King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is performing well, achieving a 'Good' overall effectiveness rating while excelling in key areas such as the quality of education and personal development, which are rated as 'Outstanding'. The school fosters a supportive environment where pupils display positive attitudes and respect for one another, making them feel safe and part of a community. There is a strong commitment to academic excellence, with high expectations set for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, the school acknowledges the need to improve sixth form provision, which is not currently meeting the same high standards seen in other areas. The inspectors found that the school's ambitious curriculum is beneficial for all students, including those with SEND. Although the majority of pupils exhibit excellent behavior and self-control, there are instances where some do not focus adequately on their learning. The school's leadership is also highlighted as an area for growth, particularly in ensuring that governance is robust enough to effectively support and challenge school leaders on aspects needing attention.

Strengths

• Outstanding quality of education across the curriculum
• Exceptional emphasis on personal development and extracurricular activities
• High standards of behaviour with positive relationships among pupils
• Effective support and adaptation for pupils with SEND
• Strong pastoral care leading to excellent pupil well-being

Areas for Improvement

• Sixth form provision standards are not as high as the rest of the school
• Variability in leadership assurance about school standards
• Some pupils display inattentiveness in their learning

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys attended 94.6% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 15.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 3.2% of pupils at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys had 17.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 4.1% of pupils at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 0.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys received £7,793 and spent £7,788 for each of its 1,044 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,668,000 (£1,598 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of King Edward Vi Academy Trust Birmingham, income was £8,047 and spending £7,927 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Birmingham · Birmingham local authority: places and applications

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is part of King Edward Vi Academy Trust Birmingham, which runs 12 schools. The nearest others:

• King Edward VI Handsworth School Birmingham
• King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy Birmingham
• King Edward VI Aston School Birmingham
• King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls Birmingham
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls Birmingham
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys Birmingham
• King Edward VI Five Ways School Birmingham
• King Edward VI King's Norton School for Boys Birmingham
• King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy Birmingham
• King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls Birmingham

What is King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys last inspected by Ofsted?

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys have?

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys has 1,054 pupils on roll.

What age range does King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys cover?

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 71.3, and 98% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys?

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is at Grove Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands, B21 9ET.