King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
104%
Capacity
1,044
Pupils
7.4x
Demand
About King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, though its academic story is more nuanced than that single grade suggests. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.78 is the standout metric here — it means pupils achieve nearly a grade higher per subject across eight GCSEs than the national average. That places the school well above average nationally, ranking 202nd out of 3,141 schools, and 10th out of 83 secondary schools in Birmingham. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is just 0.09, so Handsworth Grammar is performing significantly ahead of its peers. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 72 and its EBacc average point score of 6.35 reinforce this picture of strong academic outcomes, with 96.7% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths.
The school’s previous inspection in 2017 rated it Outstanding overall, and the 2024 inspection saw it retain Outstanding grades for quality of education and personal development, while behaviour, leadership, and sixth-form provision were judged Good. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.04, which is average, and the average grade per entry is B-, with 27.6% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The sixth form has 156 pupils and offers a solid academic pathway, though it doesn’t match the exceptional GCSE performance. In terms of curriculum breadth, 32.7% of pupils entered the EBacc, which is a measure of academic breadth, and the school’s Progress 8 breakdown shows particularly strong results in EBacc subjects (0.9) and maths (0.82), with English progress slightly lower at 0.38.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 150 places in 2025/26, there were 1,114 applications, with 142 first-preference applications and only 51 first-preference offers — an oversubscription ratio of 7.43. This reflects its strong reputation in Birmingham. Facilities include a sports hall, swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, science labs, and a sixth-form centre. The school supports a range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. With 18.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a diverse intake. This is a school for academically ambitious boys who thrive in a structured, high-expectation environment, particularly those strong in maths and EBacc subjects. The sixth form offers a good but not exceptional A-level experience, so families considering post-16 options should weigh that against the outstanding GCSE outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Grove Lane, Birmingham, Birmingham, B21 9ET |
| Headteacher | Tim Johnson |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,044 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,044 / 1,000 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.78)
202nd of 3,141
Nationally
17th of 371
In West Midlands
10th 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
39.2
'22/23
33.5
'23/24
37.8
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 141 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
44%
Russell Group
43%
Top-third HE
2%
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)68%
- Employment9%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained6%
- Other education4%
- 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
1,114
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
142 families put this school as their 1st choice (13% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
- Asian73.1%
- Mixed4.8%
- White British3.6%
- Black2.1%
- White (other)1.6%
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
2024/25Half 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.
21
Total schools
17
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 Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
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
Grove Lane, Birmingham
Birmingham, B21 9ET
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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