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School profile Verified 2 June 2026

Birmingham Birmingham 11+

King Edward VI Five Ways School

Scotland Lane, Bartley Green, B32 4BT

A selective co-educational grammar school in Birmingham, West Midlands, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,311 pupils on roll.

Co-ed Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment
UK rank
UK Rank #44
Year 7 places
180
Competition i
Very High
Ofsted
Good
11+ route
GL Assessment
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank
UK Rank #44
Admissions
Mixed
Assessment
GL Assessment
Places in Year 7
180
Competition i
Very High
Catchment
A published catchment map is used for the catchment-priority categories. The latest published catchment-category distance threshold for 2026 entry was 4,384 metres, and the same results page also published a separate 5,075 metre threshold for the pupil-premium outside-catchment category.
Ofsted
Good

Overview

King Edward VI Five Ways School is a co-educational grammar school in Bartley Green, Birmingham, with about 1,311 pupils. Founded in 1883 at Five Ways in central Birmingham, it moved to its current site in 1958 and is distinctive within the King Edward VI Foundation as its fully co-educational grammar school.

Five Ways describes its purpose as educating able young people from all backgrounds within a friendly, caring and stimulating community. Its curriculum is framed in three strands: academic curriculum, super curriculum and extra curriculum. That means subject mastery, stretch and cultural knowledge sit alongside regular academic enhancement, house events, outdoor education and clubs.

The sixth form offers a broad A-level menu, including subjects such as Classics, Engineering, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Computing, Drama and Music, with many students combining three A levels and EPQ while some take four. The site offer is unusually strong for sport and outdoor education, with an astroturf hockey pitch, netball courts, grass pitches, pool, sportshall, gym areas and a climbing wall; the school also describes itself as the largest Duke of Edinburgh centre in the Midlands.

Year 7 entry has 180 places and uses the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test, not a separate Five Ways paper. The school's policy combines selective eligibility with priority categories, catchment considerations and distance rules. Published outcomes show Good Ofsted, +0.68 Progress 8, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 40.9% AAB or better at A level.

Key points
Assessment route
GL Assessment across a 2-stage process, covering English, Verbal reasoning, Maths and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
180 places in Year 7 and Very High
Catchment
A published catchment map is used for the catchment-priority categories. The latest published catchment-category distance threshold for 2026 entry was 4,384 metres, and the same results page also published a separate 5,075 metre threshold for the pupil-premium outside-catchment category. Last distance offered: 4.38 km.
Results
100% grade 5+ in English and maths and 75.9 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 40.9% AAB or better and 70% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Birmingham and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
75.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
100%
EBacc APS
7.43
EBacc entry
94.5%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Birmingham and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham, and England. 100 80 60 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Birmingham and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details
School type
Academy converter
Admissions
Mixed
Age range
11-18
Head
Dr Simon Bird
Pupil roll
1,311 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
King Edward Vi Academy Trust Birmingham
FSM i
22.5%
EAL i
23.8%
EHCP i
0.6%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Drama

Ethnicity

January 2025 school census

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,311 pupils; 1,280 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 27.3% Asian 34.1% Mixed 18.8% Black 11.9% Other 5.6% Unclassified 2.4%
Recorded group Share Category Pupils
White British White 297
Indian Asian 253
Any other mixed background Mixed 184
African Black 104
Any other ethnic group Other 73
Pakistani Asian 67
Any other Asian background Asian 60
Any other White background White 58
Chinese Asian 56
White and Asian Mixed 42
Any other Black background Black 34
Unclassified Unclassified 31
Caribbean Black 18
White and Black Caribbean Mixed 11
Bangladeshi Asian 10
White and Black African Mixed 10
Irish White 3

Location and contact

Address

Address
Scotland Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, West Midlands
Postcode
B32 4BT
Area
Birmingham
Exam area
Birmingham 11+

School leadership

Head
Dr Simon Bird

School contact

School email
scollins@kefw.org
School phone
01214753535

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Business Manager
Admissions contact
Mrs S Collins
Admissions email
scollins@kefw.org
Admissions phone
01214753535
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
180 places (2027 entry)
Applications listed
1,390 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences
369 first preferences (2025 entry)
Competition i
Very High
Catchment picture
A published catchment map is used for the catchment-priority categories. The latest published catchment-category distance threshold for 2026 entry was 4,384 metres, and the same results page also published a separate 5,075 metre threshold for the pupil-premium outside-catchment category.
Residence requirement
No residence rule is currently confirmed
Last distance offered
4.38 km (2026 entry)
Cut-off score
256 (2023 entry)
Final score accepted
240 (2025 entry)
Published score threshold
205 (2027 entry)
Pass mark note
For 2026 entry the Foundation published a qualifying score of 205 and a priority score of 224. Actual offer thresholds still vary by school and category, so there is no single school-wide cut-off score.

The shared Foundation entrance test and catchment categories apply. For 2026 entry, category 3 and category 4 distances were available, with no single open-category March score for that cycle.

A published catchment map is used for the catchment-priority categories. The latest published catchment-category distance threshold for 2026 entry was 4,384 metres, and the same results page also published a separate 5,075 metre threshold for the pupil-premium outside-catchment category.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked-after and previously looked-after children who reach the qualifying score

    Applicants in this category are ranked by test score and, where scores are tied, by straight-line distance.

  2. 2

    Pupil premium applicants in catchment who reach the qualifying score

    This category is ranked by straight-line distance.

  3. 3

    Pupil premium applicants outside catchment, up to 25% of places, who reach the qualifying score

    Remaining pupil premium priority places can be offered outside catchment, ranked by test score, sibling, then distance.

  4. 4

    Catchment applicants who reach the priority score

    Applicants in catchment who meet the published priority score are ranked by sibling, then distance.

  5. 5

    All other applicants who reach the qualifying score

    Open-category offers are ranked by test score, then sibling, then distance.

Admissions policy

Admissions policy for 2027 entry

2027 entry

Score cut-off

Results and offers

2026 entry

Score history

  1. 2025

    240

    Final or waiting-list score

  2. 2024

    231

    Final or waiting-list score

  3. 2023

    256

    Initial offer score

  4. 2023

    231

    Final or waiting-list score

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

The shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test applies for Year 7 entry; there is no separate school-only paper.

Assessment route
GL Assessment
Papers and stages
2 papers
Format
Mixed format
Weighting
English 50% / Maths 25% / Reasoning 25%
Age standardisation
Published as age-standardised

Shared exam route

Practice for this school's entrance test

King Edward VI Five Ways School uses the shared West Midlands route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.

View all West Midlands practice papers
Practice paper English

GL Assessment English Practice Paper 1

Practice paper Maths

GL Assessment Maths Practice Paper 1

Practice paper Non-Verbal Reasoning

GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths Practice Paper 1

Practice paper Verbal Reasoning

GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning Paper 1

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    English, Verbal reasoning

    English and verbal reasoning paper

    The first multiple-choice paper covers English comprehension and verbal reasoning.

  2. Paper 2

    Maths, Non-verbal reasoning

    Mathematics and non-verbal reasoning paper

    The second multiple-choice paper covers mathematics plus non-verbal and spatial reasoning.

What the test includes

English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.

Science is not listed in the current published format.

Included

  • English

  • Maths

  • Verbal reasoning

    The first multiple-choice paper covers English comprehension and verbal reasoning.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    The second multiple-choice paper covers mathematics plus non-verbal and spatial reasoning.

Not listed

  • Science

Application

Key dates

  1. Registration opens

    5 May 2026

    Past

  2. Reasonable adjustments deadline

    12 June 2026, 4pm deadline

  3. Registration closes

    26 June 2026, 4pm deadline

  4. Test information released

    Early September 2026

  5. Entrance test

    12 September 2026

  6. Results released

    16 October 2026

  7. Secondary application deadline

    31 October 2026

  8. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the 2027 admissions policy

    Use the policy and catchment map to check the shared Foundation oversubscription categories before you register.

    Open policy
  2. 2

    Register for the entrance test

    Registration opens on 5 May 2026 and closes at 4pm on 26 June 2026. Any reasonable-adjustments request is due by 4pm on 12 June 2026.

    View key dates
  3. 3

    Sit the entrance test and check your result

    The shared Foundation entrance test is on 12 September 2026 and results are released on 16 October 2026.

    See timetable
  4. 4

    Submit your local authority preferences

    Name the school on your secondary application by 31 October 2026 after you have your test result.

    Apply via Birmingham

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions policy for 2027 entry

2027 entry

Key dates

Admissions timetable

2027 entry

Results

Attainment snapshot

Progress 8 i
+0.68 Progress 8
Attainment 8 i
75.9 Attainment 8
GCSE results
100% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths i
100% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score i
7.43 EBacc APS
A-level results
40.9% AAB or better
A-level average points
43.40 points per entry

Where students go next

Higher education progression
70% in higher education
Apprenticeships
1% in apprenticeships
Employment
14% in sustained employment

Latest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.

Subject performance

Maths
97.2% grade 5+ in EBacc maths
English
99.4% grade 5+ in EBacc English
Sciences
97.2% grade 5+ in EBacc sciences
Languages
93.6% grade 5+ in EBacc languages

Performance trends

Recent trend

Overall GCSE performance

This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.

King Edward VI Five Ways School Grammar schools England
Overall GCSE performance across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for King Edward VI Five Ways School, grammar schools, and England. 100 85 70 55 40 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 80.3 74.2 49.4
2022/23 75.6 71.8 47.0
2023/24 77.1 72.1 46.7
2024/25 75.9 72.3 46.8

Recent trend

Average A-level result

This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.

King Edward VI Five Ways School Grammar schools England
Average A-level result across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for King Edward VI Five Ways School, grammar schools, and England. 50 pts 45 pts 40 pts 35 pts 30 pts 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 A- average (46.5 points) 44.0 points 37.5 points
2022/23 B+ average (43.8 points) 40.5 points 33.7 points
2023/24 A- average (46.2 points) 41.3 points 34.5 points
2024/25 B+ average (43.4 points) 41.8 points 35.0 points

Recent trend

Where pupils go after Year 11

This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.

King Edward VI Five Ways School Grammar schools England
Where pupils go after Year 11 across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for King Edward VI Five Ways School, grammar schools, and England. 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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 99% 98.7% 91.8%

Latest year breakdown

In education 99%
In apprenticeships 0%
In employment 0%

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 29 November 2023

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Outstanding

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Rated Good overall, Five Ways is described as a vibrant, caring community with ambitious pupils and committed staff. The report praises strong safeguarding, resilient learners, an ambitious curriculum and exceptional sixth-form education, while noting some inconsistency in classroom adaptation.
  • Quality of education: The curriculum is ambitious across all key stages and extends beyond exam specifications, with examples such as experimentation in science, energy security in geography and mathematics in Islamic art. A few lessons do not adapt quickly enough when understanding is insecure.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Pupils show resilience when work is complex and share high expectations with staff. The report describes them as purposeful, tenacious learners who trust teachers for help and contribute to a caring, united community.
  • Personal development: Pupils benefit from broad clubs and societies across sport, creative activities and academic interests. The school promotes diversity, citizenship, reading and PSHE, while careers education gives relevant information about further education and work.
  • Leadership and management: The headteacher and leaders are described as clear and steady, uniting staff around further improvement. They consider staff workload, support emotional help for pupils, and have plans to keep strengthening PSHE and wider provision.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth-form provision is a particular strength. Students receive exceptional teaching, take time each week to pause and reflect with staff, access broad enrichment, develop leadership and teamwork, and are especially well informed about future choices.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Shortlist comparisons

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Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What assessment types does King Edward VI Five Ways School use?

King Edward VI Five Ways School currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to King Edward VI Five Ways School?

1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Use the policy and catchment map to check the shared Foundation oversubscription categories before you register. 2. Register for the entrance test: Registration opens on 5 May 2026 and closes at 4pm on 26 June 2026. Any reasonable-adjustments request is due by 4pm on 12 June 2026. 3. Sit the entrance test and check your result: The shared Foundation entrance test is on 12 September 2026 and results are released on 16 October 2026. 4. Submit your local authority preferences: Name the school on your secondary application by 31 October 2026 after you have your test result.

When are the key dates for King Edward VI Five Ways School?

Registration opens: 5 May 2026. Reasonable adjustments deadline: 12 June 2026, 4pm deadline. Registration closes: 26 June 2026, 4pm deadline. Test information released: Early September 2026. Entrance test: 12 September 2026. Results released: 16 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027

What does the latest Ofsted picture look like for King Edward VI Five Ways School?

King Edward VI Five Ways School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 29 November 2023.