King Edward VI School
117%
Capacity
1,627
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About King Edward VI School
King Edward VI School in Lichfield is a large, mixed secondary that is clearly in high demand. With 1,627 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,395, the school is significantly oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 academic year, it received 609 applications for just 245 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.49. Of those, 240 families put it as their first preference, and 221 first-preference offers were made, meaning not everyone who wanted a place got one. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 11.8 per cent, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively affluent intake compared with many state schools. The school is a non-faith, state-funded secondary with a sixth form, and it has no nursery provision. Its popularity is reflected in its local standing: it ranks 4th out of 7 schools in Lichfield and 14th out of 75 similar schools across Staffordshire.
Academically, King Edward VI School performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.18 means pupils achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject than students with similar starting points nationally, and this comfortably beats the Staffordshire local authority average of -0.18. Attainment 8 sits at 53.1, and 82.5 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 44.7 per cent, with 34.1 per cent achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the average points per entry is 34.23, equivalent to a C+ grade, and the value added score of 0.05 is rated as average. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade too. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2012.
The school offers a strong range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There is a wide selection of sports from football and rugby to dance and cross country, plus clubs like orchestra, Model UN, debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families who want a large, popular, academically strong state secondary with a proper sixth form and plenty of extracurricular breadth. The high oversubscription means it is essential to apply as a first preference, and even then, a place is not guaranteed. It is particularly well-suited to pupils who are aiming for strong GCSEs and a solid A-level pathway in a well-resourced environment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Upper St John Street, Lichfield, Lichfield, WS14 9EE |
| Headteacher | Catharine Forster |
| Local Authority | Staffordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,627 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,627 / 1,395 (117% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (19 Oct 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 28 Mar 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.18)
1120th of 3,141
Nationally
111th of 371
In West Midlands
4th of 7
In Lichfield
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
37.5
'22/23
32.1
'23/24
34.2
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
2022/2374%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 218 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)74%
- FE college22%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
98% 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: 165 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
30%
Russell Group
33%
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)67%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained4%
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- Psychology61
- Sociology54
- Biology51
- Mathematics45
- Business Studies:Single34
- Chemistry31
- Geography29
- Economics27
- Physics23
- Art and Design (Fine Art)20
- English Language18
- Physical Education / Sports Studies16
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
2025/26Oversubscribed245
609
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
240 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British83.9%
- Asian6.0%
- Mixed5.2%
- White (other)3.0%
- Black0.1%
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.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About King Edward VI 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
Upper St John Street, Lichfield
Lichfield, WS14 9EE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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