Birmingham · School search
Choosing an independent school in Birmingham
King Edward’s School and King Edward VI High School for Girls share an Edgbaston foundation and admissions timetable, but they are separate single-sex day schools.
Listen to this page
Birmingham’s two profiles cover neighbouring independent secondary schools in Edgbaston: King Edward’s School for boys and King Edward VI High School for Girls. Do not confuse either fee-paying school with the state grammar schools and academies that also carry the King Edward VI name.
Both run from Year 7 to Sixth Form and both are day schools. Their addresses are on the same Edgbaston site, so geography is not the deciding factor. Sex, sixth-form subjects, admissions result and financial-aid outcome are.
The important curriculum correction
KES reintroduced A Levels in September 2025. Its 2026 International Baccalaureate (IB) results were the final results for that departing route, according to the school’s results page. A new applicant should therefore plan around GCSEs followed by A Levels, not choose KES for a future IB Diploma.
KEHS also follows GCSEs with A Levels. The meaningful comparison is now each school’s subjects and entry requirements, rather than IB versus A Level.
Applying for September 2027
The two schools use a shared timetable for Year 7 applications. The published deadline is noon on 21 September 2026. KEHS tests on 2 October and KES on 3 October; both plan to send results on 11 December 2026.
KES has an earlier deadline for applicants requesting examination arrangements for special educational needs or disabilities: 9am on 9 September 2026. Check its application page before waiting for the general deadline.
Read each school’s admissions page before applying. Both require applicants to be living locally with their family and to have a UK passport or the relevant immigration permission. That is a residence and visa condition, not a nationality-based academic preference.
For 2026–27, KES publishes termly tuition of £7,695 including VAT. KEHS publishes £7,512 including VAT. These figures do not settle the choice, and extras still need checking.
Both schools offer means-tested assisted places. Apply for aid as part of the admissions process, because an academic application alone does not create a later claim to funding.
A sensible Birmingham search
Sex determines which school can consider an application. For siblings, the shared location may be useful, but their admissions and assisted-place decisions are separate. Ask for the current A-Level subject list, support arrangements and exact first-year costs.
Start with the Birmingham city page and the United Kingdom overview.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
Other school profiles
Birmingham
King Edward VI High School for Girls
KEHS is a selective girls’ day school for ages 11–18. The main entry points are Year 7 and Year 12. For September 2027 Year 7 entry, applications close at noon on 21 September 2026. Families should also understand the local-residence rule, current fees and means-tested Assisted Places.
BirminghamKing Edward’s School, Birmingham
KES is a selective boys’ day school for locally resident families. A Levels returned in September 2025; the last IB cohort finished in 2026. Check Year 7 deadlines, funding and the full cost before applying.
LondonAlleyn’s School
Alleyn’s is a selective co-educational day school for ages 4–18. This guide explains the different junior-school routes, the 11+ and 16+ processes, and the costs that sit outside tuition.
BristolBristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a selective, co-educational independent day school from Reception through Sixth Form. Its subject range makes it worth considering for a child who wants academic choice while living at home. Senior and Sixth Form fees are £7,422 per term from autumn 2026. Admissions pages still describe the previous entry round, so families applying for 2027 need a new timetable.
Keep reading
7 min
IB, A-Levels, Bac, Abitur: understanding school-leaving qualifications
Start with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minHow to choose a school in Europe
Start with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minHow to read a school fee schedule
Tuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.
7 minTen questions for a useful school visit
A useful visit should help you picture your child’s school day and resolve the questions that matter to your family. Ask for concrete examples, then separate what you observed from what you were told.