King Edward VI Handsworth School vs Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Both are grammar schools in Birmingham, 5.3 miles apart. Side-by-side on official DfE, Ofsted and council admissions data.
Side by side
| King Edward VI Handsworth School | Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary |
| Gender | Girls | Girls |
| Pupils on roll | 1,365 | 1,236 |
| Free school meals | 26.2% | 17.4% |
| Ofsted rating | Not judged | Good |
| Attainment 8 — 2025/26 | 76.2 | 80.5 |
| 11+ test board | GL Assessment | GL Assessment |
| Admission system | qualifying score is the minimum; Pupil Premium and in-catchment children at the priority score come first, other places go in score order | qualifying score is the minimum; places then go in score order (distance only breaks ties) |
| Places offered — 202627 | 192 | 179 |
| First preferences per place — higher means more competition for a first-preference place | 1.08 | 1.79 |
Qualifying scores
King Edward VI Handsworth School
205 (2026 entry)
Qualifying score 205; priority score 224. Handsworth School for Girls 2026-entry open-category cutoff: 219 (within 8,195m); Pupil Premium outside catchment received no offers on National Offer Day.
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
205 (2026 entry)
Qualifying score 205 (minimum eligibility, all Birmingham KE Foundation schools). Sutton Coldfield Grammar for Girls has no catchment element — 2026-entry cutoffs: Pupil Premium category 215; all other applicants 227.
Who gets priority
Where a school is oversubscribed, these are the first criteria applied, in order. This is usually what decides an application.
King Edward VI Handsworth School
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying score — ranked by score, then distance
- Pupil Premium children who reach the qualifying score and live in the catchment area — ranked by distance
- Pupil Premium children outside the catchment who reach the qualifying score, until 25% of places have gone to Pupil Premium children — ranked by score
- Children at or above the priority score (224) who live in the catchment area — older sibling at the school first, then distance
- All other children who reach the qualifying score — ranked by score; a sibling at the school, then distance, breaks a tie
Source: school admissions policy.
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying score — ranked by score
- Up to 36 places: Pupil Premium children who reach the qualifying score — ranked by score
- All other children who reach the qualifying score — ranked by score; distance only breaks a tie
Source: school admissions policy.
Choosing between them
Both schools admit girls, 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 Grammar School for Boys
- 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
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