Guide to Applying to Senior School

Registration opens on: 9 May 2023

Registration closes on: 30 June 2023, 4pm. It is not possible to register for the test after this time. 

Registration is completed online.

Birmingham 11+ Examination Date: Saturday 16 September 2023

Further details and information can be found on the Birmingham Grammar School’s website and the Schools of King Edward VI’s website.

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

Application for Reasonable Adjustments 

Please be aware that the deadline for reasonable adjustments to the tests has an earlier closing date of 14 June 2023, and that there are additional forms which must be submitted. Requests for adjustments must be completed by this date along with all relevant evidence. Contact the Grammar School’s Admissions office to request the relevant form.

If your child has an Access Strategy Plan, extra-time allowance or other support at The Blue Coat School, do discuss your applications with our SENDCos, Mrs Hadley and Mrs Ashman. Additional documentation, which could have an earlier deadline, may need to be completed.

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 at one of the Grammar Schools.

Sample questions for the Birmingham 11+ can be found within the website above. As previously communicated to parents, the Birmingham Grammar Schools now only use GL papers. A results letter will be received in mid-October.

Sharing Results with Warwickshire Grammar Schools

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

Registration opens on: Date not yet confirmed

Registration closes on: Date not yet confirmed

Registration is completed online.

Shropshire 11+ Examination Date: Date not yet confirmed

Walsall 11+ Examination Date: Date not yet confirmed

Wolverhampton 11+ Examination Date: Date not yet confirmed

Further information about the exam, appropriate preparation and application process can be found within the Admissions section on either the Queen Mary’s High School (Girls) or Queen Mary’s Grammar School (Boys) websites.

Sample questions for the Walsall 11+ exams can be found within the website above. A results letter will be received in mid-October. This letter is not the offer of a place but it does allow you to make informed decisions when listing schools on the online Local Authority Preference form.

We would advise that you visit the website to check your catchment area and read the admission policy for your catchment Grammar School.

Special Arrangements

If your child has an Access Strategy Plan, extra-time allowance or other support at The Blue Coat School, do discuss your applications with our SENDCos, Mrs Hadley and Mrs Ashman. Additional documentation, which could have an earlier deadline, may need to be completed.

National Common Application Deadline for all Local Authority Schools: 31 October 2023

The Blue Coat School is situated within the boundaries of Birmingham Local Authority. Pupils attending the school may, however, reside within Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Staffordshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire. By September 2023, Local Authorities will have updated their School Admissions information and Online Application Forms. Do spend time becoming familiar with and downloading documentation; especially the booklet ‘Secondary Education 2024’.

Birmingham Schools

Birmingham online applications

Dudley Schools

Sandwell Schools

Solihull Schools

Walsall Schools

Warwickshire Schools

Wolverhampton Schools

Worcestershire Schools

Contrary to the Local Authority websites, we as a school do 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 from 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 this. (Worcestershire families are limited to three choices).

Special Arrangements

If your child has an Access Strategy Plan, extra-time allowance or other support at The Blue Coat School, do discuss your applications with our SENDCos, Mrs Hadley and Mrs Ashman. Additional documentation, which could have an earlier deadline, may need to be completed.

Application forms and admission details for entry in September 2024 should be available directly from senior schools in the Trinity Term.

Over the last few years, Blue Coat pupils have successfully taken examinations for more than 15 different independent senior schools, though for simplicity the following details relate to the main five: Bromsgrove School, Edgbaston High School, King Edward’s School, King Edward VI High School for Girls and Solihull School.

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, and Mr Nicklin, as Director of Music, should be consulted.

Solihull School has an extensive range of scholarships available. They stretch beyond Academic and Music to include Art, Choral and Sport: information leaflets are available online, and please consult Mr Hegenbarth or Mrs Bennett. The Blue Coat School wishes to support you, but we can only do this if you make us aware of your applications.

Registration & Entrance Examination Dates

Some dates of these are still to be decided but we expect that they will follow a similar pattern to previous years:

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 known within 2-3 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. Please be aware that both Old Swinford Hospital School and Bromsgrove School use computerised assessments.

Special Arrangements

If your child has an Access Strategy Plan, extra-time allowance or other support at The Blue Coat School, do discuss your applications with our SENDCos, Mrs Hadley and Mrs Ashman. Additional documentation, which could have an earlier deadline, may need to be completed.

Past Papers

Sample questions or complete papers, including some with answers, can be found on many of the school websites and are often provided at Open Events. During the Trinity Term of Year 5 and Michaelmas Term of Year 6, past papers form part of the English and Mathematics curriculum.

Interviews

These generally happen in the weeks following the examination. For Bromsgrove School and Solihull School, places are offered, and selected candidates are then invited for an interview, but for King Edward’s School, King Edward VI High School for Girls and Edgbaston High School for Girls interviews will take place before final offers are known. All Scholarship candidates will be invited for an interview, as will anyone who has applied for and scored high enough for a Bursary, candidates whose performance may be borderline, and those who are being considered for the limited Reserve Lists. All girls applying to Edgbaston High School are interviewed, as are their parents.

Supporting Information

As part of the Independent School selection process, we are asked to provide supporting information on candidates. This relates to three main areas: Academic Performance, Contribution to School Life, and Interests and Achievements Outside School. Thank you to the parents who have completed a short questionnaire to help with this.

Please refer to the School’s website as dates do occasionally change and pre-booking may be required.