Best Secondary Schools in Birmingham in 2026

There are around 83 to 86 state secondary schools in Birmingham, plus a number of independent schools. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys and Girls are widely ranked as the best secondary schools in Birmingham, alongside the independent King Edward's School and King Edward VI High School for Girls. Among non-selective comprehensives, St Paul's School for Girls in Edgbaston is consistently the top-ranked. 

Birmingham is home to dozens of secondary schools, from selective grammar schools to high-performing comprehensives and respected independent schools. This guide ranks the very best of them for 2026, and explains exactly how you can give your child the best chance of getting into one.

How many secondary schools are there in Birmingham?

Birmingham has one of the largest school systems of any local authority area in England. There are approximately 83 to 86 state secondary schools in Birmingham, depending on how all-through schools and sixth form colleges are counted in any given year, alongside a number of independent (private) secondary schools.

This makes Birmingham home to a genuinely wide range of secondary education options, from highly selective grammar schools through to large comprehensive academies and smaller independent schools. The variety is one of the city's real strengths for families, since it means there is a meaningful choice of school type and culture rather than a single dominant model.

Are secondary schools in Birmingham good?

Yes, overall Birmingham has a genuinely strong secondary education landscape. Around 90% of inspected schools in Birmingham are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, which sits close to the England-wide average of 92%. This places Birmingham firmly in line with national standards, and at the top end, several Birmingham schools rank among the very best in the entire country.

On exam results, Birmingham pupils achieve a higher percentage of strong GCSE passes (grade 5 or above) in English and Maths than the national average, a meaningful sign of overall academic strength across the city's schools.

The King Edward VI Foundation plays a major role in this success. It is a historic charity, founded from land assets dating back to 1552, that now operates 13 schools across Birmingham: two private schools, six grammar schools and five non-selective schools. Its stated aim is to ensure that children from all backgrounds in Birmingham can access a genuinely good education, and its results back this up consistently.

Top 10 secondary schools in Birmingham for 2026

1. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

Widely considered the best secondary school in Birmingham, Camp Hill Boys has an outstanding Ofsted rating, meaning pupils significantly outperform expectations based on their starting points. A selective grammar school in Kings Heath, it consistently ranks in the top 50 state schools nationally. 

2. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Camp Hill Girls is frequently named the single best state secondary school in Birmingham and one of the finest in England, placing in the top 20 state schools nationally. The school combines exceptional academic outcomes with strong pastoral care. 

3. King Edward's School, Birmingham 

A leading independent day school for boys, King Edward's School has nearly 500 years of academic tradition behind it. Sixth form students take the International Baccalaureate Diploma rather than standard A levels, and the school has a strong reputation for both academic excellence and a broad extracurricular programme. 

4. King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham

Named the top secondary independent school in the West Midlands, this is the sister school to King Edward's School. It is widely regarded as one of the very best independent girls' schools in the country, with consistently exceptional academic results. 

5. St Paul's School for Girls 

St Paul's is named the top comprehensive school in the West Midlands, and the best non-selective school in Birmingham. A Catholic girls' school in Edgbaston, proving that exceptional results are not limited to selective schools. 

6. Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, Birmingham

Part of the Star Academies Trust, this non-selective Islamic girls' school matches the best comprehensive schools in the city. It is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and demonstrates how strong leadership and teaching can deliver exceptional outcomes in a fully non-selective setting. 

7. Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East

Another high-performing Star Academies Trust school, Eden Boys' Leadership Academy an Outstanding Ofsted rating. Alongside its sister school Eden Boys' School in Perry Barr, which scored even higher, these academies are among the strongest non-selective options for boys in Birmingham. 

8. Bishop Vesey's Grammar School 

One of the oldest schools in England, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield combines nearly 500 years of history with consistently strong modern results. Around 70% of leavers go on to Russell Group universities each year, with some securing places at Oxford, Cambridge and Ivy League institutions. 

9. King Edward VI Five Ways School

The highest-ranked fully co-educational grammar school in Birmingham, Five Ways combines strong academic results with a warm, family-friendly culture on a generous 32-acre site. It remains one of only a handful of mixed grammar schools anywhere in England. 

10. King Edward VI Aston School 

A selective, multi-ethnic grammar school for boys, King Edward VI Aston School achieves an Outstanding Ofsted rating and around 97% of pupils achieving strong GCSE results. One of the original founding schools of the King Edward VI Foundation, it has been educating Birmingham boys since 1883. 

Grammar schools vs comprehensive schools in Birmingham

One of the biggest decisions Birmingham families face is whether to aim for one of the city's selective grammar schools or a strong comprehensive school. Both routes can lead to excellent outcomes, and the right choice depends on your child's academic profile and your family's priorities.

Grammar schools

Free, state-funded and academically selective via the 11 plus exam. There are 8 grammar schools in the King Edward VI Foundation in Birmingham. Entry depends almost entirely on exam performance rather than catchment area, which means strong preparation genuinely changes a child's chances regardless of where in the city they live.

Comprehensive schools

Open to all children in the catchment area regardless of academic ability. Birmingham's best comprehensives, including St Paul's School for Girls and the Eden Academies, achieve Progress 8 scores that rival or exceed many grammar schools, proving that excellent comprehensive education is genuinely available in the city.

If you are considering the grammar school route, the most important thing to understand is that admission is determined by the 11 plus exam, not by where you live. This means thorough preparation matters enormously, and starting early gives your child the best possible chance against a highly competitive field of applicants. Our 11 plus tuition programmes are built specifically to help Birmingham children reach the standard required by these schools.

Best schools for girls and boys in Birmingham

Birmingham has a strong tradition of single-sex secondary education alongside its mixed schools. Here is a quick breakdown by gender for families with a specific preference.

Top girls' schools in Birmingham

• King Edward VI High School for Girls (independent)

• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls (grammar)

• St Paul's School for Girls (comprehensive)

• Eden Girls' Leadership Academy (comprehensive)

• King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy

• King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls (grammar)

Top boys' schools in Birmingham

• King Edward's School, Birmingham (independent)

• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys (grammar)

• Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (grammar)

• King Edward VI Aston School (grammar)

• Eden Boys' School, Birmingham (comprehensive)

• Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East (comprehensive)

How to give your child the best chance of getting in

If your priority is one of Birmingham's selective grammar schools, preparation for the 11 plus exam is the single biggest factor within your control. Competition is intense, with only around 10 to 20% of applicants receiving a place at the most popular schools each year, so thorough, early preparation makes a genuine difference.

Start tuition early

The children who achieve the strongest results are almost always those who began preparing consistently from Year 3 or Year 4. Our 11 plus tuition covers all four subjects tested in the Birmingham grammar school exam: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, in structured sessions with expert tutors.

Work with a specialist tutor

A specialist tutor identifies exactly what is holding your child back and builds a targeted plan to close those gaps. Our 11 plus tutors have over 30 years of experience preparing Birmingham children for grammar school entry and a 97% success rate placing students in their chosen schools.

Practise with free papers at home

Our free 11+ practice papers cover all subjects tested in the Birmingham exam and are available to download right now at no cost, giving your child regular, familiar practice between tuition sessions.

Attend an intensive course in the summer

Our 11 plus intensive summer course gives your child a focused, structured boost in the weeks before the September exam, covering all subjects in small groups with experienced tutors.

Sit a mock exam before the real thing

Our 11 plus mock exams replicate the real exam closely and give you and your child an honest, detailed picture of where they stand before September.

Final thoughts

Birmingham offers one of the richest secondary school landscapes in England, with around 83 to 86 state secondary schools and a number of strong independent options. At the top of the table, schools like King Edward VI Camp Hill, St Paul's School for Girls and the Eden Academies prove that exceptional results are achievable through both selective and non-selective routes.

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we have been helping Birmingham children earn places at the city's best secondary schools for over 30 years. Our expert 11 plus tutors, free practice papers, intensive summer courses and mock exams give your child everything they need to compete with confidence.