Starting your child’s secondary education in a selective school is incredibly rewarding. There are eight Birmingham Grammar Schools which are high performing and deliver excellent results. Seven of these schools are included in the UK’s list of the top 100 state secondary schools. So, there are plenty of options for parents to choose from. These schools have passionate staff, and each has achieved a brilliant OFSTED rating.
Parents should always check, as the admission requirements of each school change over time. Some Grammar Schools have geographical limitations, and others have open admission policies. If their child is eligible, parents should apply to more than one school; this will enhance their chances of getting into Grammar School. Furthermore, it is good to physically visit a school, as it will allow you to explore the educational system and determine whether it fits your child.
It is essential that before applying, you check out schools that are within your locality.
What Are Grammar Schools?
Grammar Schools are state-funded Secondary Schools in the United Kingdom that provide quality education to children. However, there are taught criteria for admission to such schools; it is solely based on performance. A student must pass the 11 Plus (11+) entrance exam to secure a place at Grammar School.
What Is A Catchment Area?
Catchment areas are established to uphold the school’s ‘local status’ by granting preference to local applicants. By doing so, the school will be able to meet the local community’s expectations and provide a shorter travelling distance. All remaining spots will then be offered to those who live in more remote areas. The student must achieve the required passing mark for admission. However, proximity to the institution is often a deciding factor.
Birmingham Grammar School Ranking
In our list of top Birmingham Grammar Schools, we have included their GCSE results, the total number of students enrolled, their national ranking, as well as the gender of students they accept.
1. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
It was founded in 1883 adjacent to the city centre and relocated to Kings Heath in 1956 due to its rapid expansion. OFSTED has consistently ranked it ‘Outstanding’, recognising the school’s ‘unwavering pursuit of exceptional achievement in all facets.
According to The Sunday Times, it is the best High School of the decade In the West Midlands Area.
Headteacher Russell Bowen says the school’s goal is to create a supportive and caring community where everyone can thrive. The school offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities alongside exemplary teaching and excellent exam results.
- Town: Birmingham
- Governing Body: Birmingham City Council
- Boys: Age 11–18
- Number of Students: 999
- GCSE Grades (2022): 92.3% of students scored A*, B grades
- Ranking In 2022: 18A*–B
2. Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
It is a girls’ secondary school with sixth form and academy status located in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. The school became an academy in 2011, established in 1929. Its goal is for all pupils to have a passion for learning, to be self-sufficient and confident, and to feel part of society.
The students are provided with a welcoming and supportive environment at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School; their teacher nurtures a growth mindset among children and encourages them to value their effort, cope with academic challenges, and promote responsible learning. Students can participate in extracurricular activities, including art competitions, physical activities, and science-related projects.
- Town: Birmingham
- Governing Council: Birmingham City Council
- Girls: Ages 11–18
- Students Strength: 1,226
- GCSE Results (2022): 87% of students scored A*, B grades
- National School Ranking (2022): 22
3. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
It is located in King’s Health, Birmingham, and is one of the top-rated state secondary schools for students aged 11 to 18. The school is one of seven affiliated with the King Edward VI Foundation in Birmingham. The school shares the campus with the boy’s School. Although the buildings are connected, and specific amenities and operations are intertwined, they are separate establishments; the OFSTED report in 2021 describes the school as exemplary and inspirational.
The headteacher of King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls is Kare Stevens, who emphasises this multicultural school’s pastoral care. Camp Hill Girls school has a state-of-the-art science laboratory, fitness gym, design studio, and swimming pool.
- Town: Birmingham
- Local Authority: Birmingham City Council
- Girls: Age 11–18
- Pupil Strength: 1,097
- GCSE Results (2022): 90% of students scored A and -B
- National Ranking: 27
4. Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
For over 400 years, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School has offered exceptional, highly competitive and multifaceted education to talented boys and girls from Birmingham and throughout the Midlands. Most students graduating from this school can secure admission at Russell Group Universities; the school organises various after-school activities, including debate competitions, chess, rugby, and boating.
- Town: Birmingham
- Local Authority: Birmingham City Council
- Co-educational: Age (11-18)
- Number of Pupils; 1309
- Age Range: 11 to 18
- GCSE results: Two-thirds of students attaining A*/A grades
- National Ranking: 33
5. King Edward VI Five Ways School
Since 1883, it has operated in Five Ways, Birmingham, and relocated to Bartley Green in 1958. King Edward VI Five Ways School is a mid-sized school with an extensive sixth form. Humanities and science are their specialities.
The students here are dedicated and excel academically, but they are also well-rounded. The children participate in sports, the humanities, clubs, associations, and charitable events. All endeavours cultivate their management skills, creative ability, and consideration for others around them.
- Town: Birmingham
- Local Authority: Birmingham City Council
- Co-education School: Age 11-18
- National Rank: 63rd
- GCSE Results: 71.8% of students scored A* to -B
6. King Edward VI Handsworth School
It was opened on September 14, 1911. King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is rich in heritage and culture; it is a progressive and open-minded school devoted to teaching pupils how to deal with today’s rapidly changing world. The school is situated on a spacious campus with outstanding facilities.
Admission to the King Edward Schools is very competitive, as only one in ten pupils passes the 11 Plus exams. The GCSE results at this school have consistently been excellent since 2017.
- Town: Birmingham
- Local Authority: Birmingham City Council
- Girls: Ages 11 to 18
- School Capacity:1060
- GCSE Results: 67.7% of students were at A*-B grades
- National Rank: 83rd
7. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys is a highly competitive Grammar School in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The school is one of the best in academics in the country. It specialises in Science, Mathematics, and Applied Learning.
- Town: Birmingham
- Local Authority: Birmingham City Council
- Boys: Ages 11 to 18
- School Capacity: 656
- National rank: 83rd.
- GCSE results: 67.7% of students scored A* to A
8. King Edward VI Aston School
The all-boys grammar school, King Edward VI Aston School, opened in 1883. It is one of seven schools founded by King Edward VI in Birmingham. About 50 percent of the students come from Asian families. A third of students are not native English speakers. Pupils with learning difficulties are also enrolled at King Edward VI Aston School.
King Edward VI Aston School demands excellence from its students, whether in academic achievement or extra-curricular involvement in sports, the arts, music or other community service initiatives.
- Town: Birmingham
- Local Authority: Birmingham City Council
- Boys: Age 11–18
- Students’ Capacity: 990
- National Rank: 152nd
- GCSE results: 58.7% of students scored A* to A
Conclusion
These are the top eight Birmingham Grammar Schools. Students who want to get into Birmingham Grammar School must pass the 11 Plus test in Year 7. Birmingham Consortium, comprising all eight Birmingham Grammar Schools, conducts this entrance exam.
The 11 Plus tests are held by GL, known as Granada Learning Assessment. However, before 2022, the test was administered by CEM (The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring). Each year’s test is held in September, and students take it in Year 6. The exam included two papers that assessed students’ abilities in English, maths, verbal reasoning, and nonverbal reasoning.