King Edward’s School, Birmingham, was founded in 1552 and occupied a position in the centre of the city until 1936 when it moved to its present 50-acre site in Edgbaston, surrounded by a golf course, lake and nature reserve and adjacent to the University. It is an independent day school with 908 boys aged 11 to 18. Approximately 35 in each year receive financial assistance with fees, from scholarships and the Assisted Places Scheme. The School belongs to the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham (two independent, six grammar schools and five academies), and its sister school, King Edward VI High School for Girls, is on the same campus. Academically one of the leading schools in the country, King Edward’s is also renowned for the scale of its provision and its excellence in sport, music, drama, outdoor pursuits and trips and expeditions.
Admission. Most boys enter the school at 11+. In addition, applications at 16+ to enter the Sixth Form are encouraged. 11+ candidates take papers in Mathematics, English and Verbal Reasoning at a level appropriate to the National Curriculum. A large number of pupils are also interviewed as part of the admissions process. The admissions process for 16+ applicants consists of interviews, examinations in Higher Level IB Diploma subject options, predicted GCSE results and a headteacher's report.
Please note the school will sometimes consider applicants for entry at 13+, if spaces is available.
Scholarships and Assisted Places. Approximately 25 academic scholarships varying in value from 5% to 50% of the fees are awarded each year. Most of these scholarships are awarded at 11+, but awards are also made to outstanding candidates at 16+ and, very occasionally, at 13+. Music scholarships are also available.
The Assisted Places Scheme offers means-tested support to up to 20 boys a year. The majority of Assisted Place pupils join at 11+, but Assisted Places are also available to those joining the Sixth Form.
Fees per term (2023-2024). £5,682.
Academic success. The school’s 2023 International Baccalaureate Diploma results were strong with an average point score of 35.9, surpassing the global average of 30.24 points. One in five of the cohort achieved 40 points or above, which is higher than the UK national average of 16%, and several students achieved exceptional scores, including eight boys who attained either 44 or 43 points.
At GCSE, 44% grades were 9s, 69% were 9–8s and 88% were 9.7. Furthermore, 13 pupils achieved 10 straight grade 9s and 33 pupils achieved all 9/8s across their 10 GCSEs.
Curriculum. Lower School: The following subjects are studied by all boys to the end of the third year: English, Mathematics, French, Geography, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, (General Science in first year), Latin, Art, Design, Drama, Music, PE and Religious Studies. All boys study one of German, Spanish or Classical Greek in the third year and may take their choice to GCSE or IGCSE and beyond. In addition, boys are required to undertake familiarisation courses in Information Technology. In the Fourth and Fifth year, boys take 10 subjects. All boys must study Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, a Modern Foreign Language and at least two sciences, plus three or four other optional subjects at GCSE or IGCSE.
Sixth Form: All pupils study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the Sixth Form, being able to select three High Level subjects and three Standard Level subjects from across the IB Diploma’s six subject groups, and also taking the IB Core (Theory of Knowledge; Extended Essay; and CAS – Creativity, Activity and Service).
The School’s curriculum goes beyond preparation for examinations. For example, PE and games are compulsory for all and Friday afternoon is set aside for the entire school to pursue non-academic activities: Combined Cadet Force, Leadership, service in the community, outdoor pursuits, Art, Information Technology etc.
Music and drama. The School has a very rich musical and dramatic life. Many of the musical groups and theatrical productions take place jointly with King Edward VI High School for Girls. There are over ten different musical groups and choirs. The School's Performing Arts Centre has main hall seating for up to 500 and excellent facilities for music and drama.
Games. Rugby, cricket, hockey, and water polo are the major team games in the School. However, many other games prosper including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, cross-country, cycling, fencing, fives, golf, kayaking, squash, swimming, table tennis and tennis. The School has extensive playing fields for all these activities plus its own swimming pool, international-standard athletics track, sports hall, gymnasia and squash courts. In 2015 the School opened a new hockey pavilion and astro pitch, and in 2019 it opened a new sports centre, which includes a sports hall, cardiovascular fitness room, multipurpose space, classroom and changing rooms.
Societies and clubs. The School has a very wide range of clubs and societies including Christian Union, Islamic Society, Literary Society, History Society, Bookworms, Economics and Business Society, Senior and Junior Dramatic Societies, Art Society, Geographical Society, Debating Society, Mentoring Society, Mathematical Society, Modern Languages Society, Sustainability Society, Writers’ Society, Lifeguarding, Chess Club, Model United Nations, Spectrum, School Chronicle and Hillwalking.
CCF, Outdoor pursuits and expeditions. The Royal Naval, RAF and Army Sections of the Combined Cadet Force are very popular amongst pupils. In addition, the KES Award and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme have grown substantially in recent years, so that the majority of pupils in the third year gain the KES Award and over 40 each year undertake the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. All of this forms part of a strong tradition of trips and expeditions, ranging from cycling and caving and walking and skiing trips, to language trips to Europe, to major expeditions to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Guyana and Madagascar. There have also been very successful rugby tours to Australia, India, Canada, South Africa and China.
Forms and houses. In the first five years, each form has an average of 25 pupils. In the Sixth Form, forms are on average 12 in number, and often comprise pupils together from the Lower and Upper Sixth. There is also a house system, comprising eight houses, which continues to provide an important element of pastoral support and competition in sport, music, drama, debating and general knowledge.
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 of The Schools of King Edward the Sixth in Birmingham:
Chair of Governors: Mrs Lucy Williams
Chief Master: Dr Katy L Ricks, MA, DPhil
Deputy Chief Master: Ms D E McMillan, BSc
Deputy Head (Academic): Dr J R Evans, BSc, PhD
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mr T Quayle, BA, MSt, MBA
Deputy Head (Co-curricular): Mr M J Bartlett, BA
Deputy Head (Digital, Data and Systems): Mr H M Coverdale, BSc Econ
Director of External Relations: Mrs Jo Bullock, BSocSc, CIPR Diploma
Director of Admissions: Mrs Neelam Hall, BA
Director of Development: Mrs Adelaide Bailey, BA, CSBM
Bursar (Operations): Mrs Jenny Butterworth, BSc, FCA
Bursar (Estates and Finance): Mrs Zoe Robinson, BSc, ACA