Advice 11 Plus Year 6 King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

Written by Louise Lang

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Introduction

Established in 1911 with an initial enrolment of 450 girls, King Edward VI Handsworth School is situated in Birmingham’s central district, conveniently connected to public transportation. 

The school offers a challenging and all-inclusive curriculum with an emphasis on academic excellence. Students have access to various subjects such as computing, mathematics, chemistry, history & politics, psychology, and many more. 

In addition to its academic programme, the school provides a diverse range of extra-curricular activities, such as drama, cricket, capoeira, and Mandarin. With parental consent, students may choose to either remain on campus for activities that boost well-being and extend the school curriculum or leave the premises for work experience, volunteering, and independent study opportunities. 

King Edward VI High School for Girls is committed to the holistic development of its students and aims to inspire them to reach their full potential. The school values the transformative power of education and fosters a love for learning and intellectual curiosity. One of the school’s core objectives is to nurture students with empathy, understanding, and appreciation for different perspectives. It also encourages students to form lasting friendships and empowers them to become independent, strong women with confidence and moral courage to navigate the challenges of the modern world. 

King Edward VI School is proud of its rich academic history and students’ consistent high-level performance. The institution has achieved an influential position among the leading schools in the country, with its graduates being in high demand by both universities and employers. Ofsted has acknowledged the school’s exceptional performance and awarded it an “Outstanding” rating. [1]

If you would like to explore the school virtually, this video gives a good overview:


King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

Address: Rose Hill Road, B21 9AR

County: Birmingham, West Midlands

Admissions info: office@kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk, 0121 554 2342

School type: Girls’ Grammar

Number of pupils: 912 (approx.)

Number of places in Year 7: 160

Open Day date: June / September

Exam date: September 2026

Pass mark: Aim for 80-85%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.

Exam type / Board: West Midlands Partnership (GL Assessment)


King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

King Edward VI Hansdworth School for Girls follows the admission criteria of the West Midlands Grammar School Consortium, along with seven other grammar schools in the area. Only pupils who reach the required standard via the 11+ entrance exam will be considered for entry.

The Consortium requires that students are selected for admission based on their combined, age-standardised score in the 11 Plus exam. Pupils must attain the minimum ‘qualifying score’ to be eligible for admission. However, attaining the qualifying score does not guarantee your daughter a place as the school only has 160 Year 7 places.

If test results are equal, priority will be given to:

  1. Looked after children and previously looked after children who achieve the qualifying score
  2. Children registered for Pupil Premium who achieve the qualifying score (limited to 32 places)
  3. Children who achieve the qualifying score by rank order of standardised score


You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:


How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to King Edward VI Handsworth School

In order to apply for a place at the school, parents must register their daughter with the West Midlands Grammar School Consortium using the online application form. Parents must also complete a Local Authority Preference form for their daughter to be considered for a grammar school place in Birmingham.

11 Plus test results will be released in October, with official places allocated in the following March.

King Edward VI Handsworth School Catchment Area

Does King Edward VI Handsworth School have a catchment area?

Yes, they do. For King Edward VI Handsworth School, priority catchment area is defined by home addresses that are within the following electoral wards:

  • Birmingham: Alum Rock, Aston, Birchfield, Bromford & Hodge Hill, Castle Vale, Edgbaston, Erdington, Garretts Green, Glebe Farm & Tile Cross, Gravelly Hill, Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Heartlands, Holyhead, Kingstanding, Ladywood, Lozells, Nechells, Newtown, North Edgbaston, Oscott, Perry Barr, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, Shard End, Sheldon, Soho & Jewellery Quarter, Stockland Green, Sutton Four Oaks, Sutton Mere Green, Sutton Reddicap, Sutton Roughley, Sutton Trinity, Sutton Vesey, Sutton Walmley & Minworth, Sutton Wylde Green, Ward End, Yardley East, Yardley West & Stechford.
  • Sandwell: Smethwick, Soho & Victoria, St Pauls, West Bromwich.
  • Solihull: Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Kingshurst & Fordbridge, Smith’s Wood.


King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format

The King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus exam consists of two test papers, each lasting approximately 60 minutes. The papers are separated into individually timed sections that cover:

  • English Comprehension
  • Verbal Reasoning
  • Mathematics
  • Non-Verbal + Spatial Reasoning


The weightings for the test results are 50% for English/verbal reasoning, 25% for non-verbal reasoning and 25% for mathematics.

The English Comprehension paper examines comprehension skills, including inference. There will be no writing component.

The Verbal Reasoning section of the exam assesses logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary.

The maths paper measures problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including questions on number, measurement, geometry, algebra and statistics.

The exam will also cover Non-Verbal Reasoning or Spatial Reasoning, both testing logic and intelligence.

Each subject is tested in both papers. All questions will be multiple choice and scores are age-standardised to ensure that no students have an advantage based on their age.


How to Prepare for the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Exam?

If King Edward VI Handsworth School is your daughter’s first choice school at Year 7, you must ensure that she has all the necessary resources to perform well in the 11 Plus exam.

Competition for its 160 places at this stage is fierce so it’s important to set a revision timetable with your daughter that covers all the required subjects. A timetable can also help ensure that your daughter covers everything she’ll need to know for the exam, without being overworked.


To be in with a good chance of gaining a Year 7 place at King Edward VI Handsworth School, we’d suggest using practice exam papers; they are a proven method of helping revision at 11 Plus level.

King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

The school’s qualifying score for admission is 205. This is the minimum standardised score that makes applicants eligible for a place.

Pupils who are able to score 80-85%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus exam.

Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.

King Edward VI Handsworth School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers

The resources listed below are specifically designed to help students prepare for the 11+ Exam at King Edward VI Handsworth School. They cover every aspect of the exam, which is created by GL Assessment.

All question types that could come up in the actual exam are addressed across English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning.

Most of the products below also come with detailed video tutorials to accompany every question. These allow your child to quickly learn from their mistakes and understand the most effective techniques to approach any question that could come up in their exam.

The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in GL Assessment 11+ English exams, such as the King Edward VI Handsworth School assessment. The timings and types of passages used are typical of what you can expect in the actual exam.

West Midlands 11+ English Bundle

West Midlands Year 7 Entry exam preparation

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the West Midlands 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

West Midlands Year 7 Entry exam preparation

The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ Verbal Reasoning exam sections, using the correct timings and pitched at just the right difficulty level. Each pack comes with free, detailed video explanations for every question to help your child learn and improve quickly.

Verbal Reasoning Bundle

11+ West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership Verbal Reasoning

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section of the West Midlands 11+ Exam and Masterclasses at a large discount. Click the buttons below to learn more.

11+ West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning Mini Masterclass Bundle

Complete practice resources for 11+ GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section of the West Midlands 11+ Exam and Masterclasses at a large discount. Click the buttons below to learn more.

Complete practice resources for 11+ GL Assessment Verbal Reasoning

The packs below will introduce your child to all the key question types used in the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ Mathematics exam sections, using the correct timings and pitched at just the right difficulty level. Each pack comes with free, detailed video explanations for every question to help your child learn and improve quickly.

Mathematics Bundle

11+ West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership Mathematics

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Mathematics section of the West Midlands 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

11+ West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership Mathematics

The packs below will expose your child to all the key question types used in the King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning exam sections, using the correct timings and pitched at just the right difficulty level.

Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Bundle

11+ West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning section of the West Midlands 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

11+ West Midlands Grammar Schools Partnership Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning



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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in King Edward VI Handsworth School 11+ past papers. The information provided about King Edward VI Handsworth School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by King Edward VI Handsworth School.

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