Birmingham / Birmingham 11+
Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NH
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
1
A selective boys grammar school in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,413 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,413 pupils on roll. Families looking at Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands will usually see Bishop Vesey's Grammar School as a selective option for boys aged 11-18, with sixth form continuing the academic journey on the same site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,413 pupils on roll and 192 Year 7 places.
For parents thinking about the 11+, the admissions picture is one of the clearest differentiators here. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 192 places available in Year 7 and roughly 1 applicants per place in the latest stored admissions picture. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
On current official measures, the school offers a clear academic profile for parents to weigh up. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Outstanding. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.75 and Attainment 8 at 75.8. 98.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 45.2% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 74% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Library, Design technology. The wider offer currently includes Drama, Sport. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. Bishop Vesey's Grammar School is likely to appeal most to families who want strong academic expectations but also need the practical details, culture, and selective route to line up sensibly.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Birmingham and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Birmingham and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Birmingham and England.
For 2027 entry, Bishop Vesey's prioritises boys who reach the qualifying score within three home-to-school zones: Zone 1 up to 12 miles, Zone 2 from 12 to 20 miles, and Zone 3 beyond 20 miles. After looked-after and pupil premium places, qualified applicants are ranked by score within those zones.
Looked after and previously looked after boys
Priority goes first to looked after children, previously looked after children, and children who were previously in state care outside England and are now adopted or under a special guardianship or child arrangements order.
Pupil premium boys in priority zones
Up to 38 places are reserved for boys eligible for pupil premium who reach the qualifying score, with priority by score for Zone 1 and then Zones 2 and 3 if places remain.
Zone 1 boys who reach the qualifying score
Remaining places are offered by score to boys living in priority area Zone 1 who meet the qualifying score.
Zone 2 boys who reach the qualifying score
If places remain after Zone 1, Zone 2 applicants who meet the qualifying score are ranked by score.
Zone 3 boys who reach the qualifying score
If places still remain, Zone 3 applicants who meet the qualifying score are ranked by score, with distance used to break ties.
Admissions policy
Admissions Policy for 2027 Entry
2027 entry
Admissions policy
Admissions Arrangements 2025
2025 entry
Information booklet
Important Admission Information
2027 entry
2022
223
Historical score
UnofficialThe checked official Bishop Vesey sources describe standardised verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning tests, but they do not publish a confirmed 2027 test day or results date.
This school uses the shared West Midlands consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open West Midlands guidePaper 1
English, VR, Maths, NVR
West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test
Two timed GL Assessment papers, each around 60 minutes, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Two timed GL Assessment papers, each around 60 minutes, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning
Two timed GL Assessment papers, each around 60 minutes, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal reasoning.
Science
Creative writing
Special access form deadline
12 June 2026
Selective test registration closes
26 June 2026
Address evidence deadline for zone priority
31 October 2026
Read the school admissions guidance
Check the Important Admission Information page and 2027 policy before registering so the score rules and priority zones are clear.
Open admissions guidanceRegister for the selective test
Submit the selective test form by 4pm on 26 June 2026 and complete any special access form by 12 June 2026.
View key deadlinesProvide address evidence for zone priority
If you want the school to assess zone priority, provide the required home-address evidence by 31 October 2026.
Open admissions policyLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 76.8 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 75.2 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 75.8 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 77.1 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | A- average (48.0 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | A- average (45.1 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A- average (45.0 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (44.4 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 1 May 2024
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
Same Birmingham area and similar boys' selective route
Same Birmingham area and similar boys' selective route
Same Birmingham area and similar boys' selective route
Nearby West Midlands option with a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
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Best Grammar Schools in Birmingham
Compare the best grammar schools in Birmingham for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Birmingham sits within the West Midlands route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best boys grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing realistic shortlist options.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the school admissions guidance: Check the Important Admission Information page and 2027 policy before registering so the score rules and priority zones are clear. 2. Register for the selective test: Submit the selective test form by 4pm on 26 June 2026 and complete any special access form by 12 June 2026. 3. Provide address evidence for zone priority: If you want the school to assess zone priority, provide the required home-address evidence by 31 October 2026.
Special access form deadline: 12 June 2026. Selective test registration closes: 26 June 2026. Address evidence deadline for zone priority: 31 October 2026
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 1 May 2024.