About Warwickshire Grammar Schools
Warwickshire hosts 4 grammar schools — King Edward VI Stratford-upon-Avon, Lawrence Sheriff School (Rugby, boys), Rugby High School (girls), Alcester Grammar, and Stratford Girls Grammar. These schools participate in the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership, sharing a common test with Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton schools. Warwickshire's grammars draw on a strong rural and market-town academic tradition.
History & Tradition
King Edward VI Stratford-upon-Avon (founded 1553) is one of England's most famous grammar schools — attended by William Shakespeare. Lawrence Sheriff School (Rugby, founded 1567) and Rugby High School (1958) followed. Alcester Grammar (1592) is also ancient.
The Entry Test
Warwickshire grammars use the West Midlands Test — a GL Assessment-based test administered by the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership, also used by Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton schools.
Warwickshire 11+ at a Glance
7 Things You Should Know About Warwickshire Grammar Schools
Researched facts about the region's selective schools — drawn from official sources, school websites and education research.
- 1King Edward VI Stratford-upon-Avon (founded 1553) is famously where William Shakespeare attended grammar school — making it one of the most historically significant schools in England.
- 2Lawrence Sheriff School (Rugby, founded 1567) is one of the oldest boys' grammar schools in England — named after Lawrence Sheriff, who also founded Rugby School (the famous public school).
- 3Rugby High School (girls, founded 1919) and Lawrence Sheriff School (boys) are physically near each other in Rugby town centre.
- 4Alcester Grammar School (mixed, founded 1592) is one of the few mixed-gender Warwickshire grammars — known for strong arts and humanities.
- 5All 5 Warwickshire grammars participate in the West Midlands Test — sharing registration and test day with Birmingham/Walsall/Wolverhampton schools.
- 6Rugby High and Lawrence Sheriff School consistently rank in the Sunday Times Parent Power Top 100 — both schools have strong A-Level results.
- 7Warwickshire is mostly rural — families often travel 20-30 miles to access these grammars, making distance a key oversubscription criterion.
| Rank | School Name | Gender | PAN | 11+ Exam | GCSE 9-7 | A-Level A*-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #12 | King Edward VI School, Stratford#12 | Mixed | 87 | GL Assessment | 90.7% | 86.0% |
| #89 | Rugby High School#89 | Girls (Mixed 6th) | 120 | GL Assessment | 72.8% | 70.4% |
| King's High School for Girls (King's High) | Girls | — | Independent | — | — | |
| Lawrence Sheriff School | Boys | 150 | GL Assessment | — | — |
Warwickshire Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top-ranked grammar schools in Warwickshire?
In the 2026 Sunday Times Parent Power tables, the highest-ranked Warwickshire grammar schools include King Edward VI School, Stratford, Rugby High School. Full rankings plus GCSE and A-Level results for every school are in the table above.
What 11+ exam do Warwickshire grammar schools use?
Most Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire grammar schools distinctive?
King Edward VI Stratford-upon-Avon (founded 1553) is famously where William Shakespeare attended grammar school — making it one of the most historically significant schools in England.
What else should families know about the Warwickshire 11+?
Lawrence Sheriff School (Rugby, founded 1567) is one of the oldest boys' grammar schools in England — named after Lawrence Sheriff, who also founded Rugby School (the famous public school).
Nearby Regions
Many families consider grammars in neighbouring regions to maximise options. Explore: