King Edward VI Five Ways School
99%
Capacity
1,311
Pupils
7.8x
Demand
About King Edward VI Five Ways School
King Edward VI Five Ways School is a state-funded None secondary school serving the Birmingham community, welcoming children from age 11 to 18. The school has 1,311 pupils on roll and is near full capacity (99% of 1,320 places).
Ofsted has rated King Edward VI Five Ways School "Good", the school is led by headteacher Simon Bird, it falls under Birmingham local authority.
In terms of academic performance, its Progress 8 score of +0.68 is well above the national average. Additionally, Attainment 8 is strong at 77.1. Additionally, sixth form students achieve an average A-Level grade of A-. Additionally, placing it in the top 10% nationally. Additionally, ranked 300th out of 3,141 schools in England. Additionally, 14th out of 83 in Birmingham.
King Edward VI Five Ways School is a popular choice with families — it received 1,390 applications for 178 places, making it 7.8x oversubscribed. Of these, 369 were first-preference applications.
For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 9 areas, including Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional & Mental Health and 6 more. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.
On-site facilities at King Edward VI Five Ways School include Theatre, Art Studios, Astro Turf, Tennis Courts, ICT Suite, Dining Hall, Gymnasium, Music Rooms, Playing Fields, Sports Hall, Swimming Pool, Library, Sixth Form Centre.
Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Martial Arts, Football, Rugby, Hockey and 3 more, as well as clubs including Science Club, Newspaper, Drama, Choir and 6 more.
The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 22.5%, which is close to the national average for secondary schools in England.
For families exploring secondary schools in Birmingham, King Edward VI Five Ways School is one of the options available in the West Midlands region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Scotland Lane, Birmingham, Birmingham, B32 4BT |
| Headteacher | Simon Bird |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,311 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,311 / 1,320 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.68)
300th of 3,141
Nationally
22nd of 371
In West Midlands
14th of 83
In Birmingham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
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
46.5
'22/23
43.8
'23/24
46.2
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
2022/2393%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 180 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)93%
- Sixth form college3%
- FE college2%
- 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
2022/2367%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 199 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
72%
Russell Group
74%
Top-third HE
6%
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)67%
- Employment11%
- Not sustained8%
- Other education5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further 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- Mathematics113
- Chemistry83
- Biology71
- Economics57
- Psychology48
- History39
- Physics33
- English Literature22
- Mathematics (Further)21
- Computer Studies / Computing20
- Government and Politics17
- Logic / Philosophy16
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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
1,390
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
369 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half 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
- Asian34.1%
- White British22.7%
- Mixed18.8%
- White (other)4.4%
- Black2.6%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
10
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About King Edward VI Five Ways 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
Scotland Lane, Birmingham
Birmingham, B32 4BT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at King Edward VI Five Ways School!
Write a Review