Birmingham 11+ exam candidates face one of the most competitive grammar school landscapes in England. Eight selective schools serve the city and surrounding areas — all using the CEM exam format, deliberately designed to resist intensive tutoring and reward genuine underlying ability. Fellow CEM areas include Warwickshire and the Trafford 11+ guide in Greater Manchester — though unlike Birmingham, Trafford does not include NVR in Paper 2. If you are considering Birmingham grammar schools for 2026, this guide covers how the CEM format works, the consortium system, all eight schools, registration, and how preparation differs from GL areas such as Kent and Buckinghamshire.
Birmingham grammar schools at a glance
8
Grammar schools in Birmingham
Consortium — one registration
CEM
Exam format used
Mixed papers — blended subjects
2
Mixed papers sat
English+VR and Maths+NVR
Sept
Exam month
Year 6 — exact date varies
Free
Cost to attend
State-funded grammar schools
Birmingham 11+ — key facts
- Exam provider
- CEM (Durham University)
- Paper structure
- Two mixed papers: English+VR and Maths+NVR
- Registration opens
- Typically May–June — Year 6
- Registration deadline
- Typically June — Year 6
- Exam date
- September — Year 6
- Results released
- October — Year 6
- Consortium system
- One registration covers all 8 schools
- Out-of-area applications
- Accepted — each school applies own criteria
Birmingham uses the CEM format — fundamentally different from the GL papers used in Kent and Buckinghamshire. The mixed paper structure, unpredictable question selection, and heavy vocabulary emphasis require a different preparation approach. If your child has been preparing using GL resources only, significant adjustment is needed. See the GL vs CEM guide for the full comparison.
What makes Birmingham different from Kent and Buckinghamshire
The single most important thing to understand about Birmingham grammar schools is that they use CEM — not GL Assessment. This is not a minor administrative distinction. The CEM exam looks, feels, and rewards different skills compared to the GL format used in Kent and Buckinghamshire. A child who has been drilling GL practice papers for twelve months and then sits a Birmingham CEM paper for the first time will find it genuinely disorienting.
Three features of CEM make it distinctive:
- Mixed papers. Rather than separate papers per subject, CEM combines English with Verbal Reasoning in one paper and Mathematics with Non-Verbal Reasoning in another. Within each paper, short sections of different question types follow one another rapidly. Children must switch mental modes — from reading comprehension to word codes to vocabulary analogies — within a single sitting.
- Unpredictable format. CEM deliberately varies the format year to year. The types of VR questions, the length of comprehension passages, and the mix of maths topics all change. Breadth of skill matters more than format familiarity — unlike GL’s 21 documented VR types.
- Vocabulary is central. The English and VR combined paper places exceptional weight on vocabulary range. Children who read widely and have a broad, precise vocabulary have a significant natural advantage on CEM that no amount of question-type drilling can fully replicate.
How the Birmingham 11+ exam works
The Birmingham 11+ is administered as a consortium exam — one registration covers all eight grammar schools in the group. The exam takes place in September of Year 6 and consists of two mixed papers sat on the same day.
Paper 1: English and Verbal Reasoning
The first paper combines reading comprehension with verbal reasoning questions in a blended format. Unlike GL papers where these are separate, CEM interleaves them — a comprehension passage may be followed immediately by VR questions before returning to English vocabulary work.
Comprehension passages are typically high-quality fiction or literary non-fiction — more demanding in language and concept than typical primary school reading. Inference and language analysis carry significant weight. VR sections draw on word relationships, analogies, cloze passages, and vocabulary questions — the exact types vary year to year. Speed is critical — CEM sections have individual time limits and children cannot return to previous sections once time is called.
Paper 2: Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning
The second paper blends mathematics with non-verbal reasoning sections. Maths topics include the full standard GL syllabus — arithmetic, fractions, percentages, ratio, geometry, algebra, and word problems — presented in fast-paced section format. NVR sections typically feature sequences, matrices, and analogies, though the selection varies.
The key challenge of Paper 2 is the mental switching between numerical and spatial reasoning within a single sitting. Children who are strong at maths but have not prepared NVR, or vice versa, may find the transition between sections disruptive.
Birmingham 11+ registration: dates and process for 2026
Registration for the Birmingham consortium is time-sensitive — the window is typically four to six weeks, often opening earlier than in GL areas such as Kent and Buckinghamshire.
Year 4–5
Build genuine underlying skills — the CEM advantage
CEM rewards broad ability over drilled technique. Wide daily reading builds vocabulary, comprehension, and inference. Arithmetic fluency and logical reasoning should develop alongside reading — not through last-minute cramming.
Early Year 6
Structured CEM-specific preparation
Introduce CEM-format mixed practice papers. Children must practise switching between English, VR, Maths, and NVR within a single timed sitting — this fluency cannot be built from subject-specific GL papers alone.
May Year 6
Watch for registration opening
Registration typically opens in May or June. Monitor the Birmingham consortium website and individual school admissions pages from May onwards.
Birmingham registration often opens earlier than in Kent and Buckinghamshire — check from May rather than waiting for June.
May–June Year 6
Registration opens — act immediately
Register via the Birmingham Grammar Schools Consortium portal with your child’s details, current school, date of birth, and home address. Registration is free; some schools outside the main consortium may require separate registration — always check.
The window is typically only 4–6 weeks. Missing it means missing the exam entirely — there is no late registration.
June Year 6
Registration deadline
The deadline usually falls in June — earlier than Kent and Buckinghamshire. Verify the exact 2026 deadline on Birmingham City Council’s admissions website before relying on previous years’ dates.
Always confirm the exact 2026 deadline on the official Birmingham admissions page — do not rely on previous years’ dates.
July–Aug Year 6
Final CEM preparation — mixed papers
Complete at least six full two-paper CEM mock sittings under exam conditions. Review errors systematically after each mock — switching between subjects under section time limits is the skill that matters most.
Birmingham grammar schools: the complete list
Use the filters to browse by area or school type. Always confirm admissions policies and last-offered distances on each school’s website.
Birmingham city
5 schoolsKing Edward VI Handsworth School
Girls' grammar in Handsworth, north-west Birmingham. One of the King Edward VI Foundation schools — among the most academically distinguished in the city. Very competitive; heavily oversubscribed most years.
King Edward VI Aston School
Boys' grammar in Aston. Part of the King Edward VI Foundation. Excellent results with a strong science and mathematics tradition. Well connected by public transport from across north Birmingham.
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
Boys' grammar in Kings Heath, south Birmingham. One of the most sought-after grammar schools in the Midlands. Outstanding GCSE and A-level results. Very short last-offered distances in recent years.
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Girls' grammar in Kings Heath, co-located with Camp Hill Boys. Equally outstanding academically. Among the highest-demand grammar schools in the Midlands.
King Edward VI Five Ways School
Mixed grammar in Bartley Green, west Birmingham. The only co-educational school in the King Edward VI Foundation consortium. Strong results with a more accessible location than some city-centre schools.
Sutton Coldfield
3 schoolsBishop Vesey's Grammar School
Boys' grammar in Sutton Coldfield — founded 1527. Strong academic tradition with excellent GCSE and A-level outcomes. Popular with families from across north Birmingham and southern Staffordshire.
Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Girls' grammar in Sutton Coldfield town centre. Consistently excellent results. Popular with families from Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, and southern Staffordshire.
Plantsbrook School
Mixed grammar in Sutton Coldfield. Strong results with a well-rounded curriculum. Slightly less oversubscribed than the single-sex schools in the area — often more accessible for families living slightly further away.
Sutton Coldfield schools and the consortium
Bishop Vesey’s, Sutton Coldfield Grammar for Girls, and Plantsbrook are part of the Birmingham consortium and use the same CEM exam — but they have their own admissions processes separate from the King Edward VI Foundation schools. Families applying to both city schools and Sutton Coldfield schools use the same consortium registration but should read each school’s individual admissions policy carefully.
Always verify current admissions arrangements directly with each school and through Birmingham City Council’s admissions website before applying. Consortium arrangements and individual school policies can change year to year.
The King Edward VI Foundation: what it means for admissions
Five of Birmingham’s eight grammar schools are part of the King Edward VI Foundation — one of England’s oldest and most distinguished educational charities, established in 1552. Understanding how the Foundation operates is essential for families targeting these schools.
The Foundation schools share a common admissions process through the Birmingham consortium but operate as individual schools with their own characters, specialisms, and oversubscription criteria. Passing the consortium exam makes a child eligible for any Foundation school — but each school then applies its own criteria when places are oversubscribed.
The Foundation schools are consistently among the top-performing state schools in England. King Edward VI Camp Hill for Boys, King Edward VI Camp Hill for Girls, and King Edward VI Handsworth are regularly listed among the highest-achieving state schools nationally. This performance, combined with historic reputation, generates exceptional demand — and exceptionally short last-offered distances at the most sought-after schools.
One important distinction: the Foundation schools are not faith schools and do not apply religious criteria in admissions. Eligibility is based solely on the 11+ result and oversubscription criteria — primarily distance.
How Birmingham allocates grammar school places
Passing the Birmingham 11+ gives eligibility — allocation depends on each school’s individual oversubscription criteria. While the criteria vary between Foundation schools and Sutton Coldfield schools, the general priority order across most Birmingham grammar schools follows this pattern:
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
Highest priority by law across all state schools in England. Children currently in care or previously in care are given first priority regardless of distance or score.
Required by lawChildren with an EHCP naming the school
Children whose Education, Health and Care Plan specifically names a grammar school must be admitted if they have passed the 11+.
Required by lawSiblings of current pupils
Children with a brother or sister currently attending the school receive priority in the third tier. The sibling link is a significant advantage at the most oversubscribed Foundation schools.
Very commonDistance from home to school
Among all remaining qualifying children, places are offered to those living closest — measured as a straight line from home to the school's main entrance. At the most oversubscribed Foundation schools, this tiebreaker is where most places are effectively decided.
Primary tiebreakerRandom allocation (tiebreaker of last resort)
Where two or more children live at exactly the same distance from the school and only one place remains, random allocation by an independent body is used as the final tiebreaker.
Rare — last resortDownload admissions data for your target schools and check last-offered distance from the previous two to three years before building your shortlist — particularly for Camp Hill, Handsworth, and other Foundation schools where distance thresholds are often very short.
Preparing for the Birmingham 11+: CEM strategy
Preparing for the Birmingham CEM exam requires a fundamentally different approach from GL preparation. The underlying subjects are the same — English, Maths, VR, NVR — but the emphasis, format, and skills rewarded differ significantly.
The most important shift: vocabulary first
For GL exams, systematic question-type drilling produces reliable improvement because formats are predictable. For CEM, drilling specific question types has diminishing returns — breadth of skill matters more than format familiarity.
The most valuable investment for Birmingham CEM preparation is vocabulary. Children preparing for Birmingham should read daily from Year 4 or 5 at minimum — quality fiction, literary non-fiction, newspapers, and magazines. Discussing unfamiliar words, keeping a vocabulary notebook, and working through targeted vocabulary lists alongside reading are the habits that differentiate the strongest CEM performers.
What to cover subject by subject
- English and VR (Paper 1) — comprehension technique for inference, language analysis, and vocabulary in context remains important. Cover VR question types from the 11+ Verbal Reasoning guide but prioritise fluency over drilling.
- Mathematics (Paper 2) — the maths syllabus is essentially the same as for GL. See the 11+ Maths guide. CEM maths sections are short and fast — mental arithmetic fluency is critical.
- NVR (Paper 2) — sequences, matrices, and analogies appear most frequently. Cover all nine types in the 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning guide; the SCSNRPL checklist remains the right systematic approach.
The CEM-specific skill: switching under time pressure
The one skill unique to CEM preparation is switching between subject modes rapidly under timed section pressure. Practising with CEM-format mock papers — rather than subject-specific GL papers — is the only way to build this skill. Aim for at least six full two-paper CEM mock sittings in the months before the exam.
For the complete CEM preparation strategy and comparison with GL, see the GL vs CEM guide and 11+ preparation strategy.
Out-of-area applications to Birmingham grammar schools
Birmingham grammar schools accept applications from children living outside Birmingham — from Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Solihull, as well as from further afield. The consortium exam registration is the same regardless of where you live.
At the most oversubscribed Foundation schools — particularly Camp Hill and Handsworth — qualifying local children effectively fill all available places within a short radius. Families from Warwickshire applying to these specific schools face a very challenging distance threshold.
Families from Warwickshire may also register for the Warwickshire 11+ guide consortium simultaneously — both use CEM and one round of preparation covers both areas, though separate registrations and exam sittings are required.
Birmingham 11+ vs other CEM areas
| Birmingham | Warwickshire 11+ guide | Trafford 11+ guide | Wirral | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam format | CEM | CEM | CEM | CEM |
| Paper structure | English+VR / Maths+NVR | English+VR / Maths+NVR | English+VR / Maths only | English+VR / Maths+NVR |
| NVR tested | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
| Number of schools | 8 | ~5 | ~4 | 2 |
| Registration deadline | Typically June | Typically June | Typically June–July | Varies — check school |
| Single-sex schools | ✓ Yes — majority | ✓ Some | ✕ No — all mixed | ✓ Yes |
| Prestigious foundation | ✓ King Edward VI | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Competition level | Very high — especially Foundation schools | High | High | High |
| Dual-area applications | Many families apply to Bham + Warwickshire | Common overlap with Birmingham | Some overlap with Greater Manchester | Some overlap with Liverpool area |
Appeals: what to do if results are not what you hoped
If your child receives a “not suitable” result from the Birmingham consortium, you have the right to appeal. Unlike Kent, Birmingham has no formal borderline review process — the result is determined by the standardised score, and the formal appeal is the only avenue for reconsideration.
Appeals must be submitted within the window specified in your results notification — typically four to six weeks after results are released. Even a successful appeal does not guarantee a place at a specific oversubscribed school — distance remains the primary tiebreaker.
For families whose child narrowly misses the qualifying score, check admissions data for less oversubscribed schools in the consortium — the qualifying threshold is the same across all schools, but distance thresholds at allocation vary significantly.
Further preparation resources
- GL vs CEM guide — understanding the CEM format in depth
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning guide — all question types relevant to CEM VR sections
- 11+ English guide — comprehension tips and vocabulary strategies critical for CEM
- 11+ Maths guide — every topic with worked examples
- 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning guide — sequences and matrices for CEM Paper 2
- 11+ preparation strategy — CEM-specific study planning
- 11+ timeline and registration — key dates for 2026
- Warwickshire 11+ guide — if also applying to Warwickshire (same CEM prep, separate registration)
- Trafford 11+ guide — CEM without NVR; north-west England
- Buckinghamshire 11+ guide — if comparing with GL-format areas
Frequently asked questions about the Birmingham 11+
Can my child sit the Birmingham 11+ if we live in Warwickshire or Worcestershire?
Yes. The consortium accepts out-of-county registrations. The challenge comes at allocation — distance from home to school is the primary tiebreaker. Families from Warwickshire may also register for the Warwickshire 11+ guide consortium simultaneously, since both use CEM and one round of preparation covers both.
Do all eight Birmingham grammar schools use the same exam?
Yes. All eight schools — the five King Edward VI Foundation schools and the three Sutton Coldfield schools — use the same CEM consortium exam. One registration and one sitting gives eligibility across all eight schools, subject to each school’s oversubscription criteria.
Is the CEM exam harder than the GL exam used in Kent and Buckinghamshire?
They are hard in different ways. CEM is less predictable and rewards genuine broad ability more than format-specific preparation. GL is more practisable but requires managing a higher volume of questions at speed. See our GL vs CEM guide for the full comparison.
Does Birmingham test NVR?
Yes. The second paper — Maths and NVR — includes non-verbal reasoning sections. Children must prepare NVR alongside the other three subject areas. This distinguishes Birmingham from the Trafford 11+ guide, which uses CEM but does not include NVR.
What is the King Edward VI Foundation?
The King Edward VI Foundation is one of England’s oldest educational charities, founded in 1552. It governs five of Birmingham’s eight grammar schools — Handsworth, Aston, Camp Hill Boys, Camp Hill Girls, and Five Ways. The Foundation schools share a common brand and admissions process through the consortium but operate as individual schools with their own policies.
How competitive is Birmingham compared to other grammar school areas?
Among the most competitive in England. The King Edward VI Foundation schools — particularly Camp Hill and Handsworth — rank among the highest-performing state schools nationally. Last-offered distances at these schools have been very short in recent years. The Sutton Coldfield schools offer a more accessible alternative for some families.
My child is sitting Birmingham but also considering Warwickshire — do they need to register twice?
Yes. Despite using the same CEM exam format, Birmingham and Warwickshire are separate consortia with separate registration processes and separate exam sittings. One round of preparation is sufficient, but two separate registrations and two exam days are required. See the Warwickshire 11+ guide for the five-school consortium, registration dates, and dual-area strategy.