King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls
90%
Capacity
968
Pupils
3.8x
Demand
About King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls
King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls has been rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2022. The school received Good marks across all five inspection categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.75, which is classified as well above average nationally. This places the school 11th out of 83 secondary schools in Birmingham and 229th out of 3,141 schools nationally, putting it in the top 8% of all state schools in England. For context, the average Progress 8 score for Birmingham secondary schools is just 0.09, so Lordswood’s score represents significantly stronger than typical progress for its pupils. The school also achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53.7, and 79.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths.
At GCSE level, 53.4% of pupils entered the English Baccalaureate, and 37.2% achieved a grade 5 or above in it. The school’s EBacc average points score was 5.03. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score of 0.27 is rated above average, with students achieving an average of 34.57 points per entry, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels averaged a B- grade, and 19.4% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The school’s Progress 8 banding of well above average is consistent across all subject areas, with particularly strong progress in English (0.87) and open subjects (0.89). These results suggest that pupils at Lordswood make stronger progress than their peers in similar schools across the country.
The school is oversubscribed, receiving 578 applications for 153 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, a ratio of 3.78 applicants per place. Of 169 first-preference applications, 128 received offers. Facilities include a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, alongside science labs, art studios, and music rooms. The school offers a range of clubs including Debate, Gardening, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and sports include basketball, cricket, hockey, and martial arts. SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 29.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. This is a strong choice for families seeking a girls’ secondary school in Birmingham with proven academic progress, a well-regarded sixth form, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Knightlow Road, Birmingham, Birmingham, B17 8QB |
| Headteacher | Kerry Cooney |
| Local Authority | Birmingham |
| Number of Pupils | 968 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.1% |
| School Capacity | 968 / 1,070 (90% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.75)
229th of 3,141
Nationally
18th of 371
In West Midlands
11th 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
39.5
'22/23
30.7
'23/24
34.6
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
2022/2365%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 130 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)65%
- FE college17%
- Sixth form college12%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment1%
100% 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
2022/2370%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 93 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
19%
Russell Group
19%
Top-third HE
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)70%
- Not sustained16%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
- 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- Biology20
- Mathematics20
- Sociology20
- Chemistry19
- Business Studies:Single15
- Computer Studies / Computing15
- English Literature15
- Psychology13
- Religious Studies13
- Media/Film/Tv Studies10
- Physics10
- Government and Politics9
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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed153
578
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
169 families put this school as their 1st choice (29% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian47.7%
- White British14.0%
- Mixed11.6%
- White (other)4.9%
- Black0.9%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
9
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 Lordswood School for Girls
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
Knightlow Road, Birmingham
Birmingham, B17 8QB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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