King Edward VI High School for Girls: parents’ guide to Year 7 entry

King Edward VI High School for Girls is a private day school in Birmingham, founded in 1883, for girls aged 11 to 18. The school shares a 50-acre site in Edgbaston with King Edward’s School – a leading boys’ private school.

Girls at King Edward VI High School for Girls study a broad but balanced curriculum to help them develop individual strengths and passions, and prepare to take up places at world class universities. Exam results are consistently outstanding; in 2022, over 96% of A level grades were A*, A or B, while just under 95% of GCSEs were the top grades of 9–7 (A*–A equivalent). These exam results placed King Edward VI High School for Girls as the top private school in the West Midlands for 2023 (Sunday Times Parent Power).

The school is reasonably small compared to competitors, which allows staff to deliver expert pastoral care to each individual student. Students also take on wellbeing roles throughout the school; lower school forms meet with sixth form prefects every day, while new pupils are allocated a buddy in the year above. Girls also support their wider community through fundraising for their class charity, running stalls at the fete, and collecting food for the harvest festival.

Beyond the classroom, pupils at King Edward VI High School for Girls have myriad opportunities to explore new interests and fulfil their potential. There are at least two joint drama productions with the boys at King Edward’s School each year and musicians perform in major concert halls in Birmingham and beyond. Athletes and sports women have access to world-class coaching and outstanding facilities; in 2020, School Sports Magazine named King Edward VI High School for Girls among the top 12 UK Schools for Sport.

Key information for King Edward VI High School for Girls

• Principal: Mrs Kirsty von Malaisé

• Address: King Edward VI High School for Girls, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2UB

• County: West Midlands

• Admissions contact: Mrs Catherine Oakes – [email protected] , 0121 415 2195

• Age range and gender: 11–18, girls only

• Number of pupils: 661

• Open day date: Saturday 24th June 2023 – book a place on the school website

• Overview of selection procedure: English and maths tests and reference from the child’s current school

• Registration dates: 11 plus registration for 2024 entry will open on 1st April 2023 and close in September 2023

• Assessment date: October in Year 6

King Edward VI High School for Girls fees and financial assistance

The current fees at King Edward VI High School for Girls are £5,043 per term. Fees include the cost of tuition, textbooks and external exam entry charges for GCSE and A levels. Lunch is an additional charge of £3.80 per daily meal.

King Edward VI High School for Girls offers means-tested financial assistance, referred to as Assisted Places, to bright girls whose parents would not otherwise be able to afford the school fees. Assisted Places are awarded on academic merit (based on the girl’s performance in the 11 plus entrance exam) and on the family’s income and assets. A helpful sliding scale is available on the school website to indicate the potential amount of fee assistance available for each child.

Everything you need to know about bursaries

Children applying for 11 plus entry to King Edward VI High School for Girls may also receive an academic scholarship, which are awarded at the discretion of the principal based on the child’s performance in the admissions process. 11 plus candidates can apply for a music scholarship through a separate application; successful candidates will receive a fee reduction in the region of 5–10%.

King Edward VI High School for Girls is able to provide a sibling discount of 25% for the third and subsequent children attending either the girls’ school or King Edward’s School (the boys’ equivalent) when parents are paying full fees.

King Edward VI High School for Girls term dates

The term dates at King Edward VI High School for Girls for 2022–23 are:

• Autumn term: 7th September – 14th December 2022

• Half term: 20th–28th October 2022

• Spring term: 5th January – 31st March 2023

• Half term: 20th–24th February 2023

• Summer term: 20th April – 5th July 2023

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June 2023

The term dates at King Edward VI High School for Girls for 2023–24 are:

• Autumn term 6th September – 15th December 2023

• Half term: 26th October – 3rd November 2023

• Spring term: 9th January – 22nd March 2024

• Half term: 12th–16th February 2024

• Summer term: 11th April – 5th July 2024

• Half term: 27th–31st May 2024

Admissions process for Year 7 entry to King Edward VI High School for Girls

Approximately 96 places are available in Year 7 at King Edward VI High School for Girls each year. Girls join the school from a wide variety of state and independent schools and backgrounds.

1. Visit the school

If you are considering King Edward VI High School for Girls for your daughter’s secondary education, it’s a good idea to visit first and make sure the school is the right fit for your child. The next open day is on Saturday 24th June 2023 – you will need to book a place to attend.

2. Registration

The admissions process begins when you register your daughter with the school. The next admissions cycle will open around 1st April 2023 for girls applying to join Year 7 in 2024. When registration opens, you will need to complete an online application form and pay a registration fee (usually £25) to cover administrative costs.

Registration will close in September or early October, two weeks before the entrance exams.

3. Entrance exams

Once your daughter has been registered with King Edward VI High School for Girls, she will take 11 plus entrance exams on the school site in early October in Year 6. The exam consists of three papers:

• English: there are two English papers in total. Both test the child’s reading and writing skills and explore their potential. Previous English papers at King Edward VI High School for Girls have included comprehension questions and creative writing tasks based on poems, pictures and prose.

• Maths: children will take one non-calculator maths paper. This will consist of a series of questions of varying lengths which are designed to test the child’s ability to use and apply arithmetic. Children will not be tested on any formal knowledge of algebra and geometry.

Our 11 plus exam guides include topic breakdowns and top tips to help your child prepare:

Reading comprehension

Creative writing

Maths

4. Scholarship assessments

Girls who perform particularly well in the entrance exams may be invited back for an interview with the principal to be considered for an academic scholarship.

When registering your child for entry, you will have the option to apply for a music scholarship. These are available to girls who can play at Grade 6 or above in their main instrument. Girls who achieve a very high result in the entrance exam will be invited back to the school for a music scholarship audition.

5. Offers

King Edward VI High School for Girls will decide which children to offer places to based on their performance in the entrance exams, and on the details provided in the school reference.

The school aims to notify parents of the outcome of their child’s application before Christmas in Year 6.

How to prepare for entry to King Edward VI High School for Girls

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See how Atom Nucleus can help your child prepare effectively for the entrance exam at King Edward VI High School for Girls – start your free trial today.

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