King Edward VI Aston School
100%
Capacity
995
Pupils
7.9x
Demand
About King Edward VI Aston School
King Edward VI Aston School is a boys' secondary school in Birmingham that is heavily oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. With 995 pupils against a capacity of 1,000, it runs at near-full occupancy. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 1,110 applications for just 140 places, an oversubscription ratio of 7.93 to one. Only 47 of those offers went to first-preference applicants, from a total of 112 first-preference applications, indicating intense competition even among those who rank it top. The school's intake is notably diverse in socioeconomic terms: 23.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 22% and significantly higher than many grammar or selective schools in the area. This suggests a genuinely comprehensive intake that reflects the wider Birmingham community, rather than a narrow demographic slice.
Academically, the school performs strongly. Its Progress 8 score of 0.14 is above the Birmingham local authority average of 0.09, meaning pupils make slightly more progress than peers in similar schools across the city. The Attainment 8 score sits at 69.3, and an impressive 99.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 96.4% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 55%, and 50% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school's value-added score is -0.27, which is below average, though the average points per entry of 37.69 equates to a B- grade. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Outstanding across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This is a rating it has held consistently since at least 2008.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, theatre, astro turf, and tennis courts, with sports such as basketball, football, and hockey on offer. Clubs include choir, coding, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school's SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, from specific learning difficulties like dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disabilities, suggesting a genuinely inclusive approach. For families considering this school, the key takeaway is that it is a high-demand, high-performing boys' school with a genuinely mixed intake and strong outcomes at GCSE, though sixth-form value added is weaker. It suits families who prioritise a strong academic environment with good facilities and a diverse pupil body, but who are prepared for the competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Frederick Road, Birmingham, Birmingham, B6 6DJ |
| Headteacher | Matthew Brady |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 995 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.5% |
| School Capacity | 995 / 1,000 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 May 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jun 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.14)
1216th of 3,141
Nationally
121st of 371
In West Midlands
40th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.1
'22/23
35.6
'23/24
37.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2390%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 120 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)90%
- Sixth form college4%
- FE college4%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2360%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 134 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
45%
Russell Group
47%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)60%
- Not sustained14%
- Employment13%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics86
- Chemistry79
- Biology73
- Economics42
- Psychology31
- Physics27
- History23
- Government and Politics19
- Computer Studies / Computing13
- English Literature12
- Mathematics (Further)8
- Geography7
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed140
1,110
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
112 families put this school as their 1st choice (10% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:35
Source: keaston.bham.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian62.7%
- Mixed14.3%
- White British4.9%
- White (other)1.5%
- Black1.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
23
Total schools
21
Oversubscribed
16
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About King Edward VI Aston School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Frederick Road, Birmingham
Birmingham, B6 6DJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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