Bishop Vesey's Grammar School vs King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
Both are grammar schools in Birmingham, 6.5 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| Bishop Vesey's Grammar School | King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Boys | Boys |
| Pupils on roll | 1,413 | 1,044 |
| Free school meals | 11.6% | 18.4% |
| Ofsted rating | Outstanding | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2024/25 | 77.1 | 72 |
| A-level average points — 2024/25 | 44.36 | 40.53 |
| 11+ test board | GL Assessment | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | pass/fail then criteria order (score doesn't give priority after passing) | pass/fail then criteria order (score doesn't give priority after passing) |
| Places offered — 202627 | 190 | 146 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 1.61 | 1.04 |
Qualifying scores
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
205 (2026 entry)
Qualifying score 205 (minimum eligibility, all Birmingham KE Foundation schools). Bishop Vesey's has no catchment element — 2026-entry cutoffs: Pupil Premium category 210; all other applicants 229.
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
205 (2026 entry)
Qualifying score 205; priority score 224. Handsworth Grammar (boys) 2026-entry cutoffs: Pupil Premium outside catchment 211 (within 6,776m); open category 216 (within 13,733m).
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
- Looked after children and previously looked after children
- Siblings of children on roll at the school or its linked partner school
- Children living within the school's defined priority area (varies by school)
- All other qualifying children — tiebreaker: distance (straight line, closest first)
Source: school admissions policy.
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
- Looked after children and previously looked after children
- Siblings of children on roll at the school or its linked partner school
- Children living within the school's defined priority area (varies by school)
- All other qualifying children — tiebreaker: distance (straight line, closest first)
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Both schools admit boys, so the decision usually comes down to the admission criteria above and how far each one reaches. The figures on this page are the published ones — they describe intakes and results, not what either school would be like for your child. The right choice depends on your family's own priorities and circumstances.
Other Birmingham comparisons
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School vs King Edward VI Aston School
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School vs King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School vs King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School vs King Edward VI Five Ways School
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School vs King Edward VI Handsworth School
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School vs Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
- King Edward VI Aston School vs King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
- King Edward VI Aston School vs King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
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