Independent, formerly Direct Grant.
Founded in 1883, the School moved in 1940 to its present buildings and shares its 50-acre site with King Edward’s School (a leading boys’ independent school). There are around 660 girls from 11 to 18 years of age, all day pupils, of whom 195 are in the Sixth Form.
Ranked first academically among independent schools in the West Midlands by The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2023, Parent Power.
Curriculum. KEHS is a school synonymous with intellectual ambition, offering an unrivalled education to the brightest girls in and around Birmingham. It provides outstanding teaching through a forward-looking and challenging curriculum and culture of scholarship, going beyond the confines of exam specifications and making connections across disciplines. It seeks to impart the joy of learning and enquiry together with intellectual courage, with the resilience and adaptability requisite for this. The consistently outstanding results are a by-product of the all-round education on offer, with a highly prized co-curricular programme at the heart of the school and bespoke courses that complement the traditional curriculum.
In Year One, all students take Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Design Technology, Drama, English, Food Studies, French, Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics and Religious Education.
In Year Two, all students take Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Design Technology, Drama, English, Food Technology, Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, PSHE and Religious Education, together with two languages from French, German, Mandarin and Spanish.
In Year Three, all students take Biology, Chemistry, Computing, English, Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics and Religious Education, and they continue with two languages from French, German, Mandarin and Spanish. In addition, students choose two creative options from Art, Design Technology, Drama and Music.
Core subjects in Years Four and Five are English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, at least two Sciences from Biology, Chemistry and Physics, but students can take all three, and Physical Education (non-GCSE). Students then choose their other GCSE subjects from Art and Design, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Drama, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Music, Physical Education (as a GCSE option), Religious Studies and Spanish. Students can choose to take an additional GCSE in Classical Greek. In Year 4, students have a rotation of enrichment subjects including Enterprise Education, Food Studies, PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) and Wellbeing.
In Years One to Five, all students have a weekly session of PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) to equip them with crucial life skills for school and beyond, enabling them to make the most of their studies, their careers and social lives, and to play a positive, influential role in the local and global community.
In the Sixth Form, students choose four A Levels from a wide range of subjects: Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Greek, Computer Science, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish and Theatre Studies. Emphasis is placed on breadth at this level. The school also offers the Extended Project Qualification and Further Maths A level. All Sixth Formers take a Friday afternoon enrichment option ranging from Life Saving to Art Appreciation, and all take Physical Education. Students in the Lower Sixth have additional enrichment sessions.
Religious and moral education are considered important. Academic study of them is designed to enable students to be informed and questioning. There is no denominational teaching in the school in lessons or morning assembly. Students of all faiths or of none are equally welcome.
In Sport, world-class coaching and outstanding facilities across multiple sports, both in lessons and as part of the co-curricular programme, enable students to chase their personal bests, both individually and as part of a team. All students take part in PE, including in the Sixth Form. Sports on offer include gymnastics, hockey, netball, tennis, rounders, dance, fencing, badminton, cricket, squash, swimming, athletics, basketball, volleyball, self-defence, aerobics and health-related fitness. KEHS has its own indoor swimming pool, sports hall with indoor cricket nets, a well-equipped fitness suite with a strength and conditioning area, extensive pitches, including two astropitches, tennis courts and an international-standard athletics track.
In addition to the music in the curriculum, there are opportunities for students to perform individually, in small groups or larger ensembles with co-curricular music being offered jointly with King Edward’s School. There are around 40 concerts a year, with some in venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Barber Institute. Individual (or shared) instrumental lessons, at an extra fee, are arranged in school in a great variety of instruments. Some instruments can be hired. Individual singing lessons can also be arranged.
Rich co-curricular opportunities enable students to develop leadership and other practical skills as well as character and perspective. A large number of clubs (many joint with King Edward’s School) are run by students themselves with help and encouragement from staff. Help is given with activities relating to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Some activities take place in lunch hours, others after school and at weekends.
Proactive pastoral support promotes the development of balanced, self-reflective and assertive students with a strong moral compass. Pastoral care is focused on knowing students as individuals, as well as being proactive about the issues they are likely to experience collectively.
The compassionate approach that characterises life at KEHS means that students and staff have myriad opportunities to help others, particularly through the thriving service and partnership and participation programmes. The ‘Care. Do. Give.’ programme raises funds for a variety of charities, and students also offer practical support to local organisations such as care homes. The school’s partnership and participation programme sees free activities and use of facilities offered to local primary schools.
A spacious careers room is well stocked with up-to-date information. Individual advice and aptitude testing is given at stages where choices have to be made. The Careers Adviser has overall responsibility but many others are involved with various aspects. Students are encouraged to attend conferences, gain work experience, make personal visits and enquiries. Old Edwardians and others deliver talks about their careers either in school or online. There is good liaison with universities and colleges of all kinds. Virtually all students go on to higher education, and a wide range of subjects is studied.
Admission of pupils. Entry is normally for girls of 11 into the first year of the school in September. Applications must be made by September the year before they are due to start secondary school. The entrance examination is held in early October. Applicants are examined at the school in English and Mathematics. The syllabus is such as would be normally covered by girls of good ability and no special preparation is advised. Applicants should have reached the age of 11 years by 31 August following the examination.
Applicants aged from 12 to 15 are normally considered only if they move from another part of the country, or in some special circumstances and only on the rare occasions when a space opens up in a year group. Applications should be made to the Director of Admissions.
There is an entry into the Sixth Form for applicants wishing to study four main A Level subjects. Applications should be made to the Director of Admissions by the end of January in the preceding academic year.
Fees per term (2023-2024). £5,538.
Scholarships and bursaries. KEHS offers Academic Scholarships to the most able applicants at 11+ and 16+ at the discretion of the Principal. Academic Scholarships are available each year and there is no separate scholarship examination. Music Scholarships are available to those joining the school at 11+ and 16+, and Sports Scholarships are available to those joining at 16+.
Means-tested Assisted Places are available at 11+ and 16+.
Charitable status. The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham is a Registered Charity, number 529051. The purpose of the Foundation is to educate children and young persons living in or around the city of Birmingham.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body: The Independent Schools Governing Body
Leadership Team:
Principal: Mrs Kirsty von Malaisé, MA Cantab, PGCE
Vice Principal (Academic): Mr Martin Lea, BSc Sheffield, PGCE
Vice Principal (Pastoral), DSL: Mrs Sarah Shore-Nye, BA Swansea, PGCE
Assistant Head (Community): Mr Andrew Duncombe, MA Cantab, PGCE
Assistant Head (Pastoral), Deputy DSL: Mrs Helen Kavanagh, BA Bristol, PGCE
Director of Enrichment: Mrs Kam Sangha, BA De Montfort, MBA UCE, PGCE
Director of Sixth Form: Mrs Joanna Whitehead, BSc Birmingham, PGCE
Bursar – Finance and Estates: Mrs Zoe Robinson, BSc Warwick, ACA
Bursar – Operations: Mrs Jenny Butterworth, BSc Sheffield Hallam, FCA
Director of External Relations: Mrs Jo Bullock, BSocSc Manchester, CIPR Diploma
Director of Admissions, Partnerships and Participation: Mrs Catherine Oakes
Development Director: Mrs Adelaide Bailey, BA Birmingham, CSBM