At a glance
- Pupils
- Boys aged 11 to 18, and girls aged 16 to 18
- Address
- Grove Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 9ET
- Year 7 places
- 150 (September 2027 policy)
- Local priority
- A catchment area made up of named wards
- School group
- One of the six King Edward VI grammar schools
- Policy used here
- September 2027 entry (2028 not published yet)
Last checked 4 October 2026See the sources
The school
The school is on Grove Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 9ET. Its 2027 admission policy describes it as an academy for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, so girls can join in the sixth form. It is one of the six King Edward VI grammar schools.
How admission works
The school hasn't yet published its policy for September 2028 entry, so this summary uses its September 2027 policy. Policies can change each year, so check the current one before you name the school as a preference.
Your child sits the Birmingham 11+ test and must reach the qualifying score to be considered. If more boys qualify than there are places, the 2027 policy offers places in this order:
- Looked after and previously looked after children.
- Children eligible for the Pupil Premium who live in the catchment area, nearest first.
- If that gives fewer than 25% of places, Pupil Premium children outside the catchment area, by test score, until 25% is reached.
- Children who reach the higher "priority score" and live in the catchment area, with older siblings at the school first, then nearest first.
- Everyone else who reaches the qualifying score, by test score.
An older sister at King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls counts as a sibling. The catchment area is a list of Birmingham wards, including Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Perry Barr, Kingstanding and Edgbaston, plus four Sandwell wards. The full list is in the policy and a map is on the school's website.
For September 2027 entry, the King Edward VI Foundation published a qualifying score of 205 for all the Birmingham grammar schools and a priority score of 224 for the King Edward VI schools. The scores for each year are published before the test.
To be considered under Pupil Premium priority, you must send the eligibility form before the day of the test.
These scores are on the test's own scale. NextJen's mock exam scores are our own estimate on a different scale, so they can't be compared with these figures and don't predict a result.
Past scores
Past scores, September 2026 entry. Figures checked against the source on 4 October 2026.
| What it shows | Lowest score offered on national offer day (March 2026) |
|---|---|
| Category 1: Looked After/Previously Looked After applicants scoring 205 and above | All offered |
| Category 2: Pupil Premium applicants scoring 205 and above and living within the catchment area | All offered |
| Category 3: Pupil Premium applicants scoring 205 and above and living outside the catchment area | 211, 6776 metres |
| Category 4: Applicants achieving 224 and above and living within the catchment area | All offered |
| Category 5: All other applicants not falling into one of the above categories | 216, 13733 metres |
Past scores don't tell you what will be needed in a future year. Each year's figures depend on how many children apply, how they score and where they live. They show what happened for September 2026 entry, not your child's chances.
These scores are on the test's own scale. NextJen's mock exam scores are our own estimate on a different scale, so they can't be compared with these figures and don't predict a result.
The lowest score offered is not a pass mark. Reaching the qualifying score means a child can be considered; places are then given in the order each school's admission policy sets out.
Registering for the test
For September 2027 entry, the King Edward VI Foundation's timeline gave registration for the Birmingham grammar schools as 5 May to 4pm on 26 June 2026, through the West Midlands Grammar Schools website. It says it isn't possible to register after the deadline. Requests for reasonable adjustments closed earlier, at 4pm on 12 June 2026. Dates for September 2028 entry haven't been published yet.
Registering for the test is not the same as applying for a school place. You apply to your home council by 31 October of Year 6.
Pupil Premium. To be considered for Pupil Premium priority, the Foundation's Pupil Premium page says you upload an extra form, completed by your child's primary school, when you register. A child registered for the Pupil Premium after the test date isn't considered for those places.
Test day and results
For September 2027 entry, the test was on Saturday 12 September 2026, with morning and afternoon sessions. The Foundation says you can't choose where your child sits the test: the venue and session are emailed to you by the end of July. There are two papers, each about 60 minutes long, with a short break between them.
The Foundation asks children to bring their own stationery (two HB pencils, an eraser and a sharpener). They may bring a light snack for the break, but no nuts, chewing gum or fizzy drinks.
Results were due by 16 October 2026. A result is not the offer of a place. The Foundation advises waiting for the result before you apply to your council, by 31 October. Councils make offers on national offer day, which was 1 March 2027 for September 2027 entry.
Open mornings
The school's homepage lists Year 7 open mornings on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026, booked through Eventbrite. Once those dates have passed, check the school's homepage for the next ones.
Find out more
Read our Birmingham 11+ guide for the test format and the yearly timeline, see how registration works in each area, or try a sample question to see how NextJen explains each answer.
NextJen is independent. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to GL Assessment, West Midlands Grammar Schools (the schools' partnership), the King Edward VI Foundation, any council or any school. We don't have the real test papers. GL Assessment is a trade mark of its owner and is named only to describe the test.
Sources
The facts on this page come from these published pages. Admission policies can change each year, so check the school's current policy before you name it as a preference.
- King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys: Admissionshandsworth.bham.sch.uk
- King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys: Policies and procedures (Admissions Policy 2027)handsworth.bham.sch.uk
- King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys: Admission Policy September 2027 (copy published by Birmingham City Council)birmingham.gov.uk
- King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys: homepage (open mornings)handsworth.bham.sch.uk
- King Edward VI Foundation: Results and offers (qualifying and priority scores, 2027 entry)kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk
- King Edward VI Foundation: Grammar schools admissions timeline (2027 entry)kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk
- King Edward VI Foundation: Entrance test information (2027 entry)kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk
- King Edward VI Foundation: Pupil Premium (2027 entry)kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk
Last checked 4 October 2026