King Edward VI Five Ways School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School.
How to get into King Edward VI Five Ways School
King Edward VI Five Ways School is a selective secondary school in Birmingham. To get into King Edward VI Five Ways School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into King Edward VI Five Ways School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). The qualifying score for entry in September 2025 is 205[1].
Families must register for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ test and submit their local authority Common Application Form separately. Registration opens on Tuesday 6th May 2025 and closes on Friday 13th June 2025 (see key dates).
- Children must achieve the required standard in prescribed ability tests
- King Edward VI Five Ways School uses the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
- The minimum qualifying score for entry in 2024 was 205, with oversubscription criteria applied if more children qualify than places available
- For contact information, see the school information section
Catchment Area and Priority Places
The priority catchment area includes home addresses in specific electoral wards across Birmingham and Sandwell. Children eligible for free school meals who live in the catchment area receive priority, ranked by distance from the school.
If fewer than 45 places are allocated to free school meal children in the catchment, remaining places go to free school meal children outside the catchment. Children achieving the priority score and living in catchment receive priority, with siblings given preference.
- Birmingham areas: Allens Cross, Bartley Green, Bournville & Cotteridge, Frankley Great Park, Harborne, King's Norton South, King's Norton North, Longbridge & West Heath, Rubery & Rednal, Northfield, Quinton, Weoley & Selly Oak
- Sandwell areas: Abbey, Bristnall, Old Warley
- Looked-After and previously Looked-After children who achieve the qualifying score receive highest priority
- When scores are equal, priority goes to children with siblings at the school, then by distance
Application Process
Families must complete two separate applications: registration for the entrance test and the local authority Common Application Form. The registration portal opens on Tuesday 6th May 2025 and closes on Friday 13th June (see key dates).
Children will be allocated a test venue and slot for September 2025, with results sent by mid-October. The secondary school Common Application Form becomes available in early September and must be submitted by 31st October 2025 (see key dates).
- Register through the West Midlands Grammar Schools website during the registration period
- Enter home postcode and child's gender to be directed to the relevant registration website
- Have a photo of the child ready to upload during registration
- Use test results received in mid-October to decide which schools to name on the application form
- Only name grammar schools for which the child has met the eligible score
- Families are advised to wait for entrance test results before applying for school places
- Contact the school information section for specific guidance
Entrance Examination Details
The exam consists of two one-hour papers divided into smaller, individually-timed sections. Each paper lasts approximately 60 minutes and takes place in September 2025 (see key dates).
Test weightings are 50% for English/verbal reasoning, 25% for non-verbal reasoning and 25% for mathematics. All questions are multiple choice and scores are age-standardised.
- English Comprehension: Examines comprehension skills including inference, with no writing component
- Verbal Reasoning: Assesses logical thinking, English language use and vocabulary
- Mathematics: Measures problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including number, measurement, geometry, algebra and statistics
- Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning: Tests logic and intelligence
- The same entrance test is used by all 19 schools in the West Midlands Grammar Schools partnership
- Children only need to sit one test to be eligible for any West Midlands Grammar School
Preparation Guidance
Effective preparation should begin well before the examination date. Children scoring 80-85% consistently in practice tests should be on track to pass the examination. Building a good knowledge base using a 'little and often' approach is key for effective learning.
Children eligible for Pupil Premium can receive early access to online support through the school's partnership with Atom Home. Families should focus on comprehensive practice across all test components.
- Start preparation early with consistent daily practice sessions
- Practice all four test components: English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics, and non-verbal reasoning
- Use multiple-choice answer sheets during practice to simulate exam conditions
- Each subject is tested in both papers, requiring comprehensive preparation
- For free preparation resources, see practice papers section
- For tutoring support, see tutor recommendations
- Age-standardisation ensures younger children aren't disadvantaged
Practical Advice
Families should plan for exam day well in advance and prepare backup school options. Testing takes place on a Saturday in early September, with alternative Sunday testing for certain faith groups. Passing the 11+ doesn't guarantee a place as many grammar schools are oversubscribed.
In 2023, the school received around 8 applications per place, highlighting the competitive nature of admissions. Local authorities notify families of school offers on 1st March or the next working day (see key dates).
- Exam Day: Plan to keep the whole day free as there may be morning and afternoon sessions
- Test Venue: The test location may not be the preferred school - it's simply an administrative venue
- Backup Schools: Research alternative comprehensive schools in Birmingham as fallback options
- Managing Stress: Practice relaxation techniques and maintain regular sleep schedules before the exam
- Results Timeline: Test results are sent before completing the local authority preference form
- Multiple Applications: Consider applying to several grammar schools within the partnership to increase chances
- For specific contact details, see the school information section
West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Information
In order to get into King Edward VI Five Ways School, children need to pass the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Subjects & Structure
The West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English comprehension
- Maths
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is the examination used by King Edward VI Five Ways School to assess prospective students. This rigorous assessment consists of two papers, each lasting one hour. The papers are further divided into smaller sections, each with its own allocated time, focusing on various aspects of a student's academic abilities.
The exam covers a wide range of subjects, including English comprehension, which evaluates a student's understanding and interpretation of written passages. Mathematical skills are also put to the test, assessing a student's proficiency in numerical reasoning and problem-solving. Additionally, the exam includes sections on verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which measure a student's ability to analyze and draw logical conclusions from given information.
Throughout the examination, students are presented with multiple-choice questions, and they are required to mark their answers on separate answer sheets. These answer sheets are then electronically evaluated to determine the student's performance in each subject area. The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is designed to identify students with the academic potential to excel at King Edward VI Five Ways School.
Other Schools using West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+
As well as King Edward VI Five Ways School, several other schools also use West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. These are:
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
- King Edward VI Aston School
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
- King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
- King Edward VI Handsworth School
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
- Haberdashers' Adams
- Newport Girls' High School Academy
- Queen Mary's Grammar School
- Queen Mary's High School
- Alcester Grammar School
- King Edward VI School
- Lawrence Sheriff School
- Rugby High School
- Stratford Girls' Grammar School
- Wolverhampton Girls' High School
West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as King Edward VI Five Ways School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.
Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).
Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at King Edward VI Five Ways School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the King Edward VI Five Ways School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into King Edward VI Five Ways School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 06/05/2025 | Registration Opens For The West Midlands Grammar Schools' Entrance Test | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 13/06/2025 | Reasonable Adjustments Deadline | |
| 27/06/2025 | Test Registration Closes | |
| Mid October | Parents Receive Test Results | |
| Late October | Secondary School Applications Close At 5pm | |
| 02/03/2026 | Secondary School National Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with King Edward VI Five Ways School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for King Edward VI Five Ways School
As the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.
11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the King Edward VI Five Ways School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the King Edward VI Five Ways School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School
Here are all available past 11+ papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School. Please note that this may include 11+ past papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that King Edward VI Five Ways School currently uses.
The exam board (or test supplier) that King Edward VI Five Ways School chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.
As well as these past 11+ papers, you may find our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers helpful for your child's preparation.
| Exam Board | Subject | 11+ Past Paper |
|---|---|---|
| CEM* Now use GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Ensure you double-check with King Edward VI Five Ways School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ to get into King Edward VI Five Ways School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into King Edward VI Five Ways School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into King Edward VI Five Ways School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into King Edward VI Five Ways School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If King Edward VI Five Ways School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Five Ways School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about King Edward VI Five Ways School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | King Edward VI Five Ways School, Scotland Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, West Midlands B32 4BT |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.kefw.org/ |
| Telephone | 01214753535 |
| Gender | Mixed (both girls and boys) |
| Total Year 7 Places | 180 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1305 (428 Girls / 877 Boys) |
| Head | Dr Simon Bird |
King Edward VI Five Ways School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 1,305 pupils attend King Edward VI Five Ways School and it's led by the Head, Dr Simon Bird.
King Edward VI Five Ways School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
King Edward VI Five Ways School was last inspected by Ofsted on 28/11/2023 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 18/01/2024, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 28/11/2023 | 1 | 18/01/2024 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
King Edward VI Five Ways School was inspected by Ofsted on 18/01/2024 and received an overall rating of Good. The quality of education, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated as Good. The school demonstrated outstanding performance in two areas: behaviour and attitudes, and sixth form provision.
The inspection report highlights the school's strengths in fostering a positive learning environment and promoting excellent behaviour among students. The sixth form provision was also singled out for its exceptional quality, indicating that the school effectively prepares students for higher education and future careers.
While the school achieved a Good rating in most areas, there is still room for improvement to reach the highest standard of Outstanding across all categories. The report suggests that the school should focus on further enhancing the quality of education, personal development, and leadership and management to provide the best possible outcomes for its students.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at King Edward VI Five Ways School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for King Edward VI Five Ways School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 14 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Biology | 118 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 32 | 43 |
| Chemistry | 118 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 35 | 47 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 60 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 8 |
| Design & Technology | 41 | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 7 | 10 |
| English Language | 178 | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 16 | 43 | 50 | 45 | 16 |
| English Literature | 178 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 45 | 30 | 49 | 30 |
| D&T Food Technology | 10 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| French | 125 | 2 | - | - | 3 | 11 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 27 |
| Geography | 112 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 30 | 35 |
| History | 97 | - | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 17 | 21 | 22 |
| Latin | 22 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Mathematics | 179 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 60 | 46 | 28 |
| Music | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Physics | 118 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 28 | 52 |
| Religious Studies | 176 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 14 | 20 | 46 | 94 |
| Spanish | 30 | 4 | - | - | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 12 | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Physical Education/Sports Studies | 36 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 3 |
| Science: Double Award | 60 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Biology | 71 | - | - | 5 | 9 | 16 | 24 | 16 | |||
| Chemistry | 83 | - | 4 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 29 | 19 | |||
| Classical Civilisation | 12 | - | 1 | - | - | 2 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Computer Studies / Computing | 20 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 1 | |||
| Economics | 57 | - | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 9 | |||
| English Literature | 22 | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 3 | 13 | |||
| Geography | 11 | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | - | |||
| Government and Politics | 17 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 2 | |||
| History | 39 | - | - | 1 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 7 | |||
| Law | 11 | - | - | 2 | - | 2 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Logic / Philosophy | 16 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Mathematics | 113 | - | 5 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 30 | 28 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 21 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 7 | |||
| Physics | 33 | - | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | |||
| Psychology | 48 | - | 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 8 | |||
| Sociology | 8 | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||
FAQ
Is King Edward VI Five Ways School hard to get into?
Yes, King Edward VI Five Ways School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is King Edward VI Five Ways School a private school?
No, King Edward VI Five Ways School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is King Edward VI Five Ways School free?
Yes, King Edward VI Five Ways School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to King Edward VI Five Ways School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into King Edward VI Five Ways School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact King Edward VI Five Ways School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.
