King Edward VI Aston School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• Selective boys' grammar school in Aston, Birmingham
• Founded: 1883 as part of King Edward VI Foundation
• Current enrolment: Approximately 963 students
• Ofsted rating: Outstanding across all areas (2022)
• Specialist sports college with 27 different sports
• Christian religious character
• Headteacher: Mr Matthew Brady
• Admission: Highly competitive 11+ entrance examination

About King Edward VI Aston School

King Edward VI Aston School has been at the forefront of boys' education in Birmingham for over 140 years. As one of the most academically rigorous grammar schools within the prestigious King Edward VI Foundation, the school combines traditional values with modern educational excellence. The school's Christian ethos emphasises developing young men of character who embody diligence, honesty, integrity and kindness.

Located in Aston, the school serves families across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region. With its Outstanding Ofsted rating, King Edward VI Aston consistently delivers exceptional academic outcomes whilst nurturing well-rounded global citizens. The school's specialist sports college status reflects its commitment to physical development alongside intellectual growth, offering an impressive range of 27 different sporting activities.

The school's educational philosophy centres on fostering independent thought, confidence and articulate communication skills. Students benefit from small class sizes, dedicated teaching staff, and extensive co-curricular opportunities that prepare them for leadership roles in their future careers and communities.

The 11+ Assessment Process

King Edward VI Aston School operates a highly selective admissions process through the King Edward VI Foundation's coordinated entrance examination system. This unified approach allows candidates to sit one comprehensive assessment that can be used for applications to multiple Foundation schools.

The 11+ examination assesses students' academic potential across core subjects and reasoning abilities. The assessment typically covers:

• English language and comprehension
• Mathematics and numerical reasoning
• Verbal reasoning skills
• Non-verbal reasoning and spatial awareness

The examination is designed to identify students who will thrive in the school's academically demanding environment. Beyond raw academic ability, the school seeks students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, resilience, and the potential to contribute positively to the school community.

Given the school's exceptional reputation and Outstanding Ofsted rating, competition for places is intense. The school receives applications from across Birmingham and surrounding areas, making thorough preparation essential for success.

How to Apply

Applications to King Edward VI Aston School are processed through the King Edward VI Foundation's centralised admissions system. The application process typically follows this timeline:

• Registration: Complete online registration with the King Edward VI Foundation during the autumn term of Year 6
• Examination: Attend the Foundation's entrance examination, usually held in January
• Results: Receive examination results and offers in early spring
• Acceptance: Confirm acceptance of offered places by the specified deadline

Parents should register their sons well in advance of the examination date, as places for the assessment itself can be limited due to high demand. The Foundation's website provides detailed guidance on registration procedures, examination dates, and required documentation.

It's important to note that the King Edward VI Foundation entrance examination can be used for applications to multiple schools within the Foundation, allowing families to maximise their options whilst sitting just one assessment.

Preparing for the King Edward VI Aston School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the King Edward VI Aston School 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families in Birmingham and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.