If you're considering a secondary school in Birmingham for your child, you have plenty of choice with 168 schools to choose from. Find out the 10 best schools in Birmingham based on league table rankings and learn how to help your child get a place at a top school.
How are school league tables calculated?
Each year, the Sunday Times Parent Power releases its annual national rankings for schools across the UK. Secondary schools are ranked by their most recent moderated exam results, including A levels and/or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and GCSEs.
There are different league tables for independent (private fee-paying) schools and state schools.
What are King Edward VI schools?
The King Edward VI Foundation is a charity that operates 13 schools in the city of Birmingham. It manages historic land assets dating back to when King Edward's School was founded in 1552. The Foundation works to ensure that children from all backgrounds in the city of Birmingham can access a good education.
The charity consists of two independent schools, six grammar schools, and five non-selective academy schools:
King Edward's School
King Edward VI High School for Girls
What are the best secondary schools in Birmingham?
1. King Edward VI High School for Girls
(c) kehs.org.uk
King Edward VI High School for Girls is an independent day school in Edgbaston for girls aged 11–18. It's one of the country's leading girls' schools with a longstanding reputation for academic achievement. The Sunday Times recently rated the school number one in the West Midlands.
Key information
National rank (independent schools): 15
ISI rating: excellent in all areas
A level results: 96.4% A*–B
GCSE results: 94.9% 9–7
Fees: £5,043 per term (2022-23)
Year 7 entry process: English and maths exams
2. King Edward's School, Birmingham
(c) facebook.com
King Edward's School is an independent day school in Edgbaston for boys aged 11–18. It's located on a 50-acre site next to the University of Birmingham, which it shares with its sister school, King Edward VI High School for Girls. In 2021, the Sunday Times named King Edward's School 'West Midlands Independent Secondary School of the Decade'.
Key information
National rank (independent schools): 32
ISI rating: excellent in all areas
IB results: 85% Higher Level 7/6
GCSE results: 89.4% 9–7
Fees: £5,175 per term (2022-23)
Year 7 entry process: English, maths and verbal reasoning exams, and interview
3. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
(c) crowdfunder.co.uk
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys is a boys' grammar school in Kings Heath. It’s renowned nationally for pupils’ excellent exam results, which are the highest of all state schools in Birmingham. Boys at Camp Hill share a large campus with the sister school, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls.
Key information
National rank (state schools): 18
Ofsted rating: outstanding
A level results: 88.6% A*–B
GCSE results: 92.3% 9–7
Fees: free (state-funded)
Year 7 entry process: 11 plus exam with papers in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Find out more about the King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys 11 plus.
4. Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
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Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls provides a grammar education to girls in Sutton Coldfield, north of Birmingham city. The school prides itself on a happy and purposeful learning environment where students are encouraged to develop a 'growth mindset'.
Key information
National rank (state schools): 22
Ofsted rating: good
A level results: 90% A*–B
GCSE results: 87.3% 9–7
Fees: free (state-funded)
Year 7 entry process: 11 plus exam with papers in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Find out more about the Sutton Coldfield Grammar School 11 plus.
5. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
(c) kechg.org.uk
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls is a girls' grammar school in Kings Heath. The school shares a campus with its brother school, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys. It's regularly ranked within the top 10 state schools for both GCSE and A level results.
National rank (state schools): 27
Ofsted rating: outstanding
A level results: 84.9% A*–B
GCSE results: 90.3% 9–7
Fees: free (state-funded)
Year 7 entry process: 11 plus exam with papers in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Find out more about the King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls 11 plus.
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6. King Edward VI Five Ways School
(c) birminghamweare.com
King Edward VI Five Ways School is a large co-educational grammar school located on a 32-acre site next to Bartley Green Reservoir. It was formally an all-boys school before welcoming girls in 2003. It's currently the only mixed, free grammar school in the West Midlands.
National rank (state schools): 43
Ofsted rating: outstanding
A level results: 84% A*–B
GCSE results: 85% 9–7
Fees: free (state-funded)
Year 7 entry process: 11 plus exam with papers in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Find out more about the King Edward VI Five Ways School 11 plus.
7. Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
(c) wikipedia.org
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (BVGS) is a boys' grammar school with a mixed sixth form in Sutton Coldfield. It was founded in 1527, making it the oldest school in the city of Birmingham. The school aims to provide inspiration and excellence to able children and provides a vast range of extracurricular activities.
National rank (state schools): 51
Ofsted rating: outstanding
A level results: 86.9% A*–B
GCSE results: 75% 9–7
Fees: free (state-funded)
Year 7 entry process: 11 plus exam with papers in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Find out more about the Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School 11 plus.
8. St Paul's School for Girls, Edgbaston
(c) stpaulgl.bham.sch.uk
St Paul's School for Girls is a Catholic girls' comprehensive school in Edgbaston. It was founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle and maintains a community built on faith and tradition. While not academically selective, students consistently achieve excellent exam results, placing the school 4th in the Sunday Times national league table for comprehensive schools.
National rank (state schools): 75
Ofsted rating: outstanding
A level results: 89.3% A*–B
GCSE results: 55.2% 9–7
Fees: free (state-funded)
Year 7 entry process: non-selective, but Catholic children are prioritised
9. Edgbaston High School
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Edgbaston High School is an independent day school for girls aged 2–18, comprising a prep school, senior school and sixth form. It was founded in 1876, making it the oldest independent girls' school in Birmingham. The school is praised for its strong pastoral care and a huge co-curricular programme.
National rank (independent schools): 283
ISI rating: excellent in all areas
A level results: 67.1% A*–B
GCSE results: 64.9% 9–7
Fees: £4,829 per term (Years 7–11, 2022–23)
Year 7 entry process: online aptitude test (literacy, maths and non-verbal reasoning), taster lesson and interview
10. Handsworth Grammar School
(c) classdigest.com
Handsworth Grammar School is a boys' grammar school (with a mixed sixth form) in Handsworth and a member of the King Edward VI Foundation and Academy Trust. While academic grades are important, the school strives to have a positive impact on children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural values.
National rank (state schools): 232
Ofsted rating: outstanding
A level results: 63.9% A*–B
GCSE results: 57.8% 9–7
Fees: free (state-funded)
Year 7 entry process: 11 plus exam with papers in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Find out more about the Handsworth Grammar School 11 plus.
How can I help my child get a place at a good school?
Most of the best schools in Birmingham are academically selective. This means that children hoping to secure a place in Year 7 will need to take an entrance exam.
Children applying to a Birmingham grammar school take the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11 plus exam. Children applying to an independent school in the city take entrance tests set by the school.
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