King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys at a glance
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a boys’ grammar school in Birmingham for students aged 11 to 18, with about 1050 pupils. It is part of King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham. Year 7 places are given through the West Midlands Grammar Schools test (Birmingham), and the school has a sixth form.
For September 2026 entry it offered 146 places and was the first choice of 152 families — about 1.0 for every place. 28% of all applications came from families in other council areas.
In 2024/25, 97% of its GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths, against 45% across England’s state schools. Its A-level students averaged B per entry, and 31% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects. 71% of sixth-form leavers went on to university (destinations measured in 2022/23).
Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given
- Test
- West Midlands Grammar Schools test (Birmingham)
- Set by
- GL Assessment, arranged by the King Edward VI Foundation
- What it covers
- English comprehension, verbal reasoning, maths, non-verbal and spatial reasoning
How places are given
Scores are age-standardised. Each school sets a qualifying score and gives priority under its own policy — for example to disadvantaged children or applicants living nearby.
How to register and apply
Register online through the West Midlands Grammar Schools site between May and late June of Year 5, and name the schools on your secondary application by 31 October.
Admissions rules change each year. Check the school’s current admissions policy — area details last checked October 2026.
Scores needed for a place
| Entry | Measure | Applies to | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | Lowest score offered | All other applicantsOn National Offer Day; 212 by September, after waiting-list offers. | 216 |
| Sept 2026 | Lowest score offered | Pupil Premium, outside catchmentOn National Offer Day; 211 by September, after waiting-list offers. | 211 |
| Sept 2025 | Lowest score offered | All other applicantsOn National Offer Day; 212 by September, after waiting-list offers. | 216 |
| Sept 2024 | Lowest score offered | All other applicantsOn National Offer Day; 213 by September, after waiting-list offers. | 217 |
| Sept 2023 | Lowest score offered | All other applicantsOn National Offer Day; 209 by September, after waiting-list offers. | 215 |
Scale: Standardised score (Birmingham grammar schools test). Source: King Edward VI Foundation: results and offers. Scores change every year and depend on how many children apply — treat them as a guide, not a target.
How many families apply
| Entry | Places | 1st choices | 1st choices per place | All applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | 146 | 152 | 1.0 | 1,096 |
| Sept 2025 | 150 | 142 | 0.9 | 1,114 |
| Sept 2024 | 146 | 128 | 0.9 | 1,138 |
| Sept 2023 | 147 | 122 | 0.8 | 1,058 |
| Sept 2022 | 147 | 123 | 0.8 | 1,041 |
| Sept 2021 | 152 | 98 | 0.6 | 952 |
Source: DfE, secondary school applications and offers. Places offered on National Offer Day; first preferences are families who put the school first on their council application.
Exam results
GCSE, 2024/25 · 149 pupils
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Grade 4 or above in English and maths
Attainment 8 (average across 8 subjects)
| Year | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | EBacc points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 96.6% | 72 | — | 6.59 |
| 2023/24 | 93.3% | 72 | +0.78 | 6.35 |
| 2022/23 | 97.0% | 71.4 | +0.61 | 6.34 |
A level, 2024/25 · 131 students
- Average grade
- B
- England: B-
- AAB or better*
- 31%
- England: 18%
- Value added
- +0.13
*AAB or better, with at least two in facilitating subjects. Value added compares students’ results with others who started from similar GCSEs; above 0 is better than expected.
Source: DfE school and college performance tables. England figures are for all state-funded schools. Progress 8 was not published for 2024/25.
Where students go next
- University
- 71%
- Apprenticeship
- 3%
- Employment
- 10%
- Any sustained destination
- 87%
Source: DfE 16–18 destination measures, students who left after A levels or equivalent, destinations measured in 2022/23 (146 students). Categories overlap slightly and do not sum to 100%.
Key facts
- Admits at 11
- Boys
- Ages
- 11–18
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Pupils
- 1,054 (capacity 1,000)
- Free school meals
- 18.7% of pupils eligible
- School type
- Academy converter
- Trust
- King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham
- Local authority
- Birmingham
- Constituency
- Birmingham Perry Barr
From the Department for Education’s register (URN 143562), October 2026.
Thinking about King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys?
See where your child stands with our free 15-minute 11+ readiness check — a score for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, judged against their year.