School profile Verified 11 September 2026

Queen Mary's High School

Upper Forster Street, Walsall, WS4 2AE

A selective girls grammar school in Walsall, West Midlands, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 944 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment

UK rank: UK Rank #78
Year 7 places: 150
Competition ?: High
Ofsted ?: Outstanding
11+ route: GL Assessment

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At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank: UK Rank #78
Sector: Grammar school
Admissions: Girls only
Assessment: GL Assessment
Places in Year 7: 150
Competition ?: High
Catchment: You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Ofsted ?: Outstanding

Overview

Queen Mary's High School is an 11-18 selective girls' grammar in Walsall, with about 944 pupils and a co-educational sixth form. It is one of the founding schools of The Mercian Trust, and its own account stresses more than 125 years of educating future thinkers, doers and change-makers.

The school frames its aim as enabling each student to achieve excellence in all aspects of life. In practice that means a broad academic curriculum, strong pastoral care, a house system, careers education, SEND support, a Learning Resource Centre, sixth-form study and co-curricular activity sitting alongside the formal grammar pathway. The school is also clear about social equality and access, not just academic selection.

Year 7 admission is through the shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test. The published admission number is 150; Queen Mary's has no catchment area and, for 2027 entry, up to 45 places are prioritised for eligible Pupil Premium girls from Walsall state-funded primary schools before remaining places are offered by score.

Its public results profile is that of a strong but not oversized girls' grammar: Ofsted Outstanding, positive Progress 8, very high grade 5+ English and maths performance and a sixth form with a solid A level AAB record. The absence of a catchment area makes the score and Pupil Premium routes especially important.

Key points

Assessment route: GL Assessment across a 2-stage process, covering English, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Maths.
Places and demand: 150 places in Year 7 and High
Catchment: You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Results: 97.9% grade 5+ in English and maths and 73.5 Attainment 8
Sixth form: Sixth form available with 25.8% AAB or better and 77% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

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

School Local authority England

Attainment 8: 73.5
Grade 5+ English and maths: 97.9%
EBacc APS: 7.17
EBacc entry: 87%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Walsall and England.

School Local authority England

Destinations

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

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown

School details

Sector: Grammar school
School type: Academy converter
Application: Local authority CAF
Gender: Girls only
Age range: 11-18
Head Teacher: Mrs Nicola Daniel
Pupil roll: 944 pupils
Sixth form: Yes
Trust: The Mercian Trust
FSM ?: 24.5%
EAL ?: 29.2%
EHCP ?: 0.3%

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 944 pupils; 939 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 16.4% Asian 61.4% Mixed 6.3% Black 11.5% Other 3.9% Unclassified 0.5%

Recorded group	Share	Category	Pupils
Indian	26.4%	Asian	249
Pakistani	20.8%	Asian	196
White British	14.4%	White	136
African	9%	Black	85
Bangladeshi	6.7%	Asian	63
Any other Asian background	4.9%	Asian	46
Any other ethnic group	3.9%	Other	37
Chinese	2.6%	Asian	25
Any other mixed background	2.4%	Mixed	23
White and Asian	2.3%	Mixed	22
Any other White background	2%	White	19
Caribbean	1.4%	Black	13
Any other Black background	1.1%	Black	10
White and Black Caribbean	1.1%	Mixed	10
Unclassified	0.5%	Unclassified	5
White and Black African	0.5%	Mixed	5

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Location and contact

Address

Address: Upper Forster Street, Walsall, West Midlands
Postcode: WS4 2AE
Area: Walsall
Exam area: Walsall 11+

School leadership

Head Teacher: Mrs Nicola Daniel

School contact

School email: qmarys@qmhs.merciantrust.org.uk
School phone: 01922721013

Admissions contact

Admissions team: School Office
Admissions email: qmarys@qmhs.merciantrust.org.uk
Admissions phone: 01922721013

Open in Map Open school website

Admissions

Year 7 places: 150 places (2027 entry)
Applications listed: 874 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences: 312 first preferences (2025 entry)
Competition ?: High
Who can apply: You can apply from any area. There is no defined catchment or local-priority area, although distance may still affect allocation or a tie-break.
Cut-off score: 216 (2026 entry)
Published score threshold: 200 (2026 entry)
Pass mark note: The West Midlands route uses age-standardised scores. For 2026 entry the minimum qualifying score was 200, but the initial non-Pupil-Premium offer score was 216. A qualifying score does not by itself guarantee a place.

There is no catchment area. For 2027 entry, up to 45 places are prioritised for eligible Pupil Premium girls from Walsall state-funded primary schools before remaining places are offered in score order.

There is no catchment area. Priority depends on the published score order, with a separate Pupil Premium route for Walsall state-funded primary schools.

Oversubscription and eligibility

1

Looked-after and previously looked-after girls

Girls who reach the required standard and are looked after, previously looked after, or previously in state care outside England are admitted first.
2

Pupil Premium girls from Walsall state-funded primary schools

Up to 30% of places (45 places) are reserved for girls eligible for Pupil Premium who attend a Walsall state-funded primary school and are ranked by entrance-test score.
3

Other Pupil Premium girls

Remaining Pupil Premium girls who meet the standard are considered next in score order.
4

All other eligible girls in score order

Remaining places are offered in descending entrance-test score order.
5

Tie-breaks

If scores are tied, Queen Mary's High School compares performance across the three tested skill areas before using an independently verified random allocation.

Admissions policy

Admissions arrangements 2027/28

2027 entry

Information booklet

West Midlands Grammar Schools family guide

2027 entry

Score history

2026

216

Initial offer score
2025

211

Initial offer score
2024

214

Initial offer score

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

The shared West Midlands Grammar Schools entrance test allows one test result to support applications across participating schools.

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

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

Familiarisation GL Assessment English familiarisation pack English General provider materials. Match the subjects to the current test; question counts and timings may differ. Familiarisation GL Assessment Maths familiarisation pack Maths General provider materials. Match the subjects to the current test; question counts and timings may differ. Familiarisation GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths familiarisation pack Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths General provider materials. Match the subjects to the current test; question counts and timings may differ. Familiarisation GL Assessment Non-Verbal Reasoning familiarisation pack Non-Verbal Reasoning General provider materials. Match the subjects to the current test; question counts and timings may differ. Familiarisation GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning familiarisation pack Verbal Reasoning General provider materials. Match the subjects to the current test; question counts and timings may differ. Familiarisation GL Assessment Verbal Skills familiarisation pack Verbal Skills General provider materials. Match the subjects to the current test; question counts and timings may differ.

View all 10 resources

Familiarisation Preparing for the West Midlands test Familiarisation West Midlands entrance test overview Familiarisation West Midlands family guide Guidance GL Assessment official guidance and downloads General provider familiarisation. Use only the subjects in this school’s test; question counts and timings may differ.

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Papers and rounds

Paper 1

English, Verbal reasoning

Paper 1: English and verbal reasoning

The first paper combines English and verbal reasoning in a multiple-choice format.
Paper 2

Maths, Non-verbal reasoning

Paper 2: Maths and non-verbal reasoning

The second paper covers mathematics and non-verbal or spatial reasoning in multiple-choice sections.

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 paper combines English and verbal reasoning in a multiple-choice format.
Non-verbal reasoning

The second paper covers mathematics and non-verbal or spatial reasoning in multiple-choice sections.

Not listed

Science

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders

Find open days and plan a visit

Registration opens

5 May 2026
Past

West Midlands registration opens.
Reasonable adjustments deadline

12 June 2026, 4pm
Past

Deadline for access arrangements and reasonable adjustments.
Open evening

23 June 2026, 5pm to 7pm
Past

School open evening for 2027 entry families.
Registration closes

26 June 2026, 4pm
Past

West Midlands registration closes.
Entrance test

12 September 2026
Past

West Midlands entrance test day.
Results issued

Middle to late October 2026

West Midlands results are issued by this date.
CAF deadline

31 October 2026

National Common Application Form deadline.
Offer day

1 March 2027

National offer day.
Revised open evening

22 September 2026

4.45pm-7pm; last entry at 6.30pm. No booking required. Replaces the cancelled June event.

How to apply

1
Read the admissions arrangements

Check the official 2027 entry policy before registering so the score rules, Pupil Premium priority, and tie-break rules are clear.
Open policy
2
Register for the West Midlands entrance test

Registration opens on 5 May 2026 and closes at 4pm on 26 June 2026 through the West Midlands Grammar Schools route.
Open entry page
3
Send any access or Pupil Premium evidence on time

Reasonable-adjustment requests are due by 12 June 2026, and Pupil Premium evidence must be submitted before the test date.
Open family guide
4
Sit the test and then submit the CAF

The test is on 12 September 2026. Results follow by 16 October 2026 and the CAF deadline is 31 October 2026.
Open test route

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admissions arrangements 2027/28

2027 entry

Information booklet

West Midlands Grammar Schools family guide

2027 entry

Results

Attainment snapshot

Progress 8 ?: +0.55 Progress 8
Attainment 8 ?: 73.5 Attainment 8
GCSE results: 98.6% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?: 97.9% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?: 7.17 EBacc APS
A-level results: 25.8% AAB or better
A-level average points: 38.75 points per entry

Where students go next

Higher education progression: 77% in higher education
Apprenticeships: 5% in apprenticeships
Employment: 5% in sustained employment

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

Subject performance

Maths: 95.9% grade 5+ in EBacc maths
English: 97.9% grade 5+ in EBacc English
Sciences: 97.2% grade 5+ in EBacc sciences
Languages: 95.1% 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.

Queen Mary's High School Grammar schools England

Year	This school	Grammar schools	England
2021/22	76.6	74.2	49.4
2022/23	74.2	71.8	47.0
2023/24	72.1	72.1	46.7
2024/25	73.5	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.

Queen Mary's High School Grammar schools England

Year	This school	Grammar schools	England
2021/22	B+ average (41.9 points)	44.0 points	37.5 points
2022/23	B average (39.1 points)	40.5 points	33.7 points
2023/24	B average (38.7 points)	41.3 points	34.5 points
2024/25	B average (38.8 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.

Queen Mary's High School Grammar schools England

Year	This school	Grammar schools	England
2021/22	100%	99.1%	94.1%
2022/23	99%	98.9%	93.9%
2023/24	98%	99.0%	93.3%
2024/25	98%	98.7%	91.8%

Latest year breakdown

In education	97%
In apprenticeships	0%
In employment	1%

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Inspection

View report

Outstanding

Latest inspection: 13 October 2021

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

Quick summary

Overall effectiveness: Queen Mary's High School was judged Outstanding in every area. Pupils meet very high expectations with strong support, achieve exceptionally well and experience a calm, respectful culture with extensive academic and wider opportunities.
Quality of education: The curriculum is designed for deep study beyond national expectations, including Mandarin, European languages and instrumental learning for all Year 7 pupils. Teachers use strong subject knowledge, precise questioning and assessment to deepen understanding and revisit gaps.
Behaviour and attitudes: Behaviour is exemplary in lessons and around school. Pupils are courteous, helpful and respectful, the atmosphere is calm and orderly, and older students, especially in the sixth form, help sustain the culture through leadership roles.
Personal development: Weekly personal development lessons cover mental health, online safety, healthy lifestyles and relationships. Pupils take part in extensive clubs, often started by pupils themselves, including Lovelace Coding Club and Cultural Awareness Society, plus meaningful careers encounters.
Leadership and management: Trustees and governors know their roles and share leaders' high ambition. They have changed admissions criteria and run outreach across Walsall primary schools to improve access for disadvantaged pupils, while staff feel respected and supported.
Sixth form provision: Sixth-form teaching uses precise checks to identify misunderstandings, and the curriculum prepares students exceptionally well for exams and future life. Older students take leadership roles, model the school's standards and support the wider pupil culture.

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Shortlist comparisons

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Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Area and ranking pages

Best Grammar Schools in Walsall

Compare 2 Walsall grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, West Midlands route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.

Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK

Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.

Best Grammar Schools in the UK

Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.

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.

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What assessment types does Queen Mary's High School use?

Queen Mary's High School currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to Queen Mary's High School?

1. Read the admissions arrangements: Check the official 2027 entry policy before registering so the score rules, Pupil Premium priority, and tie-break rules are clear. 2. Register for the West Midlands entrance test: Registration opens on 5 May 2026 and closes at 4pm on 26 June 2026 through the West Midlands Grammar Schools route. 3. Send any access or Pupil Premium evidence on time: Reasonable-adjustment requests are due by 12 June 2026, and Pupil Premium evidence must be submitted before the test date. 4. Sit the test and then submit the CAF: The test is on 12 September 2026. Results follow by 16 October 2026 and the CAF deadline is 31 October 2026.

When are the key dates for Queen Mary's High School?

Registration opens: 5 May 2026. Reasonable adjustments deadline: 12 June 2026, 4pm. Open evening: 23 June 2026, 5pm to 7pm. Registration closes: 26 June 2026, 4pm. Entrance test: 12 September 2026. Results issued: Middle to late October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. Offer day: 1 March 2027. Revised open evening: 22 September 2026

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Queen Mary's High School?

Queen Mary's High School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 13 October 2021.