For parents and guardians: Please verify all school data — cut-off scores, applicant numbers and competition ratios — against official sources (school websites, local authority admissions data) before making any decisions. The figures on this page are researched but not guaranteed and change each admissions cycle.
Complete 2025/26 11+ Guide to Grammar Schools in Birmingham & Walsall
Birmingham & Walsall is home to 5 fully selective grammar schools and 0 partially selective schools, served by the West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership (formerly Grammar Schools in Birmingham Consortium). This guide covers every school — admissions criteria, competition data, cut-off scores, GCSE results, and specific prep advice — so you can make an informed decision.
How the Birmingham & Walsall 11+ works
Two papers, each approximately 60 minutes (including instructions). Each paper is divided into individually-timed sections covering: English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning. All questions are multiple choice; answers recorded on a separate OMR answer sheet. Weightings: 50% English/Verbal Reasoning, 25% Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning, 25% Mathematics. Scores are age-standardised to a median of 200.
The Birmingham KE Foundation schools and Queen Mary's Grammar School (Walsall) all use the same West Midlands Grammar Schools' Entrance Test, provided by GL Assessment. One registration covers all 19 grammar schools in the partnership (Birmingham, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton) — results can be shared with consent. There are no writing sections. A qualifying score (205 for KE Foundation schools for 2026 entry) must be achieved to be eligible; then each school applies its own oversubscription criteria (catchment, Pupil Premium priority, score). The test changed from CEM to GL Assessment format from 2023 entry.
Key dates
Who can apply?
Children must register for the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test during Year 5 (registration portal: westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk).
Children sit the test in September of Year 6. Date of birth for standard 2027 entry: 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016.
Open to children from all local authorities — there is no residence requirement to register, but schools may contact families living very far away to provide evidence of a genuine intention to relocate.
The qualifying score for KE Foundation schools (2026 entry) is 205. Only children achieving this score or above are eligible to be considered for a place.
The priority score for KE Foundation schools (2026 entry) is 224. Scoring at or above the priority score significantly improves chances at oversubscribed schools.
For Queen Mary's Grammar School (Walsall), the minimum qualifying score is set around 200 (using the same standardisation scale).
Pupil Premium eligibility can attract reserved places at some KE Foundation schools (see individual school policies).
All places are state-funded — there are no fees.
You must also name schools on your home LA's Common Application Form (CAF) by 31 October. Both steps are essential.
Results are shared between partnership schools only with parental consent — tick the data-sharing box on registration if applying to multiple schools.
Admissions process
Register online at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk during May–June of your child's Year 5. The portal opens in early May and closes at 4pm in late June. This single registration covers all 19 grammar schools in the West Midlands Partnership. Tick the data-sharing box if applying to schools across different consortiums.
Your child is allocated a test centre (which may not be their preferred school) and either an AM or PM session. The test consists of two papers (approx. 60 mins each) covering English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Maths, and Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning. All questions are multiple choice.
Standardised scores are released by mid-October (before the CAF deadline). Scores are age-standardised around a median of 200. KE Foundation schools publish whether children have achieved the qualifying score (205 for 2026 entry) and/or priority score (224). Only children achieving the qualifying score may be considered for a place.
By 31 October, complete your home local authority's online preference form, listing up to 6 schools in order of preference. You should only name grammar schools on which your child achieved the qualifying score. You are advised to wait for test results before applying. Completing this form is mandatory — it is separate from test registration.
Your child is offered a place at the highest-preference school for which they qualify and a place is available. Places are allocated using each school's oversubscription criteria (e.g. catchment area, Pupil Premium priority, distance). Waiting lists are maintained for schools ranked higher than the offered place.
School Directory
Disclaimer: Data from official school and LA sources: kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk, camphillboys.bham.sch.uk, kechg.org.uk, kefw.org, kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk, qmgs.walsall.sch.uk, reports.ofsted.gov.uk, westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk, dracos.co.uk Birmingham admissions data, DfE compare.education.gov.uk, Birmingham City Council admissions documents. Rankings from Sunday Times Parent Power (December 2024 and December 2025 editions). Data verified April 2026. Verify at individual school websites and kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk/results-and-offers/ before acting — qualifying scores, catchment maps and oversubscription criteria are updated annually. Always verify figures on the school or local authority website before making decisions — data changes each admissions cycle. Last updated: 2026-04-19. We aim to refresh this guide every year after new DfE data is published (typically June/July).