King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ Guide

About King Edward VI Handsworth School

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

Nestled in the heart of Birmingham, King Edward VI Handsworth School has been a beacon of academic excellence for over a century. This esteemed grammar school for girls boasts a rich history and a commitment to preparing its students for the challenges of the modern world. With its convenient location and easy access to public transportation, the school attracts students from across the region.

At King Edward VI Handsworth School, students are immersed in a comprehensive and inclusive curriculum that emphasizes academic rigor. The school offers a wide array of subjects, ranging from the sciences and mathematics to the humanities and arts, ensuring that every student can pursue her passions and interests. The dedicated faculty works tirelessly to cultivate a love for learning and intellectual curiosity among the students.

Beyond the classroom, King Edward VI Handsworth School provides a wealth of extra-curricular activities designed to enhance personal growth and development. From drama and music to sports and language clubs, students have ample opportunities to explore their talents and forge lasting friendships. The school also encourages community engagement through volunteering and work experience initiatives, fostering a sense of social responsibility and empathy among its pupils.

The school takes great pride in its state-of-the-art facilities, which have been continuously upgraded to meet the evolving needs of modern education. Specialist classrooms, cutting-edge science laboratories, and well-equipped sports facilities provide an optimal learning environment for students to thrive. The school's library serves as a hub of knowledge, offering a vast collection of resources to support academic research and personal enrichment.

With its unwavering commitment to excellence, King Edward VI Handsworth School has earned an "Outstanding" rating from Ofsted and has been recognized as one of the top schools in the West Midlands. Its graduates are highly sought after by prestigious universities and employers alike, a testament to the school's success in nurturing confident, independent, and morally courageous young women who are ready to make their mark on the world.

School Information

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

King Edward VI Handsworth School is a girls 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 1,274 pupils attend King Edward VI Handsworth School and it's led by the Headteacher, Miss Clare Berry.

King Edward VI Handsworth School 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 School for the 2022-23 academic year.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Information

In order to get into King Edward VI Handsworth School, 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 School for Girls to assess prospective students. This rigorous assessment consists of two one-hour papers, each divided into smaller sections that evaluate the candidate's abilities in various subjects.

The exam covers a range of topics, including English comprehension, which tests the student's understanding and interpretation of written passages, and Maths, which assesses their numerical and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the entrance test includes sections on Verbal reasoning, evaluating the candidate's ability to analyze and manipulate language, and Non-verbal reasoning, which examines their capacity to recognize patterns and solve problems using visual cues.

All questions in the West Midlands Grammar Schools' Entrance Test are presented in a multiple-choice format, and students are provided with separate answer sheets to mark their responses. These answer sheets are then electronically marked to ensure accurate and efficient grading.

Other Schools using West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+

As well as King Edward VI Handsworth School, 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 Grammar School for Boys
• 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 School 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 School, 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 School) 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 School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

King Edward VI Handsworth School was last inspected by Ofsted on 04/02/2014 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 28/02/2014, 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 School 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 School. Please note that this may include past 11+ 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 School currently uses.

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

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 School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.