Dr Katy Ricks
King Edward's School, Birmingham was founded in 1552 by Edward VI and is one of the most successful and diverse boys' schools in the country.
The School aims to ensure it is accessible to all pupils of ability, whatever their background. An exceptionally large number of offers are made for means tested Assisted Places and scholarships. Approximately 40% of pupils receive financial support, with around 10% paying no fees at all.
King Edward's School provides a stimulating academic curriculum, with boys consistently achieving outstanding results. In 2020, at GCSE 71.7% of results were graded 9/8 grades and 88.7% were 9-7. In the Sixth Form, 49% of the boys achieved 40 points or more in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The majority of boys go on to study at Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
There is something for everyone at King Edward's. Pupils have on offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, as well as clubs and societies such as Debating, Cross Country, Combined Cadet Force and many more. School trips and expeditions are plentiful, which have previously included a caving trip to the Yorkshire Dales, a water polo tour to Hungary and a biodiversity expedition to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
Main School sports include hockey, cricket, water polo and rugby, but there are 19 different sports to choose from in total. Music plays a big part at King Edward's School, with many pupils being part of instrumental ensembles and choirs. Drama is also widely celebrated, with annual Junior and Senior productions being a key feature in the School calendar.
The School boasts excellent facilities and recent developments include a £5 million sports centre, £11 million Performing Arts Centre, £5 million modern languages and science wing complete with a Sixth Form centre, and a hockey pavilion.
Alumni automatically become part of the Old Edwardians Association and receive regular communications, invites to events and access to careers support. Notable Old Edwardians include: novelists JRR Tolkien, Jonathan Coe and Lee Child; Noble Prize winners Sir John Vane (Medicine) and Maurice Wilkins (Physiology); television presenter and conservationist Bill Oddie; MPs David Willetts and Director-General of the BBC, Lord Hall.
