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King Edward VI Aston School 11 plus guide

By Atom | Jun 20, 2023, 4:11 PM

King Edward VI Aston School 11 plus entry guide

Are you considering King Edward VI Aston School for your son? We've collated all the information you need to know about entry in 2024. Keep reading to learn about the West Midland Grammar Schools 11 plus.

About King Edward VI Aston School

King Edward VI Aston School is an all-boys grammar school with an Ofsted rating of Outstanding. It was opened in 1883, designed by Birmingham architect JA Chatwin and is one of the 12 schools in Birmingham supported by the charity of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI.

As a specialist sports college, King Edward VI Aston School places emphasis on a range of sporting activities. The school strives to support all Aston students to become 'articulate, well-educated young men, capable of independent thought with the confidence and flexibility to face future challenges'.

  • Address: Frederick Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6DJ

  • Local authority: Birmingham City Council

  • School type: boys' grammar

  • Headteacher: Matt Brady

  • Number of pupils: 999

  • National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 243

  • A level results: 56.8% A*–B

  • GCSE results: 69.2% 9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

  • Admissions contact: online contact form

  • Number of places in Year 7: 140

  • 11 plus registration opens: 9th May 2023

  • 11 plus registration closes: 30th June 2023

  • Open day: September 2023

  • Exam date: 16th September 2023

  • Exam type: West Midlands Grammar Schools 11 plus

  • Common application form (CAF) deadline: 31st October 2023

  • National school offer day: 1st March 2024

How to apply to King Edward VI Aston School

King Edward VI Aston School shares a testing process with the seven other grammar schools in Birmingham, as well as the grammar schools in Warwickshire, Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton. You only need to register once to apply to any grammar schools across these areas.

1. Register for the 11 plus

Before registering, speak to your child’s teacher to see if the 11 plus and grammar school is right for them.

When your child is in Year 5, register them for the 11 plus on the West Midlands Grammar Schools portal. Registration opens at 9am on 9th May 2023 and closes at 4pm on 30th June 2023.

2. Apply for school places

Once your child has taken the exam, you will get their results on 20th October 2023. If your child achieves the qualifying score, you can include grammar schools on your local authority application form.

Before listing King Edward VI Aston School as a preference on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible. As well as your child's exam score, how close you live to a school is an important factor in whether your child is likely to be offered a place.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2023.

What's on the King Edward VI Aston School 11+?

The 11 plus exam for King Edward VI Aston School takes place on 16th September 2023.

The West Midlands 11 plus test is provided by GL Assessment. It consists of two papers, each lasting about 60 minutes. A few minutes are allocated at the start of each paper for children to listen to instructions and complete some unmarked practice questions.

Both papers are divided into smaller, individually-timed sections that assess:

  • English comprehension

  • Maths

  • Verbal reasoning

  • Non-verbal reasoning

The test is entirely multiple-choice format, with no writing sections. Children record their answers in a separate answer booklet which is marked electronically.

The maths and English questions assess your child's understanding of Key Stage 2 national curriculum content, including Year 6 objectives. It tests their ability to reason and apply knowledge accurately.

The reasoning questions assess your child’s logic and problem-solving ability. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are not typically taught at school. They are intended to measure how well children can spot patterns with, connect and manipulate written and visual information.

Complete 11+ preparation

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Does your child qualify for pupil premium? If they're applying to a KEVI grammar school, you can get Atom for free.

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Verbal reasoning paper

What is the pass mark for King Edward VI Aston School?

  • Priority score: Children who score 224 or above are prioritised for a place.

  • Qualifying score: In 2022 and 2023, 205 was the minimum score at which a child could be considered for a place at a Birmingham grammar school.

  • Cut-off score: In 2022, the cut-off score was 213. This was the score achieved by the child who was offered the final place. Bear in mind that the admissions criteria apply (below).

Scores from recent years above can be used as a guide only. Achieving the qualifying score doesn't guarantee a place at the school, as it's likely to be oversubscribed with qualified candidates. We always recommend researching the admission policies for your target schools, looking at their oversubscription criteria and their catchment area.

How is the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11 plus scored?

After your child takes the exam, their scores are age-standardised and combined to give them a total score across all papers. These total scores are ranked in order, and oversubscription criteria are applied.

King Edward VI Aston School admissions criteria

The planned admission number (PAN) for the school is 140. When more children achieve the qualifying score than there are places available (highly likely), places are offered in this order:

  1. Looked-After or previously Looked-After Children who achieve the qualifying score, ranked by test score and then by distance from the school.

  2. Children who get free school meals, achieve the qualifying score, and live in the catchment area, ranked by distance from the school.

  3. If fewer than 35 places are filled by children in category 2, places are offered to children who get free school meals, achieve the qualifying score and live outside the catchment area.

  4. Children who achieve the priority score and live in the catchment area. Prioritised if they have a sibling at the school, then ranked by distance from the school.

  5. Children who achieve the qualifying score, ranked by test score. Where scores are equal, priority is given to children with a sibling at the school, then ranked by distance from the school.

King Edward VI Aston School catchment area

The catchment area consists of home addresses that are in these electoral wards:

  • Birmingham: Alum Rock, Aston, Bromford & Hodge Hill, Castle Vale, Erdington, Garretts Green, Glebe Farm & Tile Cross, Gravelly Hill, Heartlands, Nechells, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, Shard End, Sheldon, Stockland Green, Sutton Four Oaks, Sutton Mere Green, Sutton Reddicap, Sutton Roughley, Sutton Trinity, Sutton Vesey, Sutton Walmley & Minworth, Sutton Wylde Green, Ward End, Yardley East, Yardley West & Stechford.

  • Solihull: Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Kingshurst & Fordbridge, Smith’s Wood.

(View map)

How to help your child prepare for the 11 plus

Here are our top tips on how to best prepare your child for the Birmingham 11 plus.

Cover all the content

The 11 plus assesses a large breadth and depth of learning objectives across the Key Stage 2 national curriculum and beyond.

We recommend that your child starts revising content at least one year before the test. Setting aside study periods using a 'little and often' approach will give them time to build the skills and knowledge they need. When preparing, avoid falling into the trap of over-focusing on either the topics your child enjoys or the topics they find hardest.

Atom is an 11 plus online course that tailors your child's personalised learning journey to cover all elements of the Birmingham 11 plus at the right pace for them.

No surprises

Your child will encounter lots of unfamiliar types of questions in the 11 plus exam. Building exam technique with 11 plus test papers will help your child to feel fully confident with the styles of questions they'll encounter in the exam, reducing the potential for stress on the day.

Celebrate their progress

Setting regular goals and celebrating achievements will help keep motivation high. Atom Home offers data-driven insights into your child’s progress towards mastering the 11 plus curriculum, making it easy to see where they need to focus next.

Personalised 11 plus prep for your child

Wondering how to make sure your child covers the depth and breadth of the entire 11 plus curriculum, stays on track with their progress, and gets help when they're stuck? Online learning is a particularly efficient, cost-effective (and fun) way to do this!

Atom is the award-winning online 11 plus practice platform that gives your child everything they need to prepare for grammar school exams.

Children work independently through over 90,000 interactive practice questions in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Teacher-created helpsheets and videos help them discover new concepts and consolidate their learning.

Atom's algorithm keeps children on their ideal learning path, tailored to their unique learning style and pace to keep them challenged and motivated.

GL 11 plus mock test on Atom Nucleus

11+ practice papers

Unlock unlimited online mock tests and downloadable practice papers for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11 plus. Help your child feel confident for exam day!

Start your 11+ journey

Begin your child's journey to King Edward VI Aston School today. Use the full features of Atom free for 5 days – cancel anytime.

And don't forget – children who qualify for pupil premium can get a full Atom subscription for free!

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Example of the Atom Nucleus platform

Personalised support for you

We understand how important this next step is for them, and for you. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions you may have about the 11 plus or grammar schools in Birmingham and Warwickshire.

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