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Catchment + open placesCo-educationalBirmingham

King Edward VI Five Ways School catchment area

Birmingham · co-educational grammar school · ages 11 to 18
Admissions
Catchment + open
score places
Intake
Co-educational · ages 11 to 18
11+ test
Birmingham KE Foundation 11+ (GL)
Year 7 places
180
Location
Birmingham, Birmingham
Catchment, explained

How catchment works at King Edward VI Five Ways School

King Edward VI Five Ways School runs a two-route admissions model. It reserves a block of places for a designated catchment or priority area, where home-to-school distance matters, and it offers a second block of places on 11+ score alone, open to families living anywhere. That makes it both a catchment school and, in part, a super-selective.

After looked-after and Pupil Premium pupils, places split between catchment qualifiers ranked by distance and an open block ranked purely by test score. So if you live in the priority area you compete mainly with local families, and if you live further away a high enough score can still win one of the open places.

Bottom line: King Edward VI Five Ways School has a catchment, but it is not the whole story, a strong score keeps the door open even from outside the area.
Grammar schools near Birmingham
Birmingham
Nearby options

Other grammar schools near Birmingham

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Birmingham · Part-catchment
3.4 miles away
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Birmingham · Part-catchment
3.4 miles away
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
Birmingham · Part-catchment
4.9 miles away
King Edward VI Aston School
Birmingham · Part-catchment
5.0 miles away
King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls
Birmingham · Part-catchment
5.1 miles away
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Sutton Coldfield · No catchment
9.9 miles away
Applying

Sitting the 11+ for King Edward VI Five Ways School

1

Register

Sign up for Birmingham KE Foundation 11+ (GL) with the school or local authority, usually by early summer before Year 6 begins.

2

Sit the test

Your child takes the test in September of Year 6. Results follow in October, before the 31 October secondary application deadline.

3

Get your place

Aim high: a top score can win an open place from anywhere, and helps in the catchment block too.

FAQs

King Edward VI Five Ways School catchment, your questions answered

Does King Edward VI Five Ways School have a catchment area?+
Yes, since 2023 qualifiers in listed Birmingham/Sandwell wards are prioritised, but a separate block is offered on score alone to any address.
Is King Edward VI Five Ways School super-selective?+
Partly. King Edward VI Five Ways School reserves some places on 11+ score alone (open to any address) but also keeps a block for its catchment or priority area, so it is best described as part super-selective, part catchment.
How is the catchment for King Edward VI Five Ways School measured?+
After looked-after and Pupil Premium pupils, places split between catchment qualifiers ranked by distance and an open block ranked purely by test score. Distances are normally measured in a straight line from your home to the school, and the cut-off moves each year with demand.
What test does my child sit for King Edward VI Five Ways School?+
Children applying to King Edward VI Five Ways School sit Birmingham KE Foundation 11+ (GL), usually at the start of Year 6. Register with the school or local authority before the summer deadline in Year 5.
How many places does King Edward VI Five Ways School offer?+
King Edward VI Five Ways School admits 180 pupils into Year 7 each year. With far more qualifiers than places, the score needed in practice is well above the basic pass mark.
Can we apply to King Edward VI Five Ways School from outside the area?+
Yes. You can sit the test from any address, and King Edward VI Five Ways School keeps a block of places for the highest scorers regardless of where they live, so an out-of-area child with a strong score has a realistic route in.
Does passing the 11+ guarantee a place at King Edward VI Five Ways School?+
No. Passing qualifies your child, the place then depends on the admissions priorities, either the open score block or your position in the catchment.
When do we register for the Birmingham KE Foundation 11+ (GL)?+
Registration usually opens in the spring or early summer of Year 5 and closes before the test, which is sat in September of Year 6. Results come back in October, the secondary application deadline is 31 October, and offers are sent on national offer day, 1 March. Always confirm the exact dates with King Edward VI Five Ways School or your local authority.

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Catchment and admissions details change every year. This page is an indicative guide for parents, always confirm the current catchment area, distances, places and test arrangements directly with King Edward VI Five Ways School and your local authority before applying.