Birmingham / Birmingham 11+
Grove Lane, Handsworth, B21 9ET
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
1
A selective boys grammar school in Birmingham, West Midlands, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,044 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Birmingham, West Midlands, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,044 pupils on roll. Families looking at Birmingham, West Midlands will usually see King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 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 1,044 pupils on roll and 150 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 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. 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 Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.78 and Attainment 8 at 72. 93.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 31.3% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 71% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Library. The wider offer currently includes Duke of Edinburgh. 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. King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 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 the boys' school offers 150 places through the Birmingham grammar entrance test. Applicants need the qualifying score, and catchment plus pupil premium categories then determine how offers are prioritised.
The catchment is defined by named Birmingham and Sandwell wards. Pupil premium applicants in catchment are prioritised, followed by the priority-score catchment category, and applicants outside catchment can still be ranked by score.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Looked after and previously looked after applicants who achieve the qualifying score are ranked by test score and then by distance from the school.
Pupil premium applicants in catchment
Children attracting the pupil premium who achieve the qualifying score and live within the school catchment area are ranked by distance from the school.
Pupil premium applicants outside catchment up to 25% of places
If fewer than 25% of places are filled by category 2, offers are made to pupil premium applicants outside catchment who achieve the qualifying score, ranked by test score and then sibling and distance if scores are tied.
Catchment applicants at the priority score
Applicants who achieve the priority score and live in the catchment area are prioritised by sibling and then distance.
All other qualifying applicants
Remaining applicants who achieve the qualifying score are ranked by test score, then sibling, then distance.
Structured exam detail is still being reviewed.
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
English and verbal reasoning paper
One paper contributes to the English and verbal reasoning part of the Birmingham and Warwickshire entrance test.
Paper 2
Maths, NVR
Mathematics and non-verbal reasoning paper
One paper contributes to the mathematics and non-verbal reasoning part of the Birmingham and Warwickshire entrance test.
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
One paper contributes to the English and verbal reasoning part of the Birmingham and Warwickshire entrance test.
Non-verbal reasoning
One paper contributes to the mathematics and non-verbal reasoning part of the Birmingham and Warwickshire entrance test.
Science
Creative writing
Test registration opens
5 May 2026
Reasonable adjustments deadline
12 June 2026
Test registration closes
26 June 2026
Entrance test
12 September 2026
Results issued
16 October 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Read the 2027 admissions policy
Check the boys' policy for the catchment wards, qualifying and priority score rules, and the sibling and distance tie-breaks.
Open admissions policyRegister for the entrance test
Register through West Midlands Grammar Schools between 5 May 2026 and 26 June 2026 at 4pm.
Register for the testSit the Birmingham grammar entrance test
The test is on Saturday 12 September 2026, with AM and PM sessions across the day.
Check test detailsSubmit your local authority preference form
List the school on your local authority application by 31 October 2026 after you have your test result.
Check the timelineLatest 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 | 70.4 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 71.4 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 72 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 72 | 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 | B average (39.2 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C+ average (33.5 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (37.8 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (40.5 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 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 17 April 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
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.
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
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Check the boys' policy for the catchment wards, qualifying and priority score rules, and the sibling and distance tie-breaks. 2. Register for the entrance test: Register through West Midlands Grammar Schools between 5 May 2026 and 26 June 2026 at 4pm. 3. Sit the Birmingham grammar entrance test: The test is on Saturday 12 September 2026, with AM and PM sessions across the day. 4. Submit your local authority preference form: List the school on your local authority application by 31 October 2026 after you have your test result.
Test registration opens: 5 May 2026. Reasonable adjustments deadline: 12 June 2026. Test registration closes: 26 June 2026. Entrance test: 12 September 2026. Results issued: 16 October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 17 April 2024.