King Edward VI Five Ways School
School summary
A selective state grammar in Birmingham, King Edward VI Five Ways draws able pupils from across the West Midlands through the consortium 11+ process. With 1,311 pupils against a capacity of 1,320, the school is full and admits 180 each year, so places are keenly contested. Its intake is notably diverse: nearly a quarter of pupils speak English as an additional language and a similar proportion are eligible for free school meals, a profile unusual among grammar schools. Ofsted rated it Good overall in its most recent inspection, with behaviour and the sixth form both judged Outstanding.
How hard is it to get in?
Competitive · 2 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand exceeds the 180 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
75.9
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
97%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 28 November 2023
Teaching & academics
Academic results are exceptionally strong. The average Attainment 8 score of 75.9 sits far above the national average of 46.9, and 97% of pupils secure grade 5 or above in English and Maths, against a national figure of 47%. Ofsted judged quality of education Good and the sixth form Outstanding, suggesting consistent results that carry through to A-level. The 11+ tests English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning via GL Assessment, so candidates need breadth as well as depth.
Languages
Headmaster · Dr S N Bird
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 400
- Sixth-form Ofsted
- Outstanding
Beyond the classroom
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1883
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 5.57%
- EHC plans
- 0.61%
- English as additional language
- 23.8%
- Free school meals
- 22.5%
Schools nearby
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Birmingham, West Midlands
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Birmingham, West Midlands
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
Birmingham, West Midlands
King Edward VI Handsworth School
Birmingham, West Midlands
King Edward VI Aston School
Birmingham, West Midlands
Queen Mary's Grammar School
Walsall, 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-performing, genuinely mixed grammar where strong outcomes and an Outstanding sixth form reward families willing to compete for one of 180 places.
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 Five Ways School 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.