GSGrammarSchool Hub
Exam area
Birmingham 11+ 8 schools Shared test area

Updated for 2026 admissions cycle

Best Grammar Schools in Birmingham

The grammar schools in Birmingham make up one of England's most consequential urban selective groups, with a scale and public profile unmatched by most city areas. Birmingham's schools are bound together by shared prestige, yet the difference between central, suburban, and cross-city journeys gives the cluster a complexity of its own.

girls', boys', and co-ed options GL Assessment Birmingham, West Midlands Data checked 11 May 2026 Uses published 2025 GCSE measures and verified shared-test route data
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Top schools

Top grammar schools in Birmingham

Previewing the top 5 grammar schools in Birmingham by GCSE results. The full table ranks schools by GCSE results and adds competition level, shared test route detail, and admissions context.

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  1. Rank #1

    King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

    High competition / GL Assessment

    GCSE score 84.3
  2. Rank #2

    Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls

    High competition / GL Assessment

    GCSE score 80.1
  3. Rank #3

    Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

    High competition / GL Assessment

    GCSE score 74.6
  4. Rank #4

    King Edward VI Five Ways School

    Very High competition / GL Assessment

    GCSE score 74.3
  5. Rank #5

    King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

    High competition / GL Assessment

    GCSE score 72.1

Area map

Map of grammar schools in Birmingham

Open map viewSee the shortlist spatially

School ranking

Full grammar school ranking in Birmingham

This table ranks schools by GCSE results. Before saving a school, check the shared test route, school-level admissions rules, Ofsted, competition level, and daily journey.

Compare up to 4 schools
UK Rank #97

King Edward VI Aston School

King Edward VI Aston School, Frederick Road, Aston

Ofsted: OutstandingBoys onlyCompetition: Very High

Overall GCSE score:61.5

Assessment: GL Assessment

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Shared test guide

These schools share one test

The West Midlands guide explains the test, dates, and papers these schools share. It is the quickest way to see the shared exam details in one place.

7 key dates 20 downloads GL Assessment
Open West Midlands guide See all shared test guides

Next checks

Compare schools and guides for Birmingham

Open focused comparisons and guides for the routes, admissions rules, and journeys that matter in Birmingham.

Comparisons

Compare nearby schools

Compare King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls with Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls Compare King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls with Bishop Vesey's Grammar School Compare King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls with King Edward VI Five Ways School

Guides

Open area guides

What Is a Grammar School?

A clear parent guide to what grammar schools are, how selective admission works, and how to tell whether one is a realistic option for your child.

Explore other areas

Compare nearby grammar-school areas

Nearby areas can share similar routes, school mix, or journey patterns while still leading to different daily choices.

Regional overview

Best Grammar Schools in Midlands

34 grammar school profiles in 5 counties across Midlands, covering 7 local clusters in total, with local area hubs for route, admissions and journey detail.

 Shared route

Best Grammar Schools in West Midlands

11 grammar school profiles in West Midlands, covering Birmingham, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. The linked West Midlands guide covers shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.

 Shared route

Best Grammar Schools in Walsall

2 grammar school profiles in Walsall, West Midlands. The linked West Midlands guide covers shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.

 Shared route

Best Grammar Schools in Wolverhampton

1 grammar school profile in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. The linked West Midlands guide covers shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.

Birmingham overview

Birmingham grammar schools at a glance

8 grammar schools sit in Birmingham, West Midlands. The early filters are school type, test route, catchment or distance rules, and the ordinary weekday journey.

Schools 8 schools
Main places Birmingham
School mix Mixed
Tests GL

What stands out

Birmingham has eight grammar schools in this ranking. The King Edward VI schools cover Camp Hill, Five Ways, Aston and Handsworth, while Bishop Vesey's and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls extend the group north into Sutton Coldfield.

School mix and route

The first split is school type: Camp Hill Boys, Aston, Handsworth Grammar and Bishop Vesey's are boys' routes; Camp Hill Girls, Handsworth School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar are girls' routes; Five Ways is co-educational. The West Midlands 11+ score then has to be read with each school's priority-area and pupil-premium rules.

Area shape

What stands out in Birmingham

Birmingham is a compact local area. The main differences here are school type, test route, catchment, and how competitive each school is.

Local school cluster

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, and 5 more schools sit close together in one compact cluster with boys', girls', and co-ed options.

School mix

The area includes boys' schools, girls' schools, and one co-ed option.

Shared route

The schools here all sit in the West Midlands route, so the shared exam picture is easier to follow than in areas where every school tests differently.

Admissions

Distance and catchment rules matter at many of these schools. These schools are very competitive.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which schools make up the Birmingham grammar-school group?

Birmingham's grammar-school group includes the Camp Hill pair, King Edward VI Five Ways, King Edward VI Aston School, Handsworth Grammar School, Handsworth School, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls.

Does Birmingham offer both single-sex and mixed grammar schools?

Yes. Birmingham includes boys' schools, girls' schools, and one well-known mixed option in King Edward VI Five Ways.

Which Birmingham grammar schools are in Sutton Coldfield?

Bishop Vesey's Grammar School and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls sit in Sutton Coldfield, so they can be a different travel decision from the central and south Birmingham King Edward VI schools.

Why do Birmingham and West Midlands pages overlap?

Birmingham is the largest local group inside the wider West Midlands selective route. The West Midlands page adds Walsall and Wolverhampton schools that may be more relevant for some journeys.