Applying for schools can be a stressful task. Knowing which school you would like your child to attend is one thing; but coupled with catchment areas, 11+ exams and other factors, such as where your child’s friends will go, it can all be a little daunting.

For those of you that are thinking about taking the 11+, please see our guide below on how to apply.

The schools

Firstly, the Birmingham 11+ exam is written by GL. This changed from CEM in 2022 and impacts some of the content your child will study. It’s important that you ensure any books you buy reflect the exams written by GL.

The Grammar Schools in Birmingham are made up of the following 8 schools:

Bishops Vesey’s Grammar School

King Edwards VI Aston

King Edwards VI Camp Hill for Boys

King Edwards VI Camp Hill for Girls

King Edwards VI Handsworth for Girls

King Edwards VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

King Edwards VI Five Ways

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls

There is only one test for the whole consortium, so your child will only sit one exam.

Tuition

Of course, many parents decide to enrol their child in tuition. It’s important to realise that lots of the content is not taught in schools, and much of the maths content is taught in year 6, after the children have taken the test. At Little Owl Tuition, we have a tried and tested curriculum that we work with, to ensure children are fully exposed to what they will experience on the day.

Applying to take the test

Registration for the test happens in the spring of year 5, normally in May. You can apply here.

The test itself

The test is held in many different locations around Birmingham. Your child will be allocated a time and location, traditionally around the third weekend of September. The test is made up of two mixed papers, 1 hour long each. It is based on maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

Results

Results are sent out in October. This can be an agonising wait! In order to be able to apply for your preferred school, your child must achieve a score of 205 or more. However, this does not guarantee them a place. Most children that secure a place have a score of around 220 and above, but this changes year on year and fluctuates between schools.

Applying

You must complete your preference form by the 31st October. Within your list of 6 schools, you can only include grammar schools if your child has achieved a score of 205 or more. It is worth noting that some of the grammar schools listed now have catchments areas, so you may not be able to apply for some of them based on your location.

School offer

Schools send out their offers of places in the spring of year 6. A whole year after the process began! At this point, you can relax and look forward to watching your child thrive.

If you feel that your child could be a successful candidate for the 11+ and would like some more information on how we can support you, please contact Little Owl Tuition using our contact form.