Recent opinions/ experiences of the King Edwards schools in Birmingham? (KES and grammars)

[21Sunny]

We're looking into secondary schools for a boy who'd start Y7 in 2023 (trying to gather info in good time) and would like to hear any recent experiences of the King Edwards' schools in Birmingham. We live in Kings Heath and we're well placed for Camp Hill but we're considering everything at the moment, so KES Edgbaston, and also Queensbridge.
My brother actually went to KES but it was years ago and I think it has probably changed a good deal so would like some more recent opinions. We know about and like the IB aspect.
It looks as if every other grammar school would be a complicated journey, and we'd be disadvantaged due to catchment, so we're effectively limited to Camp Hill - is that right? Anyone travel from Kings Heath to KES, and if so what's that journey like?
How does KES compare to Camp Hill?

Your son could get to Handsworth boys on the number 11 bus - although maybe too long a journey? Ds is there (also doing a long journey) and he used to travel with a boy from Kings Heath.

The school takes a much wider range of abilities than Camp Hill - historically at least, although even since the catchment changes they are still taking boys with lower scores and from outside the catchment. Because of the wider intake their results look worse - but the top ability boys do just as well.

We really like the school; on the whole teaching is excellent, there’s a very stable staff (very few leave each year) and it’s not too pressured.

That's an interesting idea, thanks! I hadn't thought of Handsworth. It is a long journey but it's a simple journey, not like he has to change in town or anything, so possible.
There don't seem to be many secondary independent schools apart from KES that include boys, unless I'm missing something. Priory is no good for us because of the Catholic aspect, and otherwise I can only see St George's - I don't seem to hear much about them.

Camp Hill would be so easy to get to, just a bit concerned it might be an exam hothouse, or maybe that's not a fair assessment?

It’s definitely had that reputation in the past; and I’ve heard rumours that the teaching is poor/a bit lazy as the kids are so bright. Things might have to change though , now they’re taking in a wider intake.

I’ve experience of KEHS with my daughter, but not the boys school. Dd says the boys at KES are really cocky and she hates them but that’s just her perspective

There is Solihull School - although my friend who’s got a son there moans about it all the time!

My Boss's son has just left Handsworth and has done really well. He said it's a really good atmosphere there, the only downside is the area.

The schools usually have the option of the Green Bus service that serves all the schools across the Birmingham area. KE Five Ways is near me, great school.

@crazycrofter

It’s definitely had that reputation in the past; and I’ve heard rumours that the teaching is poor/a bit lazy as the kids are so bright. Things might have to change though , now they’re taking in a wider intake.

I’ve experience of KEHS with my daughter, but not the boys school. Dd says the boys at KES are really cocky and she hates them but that’s just her perspective

I was at KEHS in the 90s and we said the same then

Bringbackdoves I was at KEHS in the 1990s and we said the same then as well!

Haha that’s crazy, some things don’t change then! To be fair my brother was there in the 90s and he definitely wasn’t like that..

Ha - well for full disclosure I was also at KEHS in the 90s and my brother was at KES in the 90s/ early 00s! (I wouldn't say he's cocky but he is really bad at relationships!). Didn't have much to do with most of the boys, the few I knew were the quirky arty ones and not cocky. But it's a long time ago, and I wanted some more recent opinions from current parents. Also my son is very different from my brother and I, so I don't think I can go on what our experiences were like (it's complicated & boring but basically I'm Asian and was brought up abroad, son is white due to various genetics and was brought up here and feels English, so he's had the advantage of doing sports and fitting in to the culture). I get the impression that there are now many more pupils with international (not just British-Asian but actually international) backgrounds than when I was there, which I do think will change the dynamic of the school from what it was in the 90s.
Re. Camp Hill, I would be concerned if there was poor teaching - son is currently in a small private primary school (not a KES feeder) and while most of the teachers have been great, we've had one this year who is dreadful. I mean we've just taken matters into our own hands with online schooling but we don't want to do that in secondary.
I'm not sure we'd fit in in Solihull School so not considering that.

Thanks for the Green Bus tip - I've seen that going around but wasn't sure what schools it served, will google it.

If you're very near the 11 bus, I wouldn't bother with the green bus - much more expensive and no flexibility.

From what I've heard, there's no places for outside catchment kids at Five Ways, but there are at Handsworth and possibly Aston. There's also Bishop Vesey's in Sutton Coldfield - my daughter is in the sixth form there now (moved from KEHS). It would be accessible if you're near the new Kings Heath station (and if it's opened in time).

You might want to find some current Camp Hill parents and ask for opinions. Hopefully open days will be running for 2023 too. We did a morning tour of Handsworth after the results came out and found that much more useful than an open day. You get a real feel for the school; we were taken into classrooms and met some of the boys.

@21Sunny interested to know why you think you wouldn’t fit in at Solihull School? Locally it has a reputation for pupils being being social and friendly (perhaps too social at times looking at the number of Covid outbreaks they have had!). If you are considering KES then Solihull would be at least an alternative to consider. I do agree with @crazycrofter that I hear lots of persistent grumbles these days from the parents about Solihull school so I’m not saying it’s a perfect alternative. However it is increasingly hard to get into the grammar schools and KES so don’t just rely on these options. The competition for these places is fierce.

Absolutely - as I said in my OP we are also considering Queensbridge (state comprehensive) so any thoughts on that welcome! AFAIK the only other state comp we'd be in catchment for is Wheeler's Lane and I know that school a bit and am not keen.

Meaning no disrespect it seems bizarre to see KE Camphill and Edgbaston in the same sentence as Queensbridge. Your child would have a COMPLETELY different experience at the latter compared to the first two schools. If you are considering the KE schools, and have the means to pay, then as has been mentioned above it is worth looking at solihull or other private schools, or your child will be in for a shock.

I think applications for the KE grammar schools are now restricted to the area of Birmingham that you live in, so that if you live in King's Heath you will only be able to apply to one grammar school, namely, Camp Hill.
We live in same part of Birmingham, & I had a son at Camp Hill, and another at Kes, around 8-10 years ago, so fairly recently. Both excellent schools. Kes has some better facilties, eg brand new sports centre, amazing concert hall/performing arts centre, plus superb pastoral support for your child if they need it. Not much in it though. Sons chose their schools based on their A-level vs IB preference. Both did well.

KES son walked to and from school (just under 3 miles; took 40 mins & kept him fit) but could have caught a bus (76 or 1). No problems at all.

As @crazycrofter says, it's not that you can only apply to the KE grammar in your catchment area, but that the system now gives priority to those who meet a set qualifying score and who live in the catchment area (so if the qualifying score is 222, someone who gets this and lives in the catchment area for a school will a place ahead of someone who gets 270 but lives outside of the set area). Some of the schools still offered places to those outside of the catchment area last year (Aston and Handsworth did I think). The non-KE grammars in Birmingham (Bishop Vesey and Sutton Girls) don't follow this system and still offer according to score, regardless of where you live.

I echo what 90mose has said.

Private school to KECH or to KES I can understand, but seems very odd to dismiss Solihull school and consider Queensbridge from your starting point.