King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
School summary
A long-established selective state grammar for boys in Birmingham, King Edward VI Handsworth draws on a diverse city community, with more than a quarter of pupils speaking English as an additional language and nearly one in five eligible for free school meals. With around 1,044 boys against a capacity of 1,000, the school is full and then some, which speaks to its standing locally. Ofsted rated it Good overall at its most recent inspection, singling out both quality of education and personal development as Outstanding. It is one of the larger grammars of its kind and forms part of a wider family of King Edward VI schools.
How hard is it to get in?
Competitive · 2 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand exceeds the 150 Year 7 places in most years, though less sharply than at the most oversubscribed schools.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Key dates · 2028 entry
Free month · No payment needed
Latest results
Attainment 8
72
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
97%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Good
- Last inspected
- 16 April 2024
Teaching & academics
Results sit well above the national picture: an average Attainment 8 of 72 compares with a national average of 46.9, and 97% of pupils reach grade 5 or above in English and Maths against a national figure of 47%. Inspectors judged the quality of education to be Outstanding, with the sixth form rated Good. The pupil-to-teacher ratio of around 17.2 is fairly typical for a school of this size.
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 3.93%
- EHC plans
- 0.19%
- English as additional language
- 26.1%
- Free school meals
- 18.4%
Schools nearby
King Edward VI Handsworth School
Birmingham, West Midlands
King Edward VI Aston School
Birmingham, West Midlands
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Birmingham, West Midlands
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Birmingham, West Midlands
Queen Mary's Grammar School
Walsall, West Midlands
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A high-achieving boys' grammar where teaching is rated Outstanding and results are far above the national average. With 150 places drawing from across a broad and diverse intake, competition for entry is keen.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.