Applying for Senior School

The admissions policy for the Grammar Schools has changed to a catchment area system. We would advise that you visit the website to check your catchment area and read the Admissions Policy for your catchment Grammar School.

Registration Opens: 7 May 2024

Registration Closes: 28 June 2024

Entrance Test: 14 September 2024

Registration forms must be completed online.

Please note, there is an earlier deadline for pupils requesting reasonable adjustments. The deadline for this is 14 June 2024. Evidence which supports the reasonable adjustment request must be uploaded at the time of application.

As part of the registration process, you will need to upload a photograph of your child. This is used to verify your child’s identity at the test venue and will be checked again should your child be successful in gaining a place.

In September, you will be sent information about the test and the procedure for the day of the test. This will be posted to your home address.

Birmingham results can be shared with the Warwickshire Local Authority, which also offers Grammar School education. To be eligible, you must tick the relevant box on the test registration form to allow the results to be shared. 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TIMETABLE

The Entrance Test

There is lots of helpful information on the West Midlands Grammar Schools website about the entrance test format and ways to prepare.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENTRANCE TEST

The Blue Coat School Birmingham is situated within the boundaries of Birmingham Local Authority. Pupils attending the School may, however, reside within Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Staffordshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton or Worcestershire. 

By September 2024, Local Authorities will have updated their School Admissions information and online application forms. Please do spend time becoming familiar with and downloading the documentation. Please click on the relevant button below for your home area.

Please note, the School will not receive documentation about the Transfer Process or Preference Forms. All applications should be made by registering, setting up an account and completing the online Preference Form for your Local Authority.

Although you are not obliged to submit an application form, you are advised to do so. Equally, you do not have to complete all six preference choices of schools, but you are encouraged to do so (Worcestershire families are limited to three choices).

Birmingham

Dudley

Sandwell

Solihull

Walsall

Warwickshire

Wolverhampton

Worcestershire

Application forms and admissions details for entry in September 2025 should be available directly from senior schools in the Summer Term. 

Over the past few years, Blue Coat pupils have successfully taken examinations for more than 15 different independent senior schools. 

Scholarships, Bursaries and Fees 

Many independent schools offer a range of scholarships and bursaries. if you are interested in being considered for a financial award, bursary, assisted place or means tested place, then this should be expressed at the point of registration with the senior school. Candidates will be considered for these awards if they perform well enough in the entrance examinations.

Additional application forms are required to be completed for Music Scholarships. The Director of Music at The Blue Coat School should be consulted via music@thebluecoatschool.com.

Entrance Examinations

The main elements that are assessed are: English comprehension and composition and Mathematics. Depending on the senior school concerned, there may also be specific papers in Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal reasoning, but these are sometimes included within the English and Mathematics papers. Questions are written and marked by experienced staff. A discussion takes place as to whether a candidate is of an academic standard to thrive at the school, and a decision is made. Results are normally shared within 2 to 3 weeks. It is becoming increasingly common for there to be, at open events, presentations to prospective parents on the specific nature of the entrance tests. Schools also publish on their websites guidelines as to what curriculum content may be required. 

Sample questions or complete papers can be found on many of the schools’ websites and are often provided at open events. During the Trinity Term of Year 5 and the Michaelmas Term of Year 6, past papers form part of the English and Mathematics curriculum. 

Interviews

Interviews generally happen in the weeks following the examinations and most schools will interview pupils before final offers are known. Pupils may be invited for an interview if they are considered for a scholarship, or if there performance was borderline. They may also offer an interview to anyone who has applied for and scored high enough for a bursary. All candidates applying for Edgbaston High School are interviewed, as are their parents. The school will help to prepare the pupils through interview workshops and mock interviews.

Reasonable Adjustments

If your child requires reasonable adjustments such as extra-time allowance, please contact the Learning Success team at The Blue Coat School to discuss your senior school application. Additional documentation, which could have an earlier deadline, may need to be completed. 

Supporting Information

As part of the independent schools selection process, we are asked to provide supporting information on candidates. This relates to three main areas: academic, performance, contribution to school life and interest and achievements outside of school. 

A Google Form will be sent out in the Trinity Term for you to provide this information, which will then be communicated to senior schools in the reference written by the BCS.