Schools
Birmingham’s old reputation for being a bit rough around the edges often disguised the fact that it has some of the best independent schools in Britain. So many in fact that many families have been quietly moving to the city for years to take advantage of these great schools and the relatively low house prices.
Now people around the country have started to notice the top schools’ constant high performance in the education stakes because of Government league tables. This has become another decisive factor in whether to move to the West Midlands.
Central to the city’s reputation for educational quality are the King Edward VI schools that dominate league tables for the city. On top of these Royally appointed places there are a number of other selective schools with great performance records.
Parents will also find a number of quality selective schools and colleges in the outskirts of Birmingham, such as in Walsall and Stourbridge, although if you live centrally travel times may be an off-putting factor if you are planning a school run. Although the second city’s top schools are some of the best around, people relocating should not kid themselves that all schools here are in the same boat. Birmingham suffers from areas of social deprivation as much as any major city and this tells on the overall balance of grades if one takes all schools as a whole. As a Local Education Authority, Birmingham as a whole is below average for pass grades and ranks close to Wandsworth and Camden in London in the national tables.
Birmingham LEA
| Name |
Type |
|
Ages |
A*- C GCSEs |
A-level points |
| King Edward VI High School for Girls |
Ind, Sel |
Girls |
11-18 |
100% |
520 |
| King Edward VI School |
Ind, Sel |
Boys |
11-18 |
100% |
494 |
| King Edward VI School for Boys, Camphill |
Sel |
Boys |
11-18 |
100% |
478 |
| King Edward VI School for Girls, Camphill |
Sel |
Girls |
11-18 |
100% |
454 |
| King Edward's School, Handsworth |
Sel |
Girls |
11-18 |
98% |
438 |
| King Edward VI School, Fiveways |
Sel |
Mixed |
11-18 |
99% |
420 |
| King Edward VI School, Aston |
Sel |
Boys |
11-18 |
100% |
394 |
| Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls |
Sel |
Girls |
11-18 |
99% |
391 |
| Highclare School |
Ind |
Girls |
2-19 |
98% |
390 |
| Edgbaston High School for Girls |
Ind, Sel |
Girls |
2-19 |
97% |
390 |
| Handsworth Grammar School |
Sel |
Boys |
11-18 |
92% |
330 |
Solihull LEA
| Name |
Type |
|
Ages |
A*- C GCSEs |
A-level points |
| Solihull School |
Ind, Sel |
Boys |
7-19 |
98% |
421 |
| St Martin’s School |
Ind, Sel |
Girls |
7-19 |
98% |
342 |
Dudley LEA
| Name |
Type |
|
Ages |
A*- C GCSEs |
A-level points |
| Old Swinford Hospital School |
Comp |
Boys |
11-18 |
96% |
316 |
| King Edward VI College, Stourbridge |
Sel |
Mixed |
16+ |
N/A |
395 |
Source: OFSTED
Results refer to exams taken in 2004.
Schools are ranked in order of A-level results.
Schools shown are those whose pupils achieved an average of 300 A-level points or above.
A-level grade A=120 points; grade B=100; grade C=80, etc.
AS grade A=60 points; grade B=50 points; grade C=40 points, etc.
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