About King Edward VI Handsworth School
King Edward VI Handsworth School is a selective girls' school in Handsworth, Birmingham, part of the King Edward VI Foundation, admitting 120 girls per year. The qualifying score for KE Foundation schools for 2027 entry is 205 in the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test.
King Edward VI Handsworth School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 65%. A-Level A*–B: 65%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for King Edward VI Handsworth School
King Edward VI Handsworth School is a girls state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 120 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Birmingham test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 13 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
King Edward VI Handsworth School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (120 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for King Edward VI Handsworth School
King Edward VI Handsworth School Admissions Criteria
King Edward VI Handsworth School is a selective girls' school in Handsworth, Birmingham, part of the King Edward VI Foundation, admitting 120 girls per year. The qualifying score for KE Foundation schools for 2027 entry is 205 in the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test.
- ✓Register at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk (opens 5th May, closes 26th June, Year 5).
- ✓Sit the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment).
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standardised score of 205 or above.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children.
- ✓Girls achieving the priority score within the designated catchment area.
- ✓Girls within the catchment area with Pupil Premium eligibility.
- ✓All other qualifying girls within the catchment, ranked by score.
- ✓Girls outside the catchment area, ranked by score then distance.
King Edward VI Handsworth School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 120 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by King Edward VI Handsworth School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — King Edward VI Handsworth School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Birmingham CET (King Edward VI Foundation) |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to King Edward VI Handsworth School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Birmingham) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at King Edward VI Handsworth School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 13 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal), BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List King Edward VI Handsworth School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join King Edward VI Handsworth School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at King Edward VI Handsworth School
King Edward VI Handsworth School selects through the shared entrance test of the Grammar Schools of Birmingham (the King Edward VI Foundation consortium), set by GL Assessment and sat once for the Foundation schools, with results age-standardised into a cumulative score.
- English & verbal reasoning: comprehension, vocabulary and verbal logic.
- Mathematics & non-verbal reasoning: Key Stage 2 numeracy plus shapes, patterns and sequences.
There is no fixed pass mark; a yearly qualifying score (and a higher within-catchment priority score) is set from the cohort.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for King Edward VI Handsworth School
King Edward VI Handsworth School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at King Edward VI Handsworth School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
King Edward VI Handsworth School is consistently among the strong-performing Birmingham grammar schools, with high proportions of top grades at GCSE and A-Level and good progression to leading universities, supported by a diverse, stimulating curriculum and a specialism in arts and science.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a sixth form admitting a number of external students each year.
- Specialism: a specialism in arts and science, with a Character Education programme.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for King Edward VI Handsworth School
Admission to Year 7 is through the shared entrance test of the Grammar Schools of Birmingham — the King Edward VI Foundation consortium — set by GL Assessment, so a child sits one test for several schools. It is two papers (one covering English and verbal reasoning, the other mathematics and non-verbal reasoning); results are age-standardised into a cumulative score, and there is no fixed pass mark. For 2026 entry the qualifying score was 205 and the within-catchment priority score was 224. Families register with the West Midlands Grammar Schools and also complete a Local Authority preference form.
The school has around 160 Year 7 places and a defined catchment of named wards across Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull. After children with an EHCP and looked-after children, a number of places (up to 32) go to Pupil Premium pupils within the catchment, then other qualified girls in the catchment ranked by score, with remaining places offered to qualified girls by score under the Foundation's rules. Always confirm the current catchment map and criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
King Edward VI Handsworth School is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18 (with a co-educational sixth form) on Rose Hill Road in Handsworth, Birmingham (B21 9AR), with around 1,335 pupils. Founded in 1883 and on its Handsworth site since 1911 (formed from the merger of three earlier schools), it is part of the King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham and the wider King Edward VI Foundation, with a specialism in arts and science.
The school pairs a traditional grammar identity with a stated commitment to progressive girls' education, and runs a Character Education programme alongside a wide co-curricular offer. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about King Edward VI Handsworth School
How do I apply to King Edward VI Handsworth School for Year 7?
Applications to King Edward VI Handsworth School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026), then list King Edward VI Handsworth School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does King Edward VI Handsworth School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — King Edward VI Handsworth School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for King Edward VI Handsworth School?
King Edward VI Handsworth School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 120 places.
How many Year 7 places does King Edward VI Handsworth School have?
King Edward VI Handsworth School admits 120 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for King Edward VI Handsworth School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join King Edward VI Handsworth School's waiting list.
Is King Edward VI Handsworth School a state school or fee-paying?
King Edward VI Handsworth School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find King Edward VI Handsworth School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for King Edward VI Handsworth School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.