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School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Warwickshire Warwickshire 11+

King Edward VI School

Chapel Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BE

A selective boys grammar school in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 869 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Boys Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #15
Year 7 places
87
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #15
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Boys only
Assessment
West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
Places in Year 7
87
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Outstanding

Overview

King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon is a state-funded selective boys' grammar school with a co-educational sixth form. Known to have existed from 1295 and re-founded by a charter of King Edward VI, it has a stronger historical identity than most grammar schools in the region. Today it educates about 869 pupils from 11 to 18 on Chapel Lane.

The academic offer is deliberately broad. KES describes the twin aims of its curriculum as high academic attainment and the development of widely educated, confident and responsible young people. The English Baccalaureate sits at the heart of the curriculum, and the school links academic challenge with smaller examination sets, A-level progression and preparation for university degrees or degree-level apprenticeships.

The co-curricular programme is a major part of the school's public identity. KES points to field trips, exchanges, lectures, competitions and work-related learning, alongside a house system, sport, music, drama, clubs and societies. The extra-curricular page is especially clear that education extends beyond the classroom, with regular concerts, drama productions, a major sporting fixtures programme and specialist coaching.

Admission to Year 7 is for 87 places. Warwickshire administers the 11+ process, with two papers of about 60 minutes each and results issued before secondary preferences are considered. The admissions framework uses inner and outer priority circles, looked-after and Pupil Premium priority routes, and an annually set automatic qualifying score. Published measures show Ofsted Outstanding, +1.21 Progress 8, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths and 53.8% AAB or better at A level.

Key points
Assessment route
West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test: 2 papers, covering English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
87 places in Year 7 and High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
97.8% grade 5+ in English and maths and 81.1 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 53.8% AAB or better and 71.2% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Warwickshire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for King Edward VI School, Warwickshire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
81.1
Grade 5+ English and maths
97.8%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Warwickshire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for King Edward VI School, Warwickshire, and England. 100 80 60 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

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

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

School details
Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Boys only
Age range
11-18
Headmaster
Mr Bennet Carr
Pupil roll
879 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
The Grammar School Of King Edward Vi At Stratford-Upon-Avon
FSM ?
3.1%
EAL ?
14.2%
EHCP ?
0.3%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Drama Sport

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 879 pupils; 832 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 48.2% Asian 29.6% Mixed 14.4% Black 0.8% Other 1.6% Unclassified 5.3%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Chapel Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Postcode
CV37 6BE
Area
Warwickshire
Exam area
Warwickshire 11+

School leadership

Headmaster
Mr Bennet Carr

School contact

School email
safeguarding@kes.net
School phone
01926414144

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Warwickshire 11+ team
Admissions email
elevenplus@warwickshire.gov.uk
Admissions phone
01926414143
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions

Residence and moving rules

2027 entry

For local priority

Live in the area and provide address evidence
23:59
Provide address evidence
Within fifteen working days of the December address-evidence request

Applies to: Applicants claiming priority-area residence.

Policy wording, evidence and exceptions

Address for local priority

Evidence of residence in the priority area must reach Warwickshire Admissions by 23:59 on 31 December 2026. Missing the required address evidence can cause an application to be treated as late. A family moving before this cut-off must have the child living at the new address by the deadline and provide the required proof; later moves are considered after National Offer Day.

Evidence required
  • The address documents requested by Warwickshire Admissions
Official admissions policy

Checked

Year 7 places
87 places
Applications listed
347 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
221 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Pass mark note
KES sets the Automatic Qualifying Score and waiting-list minimum annually. For 2025 entry Warwickshire published a KES AQS of 233 and a waiting-list minimum of 231.

For 2027 entry there are 87 Year 7 places. Warwickshire administers the 11+ process on the admissions authority route, with inner and outer priority circles plus an annually set automatic qualifying score.

An inner priority circle of 13 miles and an outer circle of 16.936 miles are measured from the Fountain in Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon. Families may be asked for proof of address by 31 December 2026, and applicants outside the outer circle are ranked after priority-circle categories.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Children with an EHCP naming KES

    Boys whose Education, Health and Care Plan names King Edward VI School are admitted first if they meet the required minimum academic standard.

  2. 2

    Looked after and previously looked after boys

    Looked after, previously looked after, and internationally adopted previously looked after boys who achieve the automatic qualifying score, or are up to 20 marks below it, are ranked next.

  3. 3

    Pupil premium boys within the outer circle

    Up to 13 places are reserved for pupil premium boys living within the outer priority circle who achieve the automatic qualifying score or are up to 20 marks below it.

  4. 4

    Inner-circle qualifiers

    Up to 70 places then go to the highest-scoring boys living within 13 miles of the Fountain in Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.

  5. 5

    Outer-circle qualifiers

    Remaining boys living in the outer priority circle are then ranked by score.

  6. 6

    Boys outside the outer circle

    Any remaining places go to boys outside the outer circle who meet the automatic qualifying score, ranked by score with the policy tie-breaks.

Admissions policy

Admissions policy for 2027 entry

2027 entry

Information booklet

Year 7 admissions

2027 entry

Exam and test format
September 2027 entry

Two multiple-choice papers with individually timed sections.

Test provider
GL Assessment
Format
Multiple choice
Scores
Age-standardised

Papers and timings

  • Paper 1 Multiple choice
    Approx. 50–60 min Includes instructions and examples.
  • Paper 2 Multiple choice
    Approx. 50–60 min Includes instructions and examples.

What the test includes

  • EnglishComprehension.
  • Maths
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal and spatial reasoning
Official test guidance

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

No released past entrance-test papers are currently verified here. The resources below are labelled by type.

West Midlands test guide

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Open morning

    27 June 2026

    Past

  2. 11+ registration opens

    7 May 2026

    Past

  3. 11+ registration closes

    30 June 2026

    Past

    Warwickshire's deadline is 11.59pm.

  4. Test sessions

    12 or 13 September 2026

  5. Results issued

    16 October 2026

    Past

    Results are available on the Warwickshire Parent Portal.

  6. CAF deadline

    31 October 2026

    Past

  7. Proof of address deadline

    31 December 2026

  8. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

  9. Residence start date

    31 December 2026, 23:59

  10. Address evidence deadline

    Within fifteen working days of the December address-evidence request

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the 2027 admissions policy

    Check the KES policy for the inner and outer priority circles, the academic-standard rules, and the proof-of-address requirements.

    Open admissions policy
  2. 2

    Register for Warwickshire's 11+ test

    Complete the Warwickshire 11+ registration between 7 May 2026 and 30 June 2026 so your child can be invited to the September test sessions.

    Register for the 11+
  3. 3

    Submit your CAF and any address evidence

    List KES on your home local authority Common Application Form by 31 October 2026 and provide proof of address by 31 December 2026 if Warwickshire requests it.

    Check Warwickshire guidance

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions policy for 2027 entry

2027 entry

Information booklet

Year 7 admissions

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Outstanding

Latest inspection: 1 December 2021

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

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Rated Outstanding overall, the report describes a rich, vibrant school where pupils thrive, think hard and embrace opportunities. Academic ambition is paired with strong pastoral care, celebration of inclusion, exemplary behaviour and a very wide club culture.
  • Quality of education: The curriculum is described as inspiring and ambitious, with pupils studying subjects such as Latin and Mandarin and reading widely beyond exam requirements. Careful sequencing helps pupils connect new ideas with prior knowledge and produce high-quality work.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Pupils' behaviour is exemplary: they are courteous, respectful and polite. Lessons are places where pupils think hard, and pupils respond enthusiastically to staff expectations while making the most of school life.
  • Personal development: Personal development is woven through a broad extra-curricular offer, with almost all pupils attending or helping run clubs. Examples include jazz, astronomy, debating and robotics, alongside explicit celebration of equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Leadership and management: The headmaster and senior leaders model ambition and genuine care for wellbeing. Staff know pupils well, act when support is needed, and safeguarding is strengthened by regular training, vigilant reporting and prompt follow-up with agencies.
  • Sixth form provision: The evidence presents a seven-year curriculum journey that extends beyond examination demands, giving older students depth and breadth for life beyond school. Sixth-form learning sits within the same high-expectation culture of ambition, care and subject enthusiasm.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Shortlist comparisons

Compare King Edward VI School with Lawrence Sheriff School Compare King Edward VI School with King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys Compare King Edward VI School with Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does King Edward VI School use?

For September 2027 entry, King Edward VI School uses West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to King Edward VI School?

1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Check the KES policy for the inner and outer priority circles, the academic-standard rules, and the proof-of-address requirements. 2. Register for Warwickshire's 11+ test: Complete the Warwickshire 11+ registration between 7 May 2026 and 30 June 2026 so your child can be invited to the September test sessions. 3. Submit your CAF and any address evidence: List KES on your home local authority Common Application Form by 31 October 2026 and provide proof of address by 31 December 2026 if Warwickshire requests it.

When are the key dates for King Edward VI School?

Open morning: 27 June 2026. 11+ registration opens: 7 May 2026. 11+ registration closes: 30 June 2026. Test sessions: 12 or 13 September 2026. Results issued: 16 October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. Proof of address deadline: 31 December 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027. Residence start date: 31 December 2026, 23:59. Address evidence deadline: Within fifteen working days of the December address-evidence request

What does the latest inspection picture look like for King Edward VI School?

King Edward VI School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 1 December 2021.