King Edward VI Handsworth School For Girls

What King Edward VI Handsworth School For Girls does

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is a selective grammar school located in Handsworth, Birmingham, founded in 1883 and operating from its current Rose Hill Road site since 1911. It serves female pupils aged 11-18 across Year 7 through Year 13, delivering GCSE and A-Level programmes spanning 20+ subjects alongside the compulsory Extended Project Qualification. The school is an Academy and member of the King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham and the broader King Edward VI Foundation, with charitable company status (company number 7656363). Admissions operate through the West Midlands Grammar Schools consortium 11+ entrance examination for Year 7 entry and a minimum 6 GCSEs at grade 6 or above for Sixth Form entry.

The school's core technology stack is commodity: a standard website with Google Analytics, the School Gateway mobile app for parent communications, payments and attendance tracking, SchoolComms for paperless correspondence, Moodle for an intranet learning platform, and Unifrog as its careers platform. No proprietary technology products are built or commercialised; technology is deployed as a means to support the educational delivery model rather than as a distinct offering. The school produces The Beacon magazine annually, an award-winning publication recognised nationally at the 2022 Shine School Media Awards.

The business model is primarily government-funded: as a state Academy there are no tuition fees, and revenue flows from the King Edward VI Academy Trust via government grants. A secondary transaction-based revenue stream is generated through facility lettings — the school hires out venues including the Church/Music Centre (£54/hour, capacity 275), Main Hall (capacity 670), sports facilities, classrooms, and the Dance Studio, available seven days a week to community and business users. The school's commercial reach is regional, serving the Birmingham and West Midlands area, with a headcount of 81 employees.

Name

King Edward VI Handsworth School For Girls

Legal name

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls

Website

https://kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is a selective Academy grammar school in Birmingham, founded 1883, serving approximately 700-900 female pupils aged 11-18 through GCSE and A-Level programmes, funded by government grants via the King Edward VI Academy Trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education (Selective Girls' Grammar School)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

Keywords

• Grammar school education
• Secondary school curriculum
• Sixth form A-levels
• Girls' school admissions
• School venue hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Academy Status): As an Academy, the school receives government funding from the King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham. This is the primary source of operational funding.
2. Facility Lettings: The school generates revenue through hiring out its facilities including the Church/Music Centre (capacity 275), classrooms, conference rooms, dance studio, main school hall (capacity 670), sports hall, and outdoor sports facilities. Pricing ranges from £20/hour for classrooms to £54/hour for the Church/Music Centre.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

King Edward VI Handsworth School For Girls delivers selective girls' grammar school education from Year 7 through Sixth Form (ages 11-18), centred on a rigorous academic curriculum including 20+ A-Level subjects and the compulsory Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). The school supplements academic teaching with pastoral care, extra-curricular programmes (including the Alternate Wednesday afternoon scheme), careers guidance via Unifrog, and a school magazine (The Beacon). It also generates ancillary revenue by hiring out its facilities (Church/Music Centre, halls, classrooms, sports facilities) to community and business users.

Product overview

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is a selective grammar school offering a broad academic curriculum from Years 7-13. Its core educational offering centres on a two-year linear A Level programme (Years 12-13) spanning over 20 subjects, complemented by the compulsory Extended Project Qualification. The school also produces an annual magazine (The Beacon), runs a venue lettings and hire service for community use, provides a mobile app (School Gateway) for parent communications and payments, and operates a comprehensive extra-curricular programme including the Alternate Wednesday afternoon enrichment scheme. Supporting services include Sixth Form transition task resources, an online parents' evening booking system, and free 11+ familiarisation sessions for primary school applicants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A-Level Curriculum Two-year linear A-Level courses taught across 20+ subjects including Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English Literature, French, German, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics, Psychology, and Religious Studies. Students select three subjects in Year 12 plus the Extended Project Qualification. Designed for Year 12-13 female students of the school.
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Compulsory Level 3 qualification for all Sixth Form students, graded up to A* and carrying UCAS points equivalent to half an A-Level. Students complete a research-based investigation with a production log, research log, presentation, and either an artefact or 5000-word report. Targeted at Year 12 students of the school.
• The Beacon school magazine The school's annual magazine produced by Year 12 students, celebrating the school year with pupil artwork, reviews, articles, and school gossip. Nationally recognised with multiple Shine School Media Awards. Targeted at school community, parents and alumni.
• Venue Lettings & Hire Hiring of school facilities including the Church/Music Centre (capacity 275, £54/hour), Main Hall (capacity 670), Sports Hall, Dance Studio, Classrooms (£20/hour), Conference Rooms, Sixth Form Common Room, Outdoor Sports Facilities, and Library. Available 7 days a week for community organisations, businesses and event organisers in Birmingham.
• Extra-Curricular Programme Broad range of after-school and co-curricular activities including music, drama, sports, and the Alternate Wednesday afternoon programme, designed to broaden academic and career horizons and develop character. Targeted at enrolled students.
• 11+ Familiarisation Programme Free preparation sessions for primary school students preparing for the Year 7 entrance test, providing practice and familiarisation with exam format. Targeted at prospective Year 7 applicants and their families.
• School Gateway App Mobile application for parents providing access to attendance percentages, lesson timetables, reports, child details, messaging, trip payments, lunch money payments, and lunch purchase history. Targeted at parents and carers of enrolled students.
• Sixth Form Transition Tasks Pre-A Level preparation resources provided for incoming Sixth Form students across subjects including Art, Biology, Chemistry, French, German, Geography, History, Mathematics, Physics, Politics, Psychology, and Religious Studies, accessible as downloadable PDFs. Targeted at incoming Year 12 students.
• Parents Evening Booking System Online appointment booking system for parents to schedule and attend parents' evenings with teachers, accessible via the school resources portal. Targeted at parents and carers of enrolled students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 students admitted to University of Birmingham; 33% of placed applicants to Healthcare courses; 34% to STEM courses

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• King Edward VI Academy Trust BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1883The school is an Academy and member of the King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham. The Trust operates multiple King Edward VI schools in Birmingham and provides governance, funding, and strategic direction. The school also belongs to the broader King Edward VI Foundation.
• KE Aston (King Edward VI Aston School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative provision for certain A-Level subjects including Art, Drama, Design Technology, French, German, Music. Transport between sites is provided. This cross-school collaboration ensures a continued broad and balanced curriculum.
• KE Handsworth Grammar School for BoyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative provision for certain A-Level subjects including French, German. Transport between sites provided. Enables single-sex education while maintaining subject breadth.
• Handsworth Wood Girls AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the King Edward VI family of schools for collaborative curriculum provision across multiple sites.
• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong university links with annual information talks on courses, entry requirements and enrichment. School participates in Pathways to Birmingham access scheme. University outreach officers visit for student trips. Over 40 students applied through Pathways to Birmingham in 2019.
• Oxford University (Brasenose College and Worcester College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear 12 students visit Oxford for talks, tours, and interview-style questions. Dedicated Oxbridge application programme runs annually. Two Handsworth alumnae serve as current Oxford undergraduates who provide bespoke college tours.
• Sutton TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool works with Sutton Trust to support girls applying to US universities and summer schools. Over 30 students took part in Sutton Trust summer schools in 2019.
• West Midlands Grammar Schools ConsortiumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for shared 11+ entrance test registration and admissions process. School registration deadline and information managed through this consortium.
• StagecoachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStagecoach Offer commissioned by the school for spoken confidence development - students on the SENDIA verification day spoke about 'stepping out of your comfort zone' through this programme.
• Gary AubinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal professional expertise contributing to SENDCo's professional development as noted in SENDIA verification report.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wolverhampton Girls' High School: A selective girls' grammar school in the West Midlands participating in the regional 11+ consortium. Closest competitor to Handsworth Girls outside of Birmingham city, operating an almost identical selective girls' grammar model.
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls: A King Edward VI Foundation selective girls' grammar school in Birmingham offering the same Year 7-13 single-sex grammar model. Most directly comparable peer - shared governance under the KEVI Foundation, similar selective admissions, and overlapping West Midlands 11+ catchment.
• King Edward VI Five Ways School: A King Edward VI Foundation co-educational grammar school in Birmingham sharing governance and the West Midlands 11+ consortium. Comparable selective admissions model and the same Trust funding structure; differs only in being co-educational.
• Handsworth Grammar School for Boys: The partner boys' grammar school located on the same Handsworth site, sharing A-Level subject provision and the same 11+ consortium. Operationally interlinked with Handsworth Girls - a direct comparable peer in governance, admissions, and curriculum.
• King Edward VI Aston School: A King Edward VI Foundation boys' grammar school in Birmingham operating under the same Trust and 11+ consortium. Shares collaborative A-Level provision with Handsworth Girls and is a near-direct peer in operating model and governance.
• Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls: Another selective girls' grammar school in the Birmingham/West Midlands area operating under the same 11+ consortium. Directly competes for the same academically selective female applicants within an overlapping regional catchment.
• Bishop Vesey's Grammar School: A selective co-educational grammar school in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, participating in the West Midlands 11+ consortium. Competes for the same selective secondary cohort within an overlapping catchment.

Broad incumbents

• King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford: A boys' grammar school within the King Edward VI Foundation operating the same selective grammar model but geographically distant. Broader incumbent in the same Foundation brand architecture, useful as a peer on governance, reputation, and selective admissions practice.

Emerging players

• Edgbaston High School for Girls: An independent girls' school in Birmingham serving a similar academically selective female cohort via fee-paying admissions rather than 11+ entry. Comparable target customer profile but competing on different access and funding model.

Others

• West Midlands Grammar Schools Consortium: The consortium body through which all Birmingham and West Midlands grammar schools, including Handsworth Girls, jointly administer 11+ entry. Adjacent infrastructure provider rather than a competitor, but materially shapes the school's admissions funnel and demand visibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/king-edward-vi-handsworth-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about King Edward VI Handsworth School For Girls