King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 11+ Guide

About King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a selective secondary school in Birmingham. For children to get into King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a renowned institution that fosters a vibrant and intellectually challenging atmosphere for its pupils. The school welcomes boys aged 11 to 16 and extends its doors to both boys and girls in the Sixth Form. Situated in Birmingham, the school admits students who have successfully passed the 11+ exam from the local community and surrounding areas.

At King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School, the national curriculum is closely followed, with a strong emphasis on core subjects such as English, mathematics, and science. The school also provides a wide array of additional subjects, including humanities, languages, physical education, and creative arts. Moreover, the institution is committed to offering a diverse range of extracurricular activities that cater to the varied interests of its students, such as sports, music, technology clubs, and inter-form quizzes.

The school takes immense pride in its exceptional exam results at both GCSE and A-level, consistently surpassing the standards set by both public and private educational institutions. These remarkable achievements have contributed to the school receiving an "Outstanding" rating in every category from Ofsted. King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School is dedicated to establishing itself as a centre of excellence by upholding traditional values while embracing the advancements offered by modern technology, serving both the local community and the wider Birmingham area.

School Information

Below you will find further information about King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys together with their admissions contact details.

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,065 pupils attend King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Tim Johnson.

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys for the 2022-23 academic year.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Information

In order to get into King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, children need to pass the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Subjects & Structure

The West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English comprehension
• Maths
• Verbal reasoning
• Non-verbal reasoning

The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is the examination used by King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys to assess prospective students. The test is composed of two one-hour papers, each divided into smaller sections that are individually timed. These sections evaluate the candidate's abilities in four key areas: English comprehension, Maths, Verbal reasoning, and Non-verbal reasoning.

All questions in the entrance test are presented in a multiple-choice format. Candidates are provided with separate answer sheets on which they mark their selected answers. These answer sheets are then electronically marked to determine the candidate's performance in each subject area.

The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of a student's academic potential, covering both linguistic and mathematical skills, as well as their ability to analyze and solve problems using verbal and non-verbal cues. Success in this examination is a key factor in securing a place at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys.

Other Schools using West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+

As well as King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, several other schools also use West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. These are:

• Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
• King Edward VI Aston School
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
• King Edward VI Five Ways School
• King Edward VI Handsworth School
• Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
• Haberdashers' Adams
• Newport Girls' High School Academy
• Queen Mary's Grammar School
• Queen Mary's High School
• Alcester Grammar School
• King Edward VI School
• Lawrence Sheriff School
• Rugby High School
• Stratford Girls' Grammar School
• Wolverhampton Girls' High School

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ tests (to get into King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys was last inspected by Ofsted on 10/01/2017 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 08/02/2017, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are all available past 11+ papers for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys. Please note that this may include 11+ past papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys currently uses.

The exam board (or test supplier) that King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.

As well as these past 11+ papers, you may find our 11+ practice papers helpful for your child's preparation.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Ensure you double-check with King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.