King Henry VIII School
School summary
Founded in 1545, King Henry VIII School is one of Coventry's longstanding independent schools, an academically minded mixed day school for pupils aged 11 to 18. Its Christian character and centuries of history sit alongside an ISI inspection in which it was rated excellent for both overall quality and pupils' personal development, with all compliance standards met. With 518 pupils, including 118 in the sixth form, it is a medium-sized school where the day-to-day feel is unlikely to be overwhelming. Notably, its means-tested bursaries can exceed 100 per cent of fees, extending to costs such as trips and uniform, which opens its doors more widely than the headline fees of roughly £15,000 to £19,000 a year might suggest.
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.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
70%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
41%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
77%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 3 May 2023
Teaching & academics
At A-level, 41 per cent of grades reach A*-A and 77 per cent reach A*-B, and the popular subjects lean strongly towards the sciences and mathematics, with Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Biology all well represented alongside Economics, Law and Psychology. At GCSE, 70 per cent of grades fall in the 9-7 range, and pupils can pursue an unusually broad and traditional spread including Latin, Classical Civilisation, Music and Drama. The school offers GCSE, A-level and the EPQ, and supports a sizeable proportion of pupils, around 18.6 per cent, through SEN provision.
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · Richard Sewell
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 118
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Rugby and netball are the principal team sports, giving boys and girls a clear sporting focus across the year. The breadth of GCSE options, taking in Drama, Music, Food Technology and Design & Technology, points to a culture that values the creative and practical alongside the academic.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1545
- Religious character
- Christian
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 18.57%
- EHC plans
- 0.12%
Mobile phone policy
Under normal circumstances mobile phones or smart watches should not be brought to school. However, if a mobile phone is required for added safety/security in journeying to and from school, it must, on arrival at school, be placed in the pupil's locker or handed in to reception. Mobile phones and smart watches should not be used between 8.30am and 4.00pm. Under no circumstances are pupils permitted to take videos or pictures at school or whilst travelling to/from school on trips or activities. Pupils who do not meet this expectation will be subject to strict sanctions.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £19,248 - £15,243
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Means-tested bursaries of over 100 per cent (to include trips, uniform etc)
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Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A historic, academically ambitious Coventry day school with a science-heavy sixth form and genuinely generous bursaries. Worth a close look for families drawn to tradition and breadth who may assume the fees put it out of reach.
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 Henry VIII School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.