GSGrammarSchool Hub
School profile Verified 11 September 2026

Birmingham Birmingham 11+

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls

Jockey Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 5PT

A selective girls grammar school in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,215 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment
UK rank
UK Rank #29
Year 7 places
180
Competition ?
High
Ofsted ?
Good
11+ route
GL Assessment
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On this page

At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank
UK Rank #29
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
GL Assessment
Places in Year 7
180
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 ?
Good

Overview

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar on Jockey Road in Sutton Coldfield, serving ages 11 to 18. The school has a long tradition of high-quality education and uses its motto, "not for our own advantage but for the common good", to give that tradition a service-minded tone. The school has about 1,215 pupils on roll, including more than 300 students in the sixth form.

The curriculum language is broad and balanced. The headteacher's welcome stresses subject-specialist teaching, enthusiasm for learning and preparation for the next educational stage; the EPQ, computer science and sixth-form study are also visible parts of the offer. Tutor time, assemblies, house activities and a character-based reward system are used to support personal development.

Facilities and co-curricular life are unusually well specified on the school site. Sutton Girls names state-of-the-art science laboratories, art, textiles and design classrooms, a sports hall, a multi-purpose social space and a library. Students can take part in sports, drama, music, clubs and societies, as well as science Olympiads, maths and coding challenges, essay and debating competitions, school council, environment committee, mentoring, house competitions and charity events.

Year 7 admission has 180 places and uses the West Midlands entrance test. The GL multiple-choice test covers English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal/spatial reasoning, with age-standardised scores and a 50/25/25 weighting across English/verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths. For 2027 entry the qualifying score is 205, with up to 36 pupil-premium places and remaining places ranked by score. Ofsted judged the school Good in November 2022; GOV.UK shows +1.05 Progress 8, 99.4% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 40.9% AAB or better at A level.

Key points
Assessment route
GL Assessment across a single-stage process, covering English, Verbal reasoning, Maths and Non-verbal reasoning.
Places and demand
180 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
99.4% grade 5+ in English and maths and 79.4 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 40.9% AAB or better and 79% 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, Birmingham, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
79.4
Grade 5+ English and maths
99.4%
EBacc APS
7.17
EBacc entry
49.2%

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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, 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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, Birmingham, 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
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Dr Barbara Minards
Pupil roll
1,215 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School For Girls Academy Trust
FSM ?
14.2%
EAL ?
21.5%
EHCP ?
0.1%

Facilities

Library Theatre

Extracurriculars

Drama Duke of Edinburgh

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,215 pupils; 1,200 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 28.4% Asian 53.4% Mixed 6.1% Black 7.5% Other 3.2% Unclassified 1.2%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Jockey Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
Postcode
B73 5PT
Area
Birmingham
Exam area
Birmingham 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Dr Barbara Minards

School contact

School email
enquiry@suttcold.bham.sch.uk
School phone
01213541479

Admissions contact

Admissions email
enquiry@suttcold.bham.sch.uk
Admissions phone
01213541479
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Year 7 places
180 places (2025 entry)
Applications listed
1,170 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences
333 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.
Published score threshold
205 (2025 entry)
Pass mark note
The 2027 qualifying score is 205. Qualifying score is not the same as a final offer cut-off.

Entry is by West Midlands entrance test score. The 2027 qualifying score is 205, but that threshold is not the same as a final offer cut-off.

There is no residence requirement. Allocation is score-led after the qualifying score, with straight-line distance used only for tied scores.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked-after and previously looked-after girls

    Applicants who achieve the qualifying score are ranked by standardised entrance test score.

  2. 2

    Pupil Premium

    Up to 36 qualifying applicants eligible for Pupil Premium are ranked by standardised score.

  3. 3

    All other qualifying applicants

    Remaining qualifying applicants are ranked by standardised score, with straight-line distance used only to break tied scores.

Admissions policy

Admission arrangements for September 2027

2027 entry

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

The West Midlands entrance test is GL Assessment multiple choice, with age-standardised scores and a 50/25/25 weighting across English/verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and maths.

Assessment route
GL Assessment
Papers and stages
1 paper
Format
Multiple-choice paper
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

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    English, Verbal reasoning, Maths, Non-verbal reasoning

    West Midlands entrance test

    Two multiple-choice papers, each around 50 to 60 minutes, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal/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

    Two multiple-choice papers, each around 50 to 60 minutes, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal/spatial reasoning.

  • Non-verbal reasoning

    Two multiple-choice papers, each around 50 to 60 minutes, covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics and non-verbal/spatial reasoning.

Not listed

  • Science

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders
Find open days and plan a visit

  1. Registration opens

    5 May 2026

    Past

  2. Registration closes

    26 June 2026

    Past

    Deadline is 4pm.

  3. Entrance test

    12 September 2026

    Past

  4. Secondary school application deadline

    31 October 2026

  5. National offer day

    1 March 2027

  6. Entrance test results

    By 16 October 2026

    Results are sent by email.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register for the West Midlands entrance test

    Complete the online registration before the 4pm deadline on 26 June 2026.

    Register
  2. 2

    Sit the entrance test

    The entrance test is scheduled for a Saturday in early September 2026.

  3. 3

    Submit the secondary application

    Name the grammar schools in preference order on the local authority form by 31 October 2026.

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Admission arrangements for September 2027

2027 entry

Results

Inspection
View report
Good

Latest inspection: 9 November 2022

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

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls was rated Good overall. Inspectors found high expectations, strong care, extremely good behaviour, a broad curriculum and impressive outcomes in many subjects, alongside ongoing work to make teaching and checks consistently strong.
  • Quality of education: Leaders have planned a challenging curriculum that builds from pupils' high starting points. Examples include three Shakespeare texts before the end of Year 9 and early work on surds and Pythagoras, though the evidence points to some variation in teaching checks.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Pupils behave extremely well, listening attentively in lessons and using social times maturely for conversation or additional study. Bullying is rare, and the pastoral team responds quickly when concerns arise.
  • Personal development: The character education programme encourages pupils to be their best self. Pupils join academic, music and sport activities as well as Lego and philosophy clubs, Duke of Edinburgh, and the school production of Legally Blonde, with some activities led by sixth-formers.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders set high expectations and ensure pupils are well cared for. Safeguarding is supported by staff checks, training, regular updates on emerging concerns, careful recording and swift work with the local authority or external agencies where needed.
  • Sixth form provision: Sixth-form provision was judged Good. The report highlights a broad A level curriculum and older students taking leadership in clubs, while the wider academic ambition and character education programme continue through the school.

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Shortlist comparisons

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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 Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls use?

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?

1. Register for the West Midlands entrance test: Complete the online registration before the 4pm deadline on 26 June 2026. 2. Sit the entrance test: The entrance test is scheduled for a Saturday in early September 2026. 3. Submit the secondary application: Name the grammar schools in preference order on the local authority form by 31 October 2026.

When are the key dates for Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?

Registration opens: 5 May 2026. Registration closes: 26 June 2026. Entrance test: 12 September 2026. Secondary school application deadline: 31 October 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027. Entrance test results: By 16 October 2026

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 9 November 2022.