Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School holds the distinction of being one of the oldest educational institutions in Britain.
The school’s origins date back to 1527, when Bishop of Exeter John Vesey, a close associate of Henry VIII and tutor of Queen Mary I, established the school.
Today, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School is a selective academy that caters to boys aged 11 to 16 years. It is affiliated with the Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, and forms part of the Grammar Schools in Birmingham Foundation.
The school places a strong emphasis on academic excellence, with a dedicated faculty of inspirational teachers who strive to nurture the leadership, independence, and resilience of their students.
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School is committed to its mission of providing outstanding education and inspiration to students throughout the Midlands.
Additionally, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School offers a wealth of enrichment opportunities that help to foster personal growth and development.
School Information
Year 7 Entry Information
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Term Dates
These are the 2024-2025 term dates for the Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School:
Entry Requirement Comparison
Dashed line represents average Tuition Tree student score
How far away is Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School?
Enter your postcode below to see how far you are from this school and all other Birmingham Grammar Schools.
How to Apply to Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School
This particular school shares a common entrance test and admissions process with 18 other grammar schools in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Wallsall, and Wolverhampton. This means that your child is only required to take one exam in order to apply to any of these schools.
1: Register for the West Midlands 11-plus test
When your child reaches Year 5, sign them up for the 11 plus at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Online Here. Registration begins at 9am on the May 2024, and concludes at 4pm on 31st October 2024.
If your child is a recipient of Pupil Premium, make sure to indicate this on the registration form and provide the necessary documentation. This will give your child priority in accordance with the school's admission criteria.
2: Apply for School Places
Once your son has taken the 11-plus exam, you will receive the results in mid-October.
If your child receives a mark of 205 or above, they can put this, and other Birmingham grammar schools on their local authority application form.
The application form must be submitted by 31st October 2024.
Before listing this school as a preference, you see the admissions criteria here
Select the area in which you live below to see which local authority you should use for your application.
3: National school offer day
On 1st March 2025 you will receive notification of the school where your child has been admitted. Your highest-ranked school preference that matches their qualifications and has available spots will be the school they are assigned to. In the event that none of your preferred schools have vacancies, an alternative school in your vicinity will be designated. .Entry Criteria
The planned admission number (PAN) for the school is 192.Priority for admission is given to children who named Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School as their choice and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and have attained the qualifying 11 Plus score.
In cases where the number of qualifying children exceeds the available places (which is highly probable), the school follows a specific order when offering places:
- Children who have been Looked-After, or were previously Looked-After, and have attained at least the minimum required grade in the 11 Plus, ranked in order of the test score.
- A maximum of 38 children receiving free school meals who have attained at least the minimum required grade in the 11 Plus, ranked in order of the test score.
- Other children who scored the minimum required grade, ranked in order of the 11 Plus test score.
In cases where the 11 Plus test scores are identical, priority will be given to children residing in the closest proximity to the school.
The measurement of distance is determined by a direct line from the child’s place of residence to the base of the steps that lead to the main entrance of the school.
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School has revised its admissions policy and no longer employs a catchment area system.
Instead, admission is based solely on the performance of the children in the 11 Plus exam.
However, in the event of identical 11 Plus test scores, preference is given to children residing in the closest proximity to the school.
What's on the 11-plus Exam in Birmingham?
The exam will take place on the September 2024.
The West Midlands 11 plus test is provided by GL Assessment and consists of two papers, each taking approximately 60 minutes to complete. A brief period is allotted at the start of each paper for students to receive instructions and complete ungraded practice questions.
Each paper is subdivided into separately timed sections that evaluate students’ abilities in:
- English comprehension
- Mathematics
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
The test is exclusively in multiple-choice format, with no written portions. Students record their responses in a separate answer booklet that is graded electronically.
The mathematics and English questions examine students’ knowledge of Key Stage 2 national curriculum material, including Year 6 targets. It evaluates their ability to reason and apply their knowledge accurately.
The reasoning questions assess students’ logical and problem-solving abilities. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are usually not taught in school. They are designed to measure how well students can detect patterns, connect ideas, and manipulate written and visual information.
If you would like to understand your child’s current 11-plus readiness better, book a Free Assessment with Tuition Tree.
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