King Edward VI Aston School
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.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 May 2022Source: Ofsted, 30 Jun 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:35
Source: keaston.bham.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Was this page helpful?
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications