King Edward VI School (KES Stratford) is a state-funded Academy Trust selective school for boys, renowned for its high academic standards. Entry into Year 7 is highly competitive and determined by performance in the 11+ examination.
As stated in the King Edward VI School Admissions Policy, the school uses the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test to assess prospective pupils.
The King Edward VI School 11 Plus Test is provided by GL Assessment, a leading examination board for grammar schools. This single examination consists of two separate papers, designed to evaluate a child's academic potential across several core areas.
Each paper is approximately 50 - 60 minutes long, including time allocated for instructions and example questions. All questions are multiple-choice, and answers are recorded on a separate answer sheet.
The test is divided into individually timed sections covering the following subjects:
Subject Area | Description |
|---|
English Comprehension | Assesses a child's ability to read and understand a given passage of text, answering questions based on its content. |
Verbal Reasoning | Tests problem-solving skills using written information, including words, letters, numbers, and symbols. This GL Assessment component evaluates logical deduction and pattern recognition. |
Mathematics | Covers questions based on the Key Stage 2 national curriculum content, assessing numerical understanding and problem-solving abilities. |
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning | Focuses on problem-solving using abstract visual information, such as shapes and diagrams. This section measures a child's ability to identify patterns, relationships, and sequences without relying on language skills. |
Scores from these sections are weighted to determine the final outcome: 50% for English and Verbal Reasoning combined, 25% for Mathematics, and 25% for Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning. To ensure fairness, especially for younger candidates, these weighted scores are then age-standardised.
Admissions Process and Key Dates
For entry into Year 7, parents must register their child for the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test. Registration typically opens in May and closes in June. The test day usually falls in September, with results issued in October.
Following the receipt of results, parents must submit a Common Application Form (CAF) to their local authority, naming King Edward VI School as a preferred choice if their child meets the qualifying score.
King Edward VI School offers 87 places in Year 7. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available, the school applies oversubscription criteria.
- Priority is given to looked after and previously looked after children
- Followed by children eligible for Free School Meals
- Then other children living within the priority area, all ranked by their age-standardised scores.
The school defines a catchment area using two priority circles drawn from the Fountain in Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon: an inner circle of 13 miles and an outer circle up to 16.885 miles.
