King Edward VI School 11 plus: 2024 entry guide

Are you considering King Edward VI School for your child? We've collated all the information you need to know about 2024 entry to Year 7, including key dates, how to register your child and what's on the 11 plus exam.

About King Edward VI School

Despite its small size, King Edward VI School has a long and celebrated history. Traditionally thought of as 'Shakespeare's School', this academy for boys has a reputation as one of the best grammar schools in the country. In 2020 it was named Secondary School of the Decade by the Sunday Times. Boasting high academic standards alongside a full extracurricular program, it aims to provide a ‘secure, happy and well-ordered’ space for students to grow their talents.

• Address: Chapel Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BE

• Local authority: Warwickshire County Council

• School type: boys' grammar

• Headteacher: Bennet Carr

• Number of pupils: 793

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 10

• A level results: 92.2% A*–B

• GCSE results: 91.2% 9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

• Admissions contact: [email protected]

• Number of places in Year 7: 87

• 11 plus registration opens: 9th May 2023

• Open day: 24th June 2023

• 11 plus registration closes: 30th June 2023

• Exam date: 16th–18th September 2023

• Exam results: mid-October 2023

• Exam type: GL Assessment (West Midlands 11 plus)

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

• National school offer day: 1st March 2024

What is the pass mark for King Edward VI School?

After your child takes the exam, their scores are age-standardised and combined to give them a total score across both papers. Scores are ranked in order and the highest-scoring children are offered a place, with oversubscription criteria applied.

The school sets an automatic qualifying score and a minimum academic standard each year once the papers have been marked. This will depend on the size and performance of the year group.

Achieving a particular score doesn't guarantee a place at the school, as it is usually oversubscribed with qualified candidates. We always recommend researching the admission policies for your target schools, looking at their oversubscription criteria and their catchment area.

King Edward VI School oversubscription criteria

The planned admission number (PAN) for the school is 87. Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that names King Edward VI School are offered places first, as long as they achieve the required minimum academic standard or above. Places are then allocated to children in this order:

• Category 1: Looked-After or Previously Looked-After Children who achieve the automatic qualifying score or up to 20 marks below it.

• Category 2: Up to 13 places are offered to children who live in the outer and inner priority circles who are eligible for Free School Meals and who achieve the required minimum academic standard or above.

• Category 3: Up to 70 places are offered to children who live in the inner priority circle and who achieve the automatic qualifying score or above.

• Category 4: Children who live in the outer priority circle and who achieve the automatic qualifying score or above.

• Category 5: Children who live outside the outer priority circle and who achieve the automatic qualifying score or above.

• Category 6: Children who score below the automatic qualifying score, but above the required minimum academic standard for the waiting list.

Those with the highest scores in each category are given highest priority for a place. In the case of children with the same score in any of these categories, the child living nearest the school in a straight line is given highest priority.

King Edward VI School priority circles

The priority circles for King Edward VI School are based on circles drawn from the Fountain in Rother Street, Stratford upon Avon.

The inner priority circle is 13 miles and the outer priority circle is 16.885 miles to the county boundary south of Long Compton.

You'll need to submit evidence to prove that your child lives within the priority circles by the end of December 2023.

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 Nucleus 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 and 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.