King Edward VI Aston School

The Gothic brick facade on Frederick Road has stood since 1883, a gateway to one of Birmingham's most selective state schools. King Edward VI Aston is the only school in the King Edward VI Foundation still occupying its original site, blending Victorian heritage with modern facilities including the Colin Parker fitness centre and the Watcyn Thomas Wing. With 1,003 pupils, including 307 in the co-educational sixth form, Aston has long served the local community while drawing academically able boys from across the city. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2022 across all categories, the school combines rigorous academics with a specialist sports college designation and an extensive enrichment programme.

Matt Brady, Headteacher since 2021, describes the school's success as a factor of teamwork and collaboration. Visitors frequently comment on how friendly the atmosphere is, something inspection evidence supports. The school's vision centres on producing articulate, well-rounded global citizens who embody core values of diligence, honesty, integrity, and kindness.

The house system, introduced around 1908, remains fundamental to school life. Five houses (Brandon, Floyd, Hawley, Manton, and Temperley) compete across sport, academics, and creative endeavours. This structure quickly produced marked improvements in sporting standards when first implemented, and continues to shape the school's competitive yet collaborative culture.

Aston maintains close links with King Edward VI Handsworth, the neighbouring girls' grammar school. Joint drama productions alternate between sites annually, and sixth form teaching in some subjects is shared across the King Edward VI Academy Trust, with aligned timetables enabling students to access a broader curriculum than either school could offer alone.

The buildings tell a story of gradual expansion. The original Victorian structures remain in regular use, though the Pyramus and Thisbe Wall that once separated boys from girls was removed when the girls' school relocated to Handsworth in 1911. The 1963 New Building, originally Douglas House, later became the Watcyn Thomas Wing, named after a Welsh rugby international who taught at Aston for thirty-seven years. More recent additions include a sports hall and a dedicated languages building. The school even acquired the section of Frederick Road that previously bisected the site, creating a more unified campus adjacent to Aston Hall and Park.

GCSE results place King Edward VI Aston firmly in the top tier of schools in England. Ranked 339th nationally and 10th in Birmingham for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), the school sits well above the England average, within the top 10% of secondary schools.

In 2024, 31.5% of GCSE entries achieved grades 9-8, with 56.6% at grades 9-7. The Attainment 8 score of 69.3 significantly exceeds the typical grammar school benchmark. Progress 8 of +0.14 indicates students make better than expected progress from their starting points, though this measure is less dramatic than pure attainment figures suggest, reflecting the high-ability intake.

At A-level, the picture is solid though more measured. The school ranks 640th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% of sixth form providers, above the England average. In 2024, 9% of entries achieved A*, with 34.6% at A*-A and 60.2% at A*-B. The England average for A*-A stands at 23.6%, making Aston's performance notably strong though not at the very highest level seen in some selective schools.

The school offers the Cambridge Technical Engineering qualification alongside traditional A-levels, recognising that academic pathways extend beyond purely examination-based routes.

The curriculum follows traditional grammar school lines with some distinctive additions. Mandarin Chinese features alongside French and German in the languages department, housed in a dedicated building. Sciences are taught separately from Year 7, and setting allows able students to be stretched appropriately.

Twenty-six subjects are available at A-level, including Economics, Politics, Psychology, and Philosophy alongside traditional disciplines. The school delivers four study pathways: three A-levels, three A-levels plus EPQ, four A-levels, or four A-levels plus EPQ. The Extended Project Qualification, worth 28 UCAS points, requires 5,000 words of independent research and around 90 hours of work.

Entry requirements for sixth form courses are precise and demanding. Students need seven GCSEs at grades 9-5 minimum, with grade 6 in English and Mathematics. For STEM subjects, an 8-7-7 combination across science, maths, and computing is required; Further Mathematics demands a grade 9 in GCSE Mathematics. These thresholds apply equally to internal students progressing from Year 11 and external applicants.

Inspectors found that teachers have expert subject knowledge and explain concepts clearly. The curriculum is ambitious and well-sequenced. Students develop deep understanding rather than superficial coverage.

After A-levels, 92% of students progress to higher education, with 40% joining Russell Group universities. The school's academic rigour is reflected in the proportion of early entry applicants; almost 50% of students apply through UCAS as early entry candidates, aspiring to Oxbridge or to study medicine and dentistry.

In the most recent measurement period, 22 students submitted Oxbridge applications, with 3 receiving offers and 1 securing a place. This places the school 464th in England for combined Oxbridge success (FindMySchool ranking). Eleven students secured places to study medicine in 2024, reflecting the school's strong science provision and dedicated preparation programme.

Oxbridge preparation is thorough. Dedicated support begins in June of Year 12, with wider reading lists, subject-specific preparation sessions, and mock interviews conducted by qualified practitioners. Students benefit from guidance by Oxbridge graduates and recent successful applicants. The school explicitly aims to match the Oxbridge preparation intensity of independent schools.

University destinations span prestigious institutions across the country. Students commonly progress to degrees in medicine, dentistry, economics, and natural sciences. Recent cohorts have included places at Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, and other Russell Group institutions.

From the 2023-24 cohort of 145 sixth form leavers, 68% progressed to university, with 3% entering apprenticeships and 5% moving directly into employment.

Entry to Year 7 is through the 11-plus examination, administered as part of the West Midlands Grammar Schools consortium. This partnership of 19 schools across Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Walsall, and Wolverhampton shares a single entrance test, meaning candidates sit one examination regardless of how many schools they apply to.

Competition is intense. In 2024, 1,110 applications were received for 140 places, a ratio of approximately 7.9 applications per place. This makes Aston one of the most oversubscribed grammar schools in the region.

The entrance test comprises two papers from GL Assessment, each lasting approximately one hour. Weightings are 50% for English and verbal reasoning, 25% for non-verbal reasoning, and 25% for mathematics. The qualifying score for 2026 entry is 205; the priority score for King Edward VI grammar schools is 224.

Key dates for September 2026 entry: registration opens Tuesday 6th May 2025 and closes Friday 27th June 2025. The entrance test takes place on Saturday 13th September 2025. Results are released by Friday 17th October 2025, allowing families to complete their local authority preference form by the 31st October 2025 deadline. National offer day is 2nd March 2026.

The school has increased the percentage of places reserved for pupils eligible for Pupil Premium from 20% to 25%. Pupil Premium candidates who achieve the standard qualifying score and live in the catchment area are guaranteed a place at their local selective school. Currently, 20% of the school population receives free school meals, and 35 places are specifically reserved for Pupil Premium applicants.

For sixth form entry, external candidates must achieve seven GCSEs at grades 9-5, including grade 6 in English and Mathematics. Applications open in early December, with decisions communicated by late March and taster days in June or July. Approximately 50 external students join the sixth form annually.

The school recognises that academic performance, while important, exists alongside the difficulties young people face. Dedicated pastoral and support staff focus on nurturing physical and mental wellbeing. Each house provides a community within the larger school, with form tutors and house staff knowing students individually.

Sixth form students can apply for prefect positions through a formal application and interview process. Mentoring roles allow older students to support younger pupils, building leadership skills while strengthening house communities. The five-house system (Brandon, Floyd, Hawley, Manton, and Temperley) creates smaller, more manageable units within the thousand-strong school.

The 2022 Ofsted inspection rated personal development as Outstanding, noting that the school prepares students well for life beyond school.

The extracurricular programme is extensive, with around 250 events and opportunities available throughout the year. Clubs run before school, during lunchtimes, and after school, with offerings advertised each term. The Thursday Pursuits programme, operating on alternate Thursday afternoons, provides dedicated enrichment time within the curriculum.

Music

The Junior Choir has grown from zero to 80 members, reflecting a deliberate focus on developing music provision. The music suite includes eight practice rooms, a recording studio, and a recital hall. Instrumental tuition is available, and students can pursue Music at A-level through the Academy Trust partnership.

Drama

Joint productions with King Edward VI Handsworth are an annual tradition, with the main school play alternating between sites. Drama facilities and the partnership with the girls' school create opportunities that neither institution could offer alone.

Sport

As a designated specialist sports college, Aston has invested significantly in sporting facilities. The Colin Parker Building houses a state-of-the-art fitness centre. Specialist sports facilities at Trinity Road provide pitches and courts for rugby, cricket, football, hockey, tennis, and basketball. Olympic Legacy Funding has enhanced these resources, and the school has developed relationships with local schools and community groups through shared facility use.

Rugby and cricket hold traditional prominence, reflecting the school's heritage; the Watcyn Thomas Wing commemorates a former Welsh rugby international who spent decades teaching at Aston. Chess features within the sporting arena, offering competition for those whose strengths lie elsewhere.

Clubs and Societies

Specific clubs include Amnesty International, the Debate Club, the Medicine and Dentistry Society, Pokemon, Warhammer, and Dungeons and Dragons. The Duke of Edinburgh Award programme runs to completion, with students undertaking expeditions and community service. STEM experiences, visiting speakers, trips, and residentials supplement the weekly club programme.

Wider Opportunities

University visits include trips to Oxford and CERN. Work experience placements are linked to career aspirations. Volunteering opportunities run on alternate Thursdays, and the school's community focus extends to hosting events and supporting local organisations.

The school day runs from 8:40am, with lessons concluding at 3:15pm. Sixth form students have access to independent study spaces and a dedicated common room. The Bring Your Own Device scheme allows sixth formers to use personal technology for learning.

King Edward VI Aston School is located on Frederick Road, Aston, B6 6DJ. The site sits close to Aston Hall and Park, accessible via public transport from across Birmingham. The school can be reached by telephone on 0121 327 1130.

Intense entrance competition. With nearly eight applications for every place, the 11-plus represents a significant hurdle. The tutoring industry has built substantial business around Birmingham grammar school preparation. Families should approach the process with realistic expectations about the odds.

Single-sex until sixth form. Years 7-11 are boys only. Girls join at sixth form, creating a co-educational environment for A-level study. Families wanting co-education throughout should look elsewhere. The partnership with King Edward VI Handsworth provides some mixed opportunities through drama and shared teaching, but day-to-day learning in lower years is single-sex.

Academic pressure is inherent. This is a grammar school serving academically able students. Expectations are high, and the pace can be demanding. Students who thrived at primary school as exceptional will find themselves surrounded by equally capable peers.

Location in Aston. The school draws from across Birmingham, but its Aston location means travel times vary considerably depending on where families live. Transport links require consideration during the application process.

King Edward VI Aston delivers grammar school education of genuine quality at no cost. Outstanding inspection ratings, strong GCSE results placing it in the top 10% in England, solid A-level outcomes, and established university progression routes make it a compelling choice for academically able boys. The specialist sports college designation, extensive extracurricular programme, and Victorian heritage create a distinctive character. Strong pastoral structures support students through the demands of selective education.

Best suited to academically able boys who will thrive in a competitive, traditional grammar school environment and can navigate the intense 11-plus process. The sixth form offers excellent value for girls and external boys meeting entry requirements. Families seeking free education rivalling independent school quality will find Aston delivers, though securing a place remains the primary challenge.