- Grammar and punctuation.
- Understanding written instructions.
Regular reading and practice questions can help children become more confident with unfamiliar passages.
Strengthen Mathematics
Mathematics preparation should focus on core knowledge and problem-solving.
Important areas include fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, geometry, measurement and multi-step calculations.
Children should practise applying mathematical knowledge to different question formats rather than simply memorising methods.
Develop Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning tests how children understand and work with words, numbers and relationships.
Non-verbal reasoning focuses on visual patterns, shapes and sequences.
Practising different question types can help children recognise patterns and improve their speed when solving unfamiliar problems.
Practise Under Timed Conditions
Timed practice is important because children must complete the entrance examination within a set period.
Start with individual topics before introducing full practice papers. Reviewing incorrect answers is just as important as completing the questions, as it helps identify areas that need further development.
For additional support, explore our 11+ practice questions and 11+ preparation guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About King Edward VI Grammar Schools
How many King Edward VI grammar schools are there in Birmingham?
There are six grammar schools within the King Edward VI Academy Trust. Birmingham has eight grammar schools in total that participate in the shared entrance-test process, including Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls.
Does King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School use the same 11+ test?
Yes. King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys uses the shared Birmingham grammar school entrance test, alongside the other seven schools.
Can children apply to more than one Birmingham grammar school?
Yes. Parents can include multiple Birmingham grammar schools on their local authority preference form. Children only need to sit the shared entrance test once.
What is the Birmingham grammar school pass mark?
For September 2027 entry, the qualifying score is 205. The priority score for the King Edward VI grammar schools is 224. Achieving either score does not automatically guarantee a place.
Are all King Edward VI grammar schools boys’ schools?
No. The group includes boys’ schools, girls’ schools and a mixed school. King Edward VI Five Ways School admits both boys and girls into Year 7.
Is Handsworth Grammar School the same as Handsworth School for Girls?
No. King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys and King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls are separate schools with different admissions arrangements.
When should children register for the Birmingham 11+?
Registration normally takes place during Year 5, with the entrance test sat during Year 6. Parents should check the official Foundation admissions timetable for the relevant entry year.
Does passing the Birmingham 11+ guarantee a grammar school place?
No. Children must achieve the required qualifying standard, but each school also applies its own admissions and oversubscription criteria. The number of available places and the applicant’s priority category can affect the final outcome.
Final Thoughts: Choosing a King Edward VI Grammar School
The King Edward VI grammar schools provide several selective secondary school options across Birmingham, with different locations, school environments and admissions arrangements.
Although the schools share one entrance test, their individual admissions policies are important. Parents should consider the school’s location, gender intake, priority areas and entry requirements before deciding which schools to include on their application.
The best starting point is to understand the Birmingham 11+ assessment, check the latest admissions policies and create a preparation plan covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
With early preparation and a clear understanding of the application process, families can make more informed decisions about the Birmingham grammar schools.
