About Birmingham & West Midlands Grammar Schools
The Birmingham & West Midlands region covers 20 grammar schools across Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, and Warwickshire. These schools coordinate through the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership (formerly Birmingham Grammar Schools), which administers a common 11+ test for all 20 schools. The region is famous for the King Edward VI Foundation in Birmingham (5 grammars), Bishop Vesey's Grammar (Sutton Coldfield), Walsall Grammar Schools (Queen Mary's), and Adams' Grammar School in Shropshire — collectively educating around 10,000 selective state-school pupils.
History & Tradition
The King Edward VI Foundation was established by King Edward VI in 1552, when the young king granted the original Birmingham Grammar School its royal charter. Today the foundation operates 5 selective grammar schools: King Edward's Camp Hill Boys, Camp Hill Girls, Aston, Five Ways, and Handsworth. Bishop Vesey's Grammar was founded in 1527 in Sutton Coldfield. Adams' Grammar School (Shropshire) dates from 1656. The West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership was formed in 2014 to coordinate the regional 11+ across local authorities.
The Entry Test
The West Midlands Test is delivered by GL Assessment and covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. From 2026 entry, the qualifying mark has been set at the 26th percentile of cohort performance — a slight loosening from previous years' 25th percentile, designed to widen access.
Birmingham & West Midlands 11+ at a Glance
7 Things You Should Know About Birmingham & West Midlands Grammar Schools
Researched facts about the region's selective schools — drawn from official sources, school websites and education research.
- 1The King Edward VI Foundation operates 5 selective grammar schools in Birmingham — Camp Hill Boys, Camp Hill Girls, Aston (boys), Five Ways (mixed), and Handsworth (boys). All 5 are top-100 grammars by Sunday Times Parent Power.
- 2From 2026 entry, the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership moved its pass mark to the 26th percentile of cohort performance — slightly lowering the bar to widen Pupil Premium and disadvantaged-pupil access.
- 3King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls is Birmingham's top-ranked grammar (#17 in the UK), followed by Stratford Girls' Grammar (#27), King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys (#40), and Bishop Vesey's Grammar (#41) — making Birmingham one of the strongest grammar regions outside London.
- 4The West Midlands Test has been entirely multiple-choice since 2017, allowing fast computer-marking. Children sit it on a single Saturday in September at a single venue (their first-choice school, usually).
- 5Adams' Grammar (Newport, Shropshire) accepts boarders from across the UK and overseas — one of the few state grammars in England offering boarding accommodation. Day fees: free; boarding fees: ~£14,000/year.
- 6Wolverhampton Grammar School is independent (fee-paying) — not part of the state Partnership. Highfields School in Wolverhampton is the closest state alternative.
- 7Warwickshire has 5 grammar schools spread across Stratford-upon-Avon (King Edward VI), Alcester (Alcester Grammar), and Rugby (Lawrence Sheriff Boys', Rugby High Girls' — both highly selective) — covered in the broader West Midlands Test.
| Rank | School Name | Gender | PAN | 11+ Exam | GCSE 9-7 | A-Level A*-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #17 | King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls#17 | Girls | 120 | GL Assessment | 84.7% | 86.8% |
| #27 | Stratford Girls' Grammar School#27 | Girls | 120 | GL Assessment | 85.8% | 81.6% |
| #40 | King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys#40 | Boys | 120 | GL Assessment | 70.6% | 84.5% |
| #41 | Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (BVGS)#41 | Boys | 192 | GL Assessment | 77.5% | 80.6% |
| #49 | Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls#49 | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment | 82.8% | 76.5% |
| #54 | King Edward VI Five Ways School (KEFW)#54 | Mixed | 180 | GL Assessment | 74% | 80% |
| #63 | Wolverhampton Girls’ High School#63 | Girls | — | GL Assessment | 72.3 | 78.1 |
| #94 | King Edward VI Handsworth School#94 | Girls | 120 | GL Assessment | 65% | 65% |
| Alcester Grammar School | Mixed | 120 | GL Assessment | 66.7% | 65.4% | |
| BKHS (Bablake and King Henry VIII School) | Mixed | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Birmingham Grammar Schools | Boys | — | GL Assessment | 87.5% | 87.5% | |
| King Edward VI Aston School | Boys | 120 | GL Assessment | 58.9% | 64% | |
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Lichfield | Mixed | 140 | GL Assessment (KE Foundation) | — | — | |
| King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys | Boys | 150 | GL Assessment | 65% | 65% | |
| Malvern St. James Girls' School | Girls | — | Independent | 50% | 62% | |
| Shropshire, Walsall and Wolverhampton Grammar Schools | Boys | — | CEM Select | 87.5% | 87.5% | |
| Solihull School | Boys | — | Independent | 78.8% | 84.4% | |
| Thomas Telford School | Mixed | 220 | GL Assessment (KE Foundation) | — | — | |
| Warwick School | Boys | — | CEM | 76.7% | 81.3% | |
| Wolverhampton Grammar School | Boys | 130 | Independent | 65% | 65% |
Birmingham & West Midlands Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top-ranked grammar schools in Birmingham & West Midlands?
In the 2026 Sunday Times Parent Power tables, the highest-ranked Birmingham & West Midlands grammar schools include King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Stratford Girls' Grammar School, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys. Full rankings plus GCSE and A-Level results for every school are in the table above.
What 11+ exam do Birmingham & West Midlands grammar schools use?
Most Birmingham & West Midlands grammar schools admit pupils through the GL Assessment 11+. Check each school's row above, as some set their own entrance test or use a different exam board.
What makes Birmingham & West Midlands grammar schools distinctive?
The King Edward VI Foundation operates 5 selective grammar schools in Birmingham — Camp Hill Boys, Camp Hill Girls, Aston (boys), Five Ways (mixed), and Handsworth (boys). All 5 are top-100 grammars by Sunday Times Parent Power.
What else should families know about the Birmingham & West Midlands 11+?
From 2026 entry, the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership moved its pass mark to the 26th percentile of cohort performance — slightly lowering the bar to widen Pupil Premium and disadvantaged-pupil access.
Nearby Regions
Many families consider grammars in neighbouring regions to maximise options. Explore: