King Edward VI High School for Girls

Our View

One of the country's top academic girls' city day schools, turning out a long line of academic high-flyers, and an example to the grammar school tradition of how this can be combined with breadth, civilisation and fun. Only for the seriously able and talented.

Head

Since 1996, Miss Sarah H Evans BA MA (fifties); educated at King James' Grammar School, Knaresborough and Sussex, Leicester and Leeds Universities. Previously head of the Friends' School, Saffron Walden and before that taught at Leeds Girls' High School, also Fulneck Girls' School. A delightful, calm Quaker; graceful, poised, knowledgeable (a look of Helen Mirren, we thought), exudes warmth, has a wonderful genuine smile. Teaches young ones library skills, older ones presentation skills and runs weekly current affairs, breakfast club. Is passionate about the girls and their education. Adored by girls, respected by staff, who say she is a wonderful head. Focused on community – working with other schools, Birmingham University – and on breadth – building characters for life. Wants to give her pupils 'wings to fly somewhere unexpected'.

Academic Matters

Outstanding academically for decades, one of the country's top academic schools (placed at the pinnacle of league tables, A grades the norm). Superb, innovative, vibrant, creative teaching and an ethos of hard work. Biology, chemistry, maths and English are currently the most popular subjects – Latin not far behind. RS well liked, 'We get to debate politics and religion – it's really very exciting'. Practical and problem solving activities aplenty including 'paper clip physics' and participation in the education engineering scheme. Good Schools Guide award for the best independent girls' school for A level business and economics and also for classics, proudly on display. Many staff of long standing but excellent, lovers of teaching, passionate about their subjects and want girls to delight in the joys of learning, not be suffocated by the confines of exams and assessments. Lots of individual attention, help is available from all and any staff at all times.

Wide academic syllabus. Maximum class size 26. Over 60 per cent of pupils take A level sciences (and must follow a non-A level English course); one third takes arts (and must follow a non-A level maths course) and one third mixed. General studies taken as fifth A level – and girls get mostly As in this too. Russian, Italian, German and Spanish on offer. Classics department flourishing and innovative. School moved to IGCSE maths in 2005 – 'Much more fun and challenging', we're told.

Nine science labs, two computer rooms; equipment recently upgraded, super library (with high numbers of girls opting to study in school during exam period). Classrooms double as subject rooms, with old-fashioned desks in some, but filled with pupils' work on display – we particularly liked the facial symmetry and golden ratio in maths. Some classes taken with King Edward's School (qv). 'Outsiders sometimes think teaching here must be a soft option,' commented one member of staff, 'because all the girls are bright – but the fact is that a little doesn't go a long way – they lap it up and want more.' Girls are adept arguers and class discussion and debate are encouraged from the earliest forms.

Games, Options, the Arts

One of the few schools where enrichment is genuinely as important as academic. Plenty of trips, masses of fundraising and community service, including Bolivia as part of World Challenge. Swimming outstanding, formidable hockey teams. Netball, tennis, athletics, fencing, basketball, good, strong dance group, aerobics popular. Girls picked for county squads in several sports, 'They get madly keen'. Good facilities: sports hall, Astroturf, squash court, fitness centre, pool. No sports day, GCSE PE on girls' wish list. 1983 Centenary art and design block filled with textiles plus traditional painting and superb ceramics (we liked the busts produced for A level). Girls combine A level art with science and arts subjects.

Many concerts, plays and dance productions – most shared with the boys from over the drive; school symphony orchestra outstanding but lots of performance opportunities for all levels. Drama/theatre studies shared, popular, challenging and deservedly famous under 'very professional ... inspirational' (according to latest Ofsted) and extraordinary teacher. Productions big and small to top standards. Music also outstanding – combined again. Fabulous video technology room with TV cameras, full editing suite, mixing etc. Younger pupils do compulsory creative living, a carousel of ceramics, still photography, electronics, food. Older students are encouraged to do non-exam courses such as sports leadership or video or food technology. Careers advice and work experience all on offer (records kept of university interview experiences and past UCAS personal statements to help current applicants). Stacks of extra-curricular: debating, creative writing, living history and film-making a mere flavour.

Background and Atmosphere

Part of the King Edward Foundation group of schools (all bursarial work carried out jointly), founded in 1883, and followed King Edward's School to present site in 1940. Shares same architect – campus is a pleasing blend of redbrick plus usual later additions; feeling of space and calm inside. Direct grant school until 1976. Girls wear uniform until sixth form, when free rein is given to fashion. Perhaps the happiest and most cohesive staff we've come across – that they are valued (collegiate approach, equal professionals doing different jobs) and encouraged to pursue their interests, not tied down with policies, paperwork and the latest government initiatives must surely be significant. Part of graduate teacher scheme: 'This is a good place to learn to teach,' says head.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

Liberal outlook – girls of all ages trusted and encouraged to take and share responsibility. Staff hold a short weekly meeting to discuss concerns, but have 'been very lucky'. Girls follow a pastoral care and personal decision-making programme and can discuss problems with any member of staff. No prefect system, no head girl, no houses (many girls say they would like houses, especially for sports competitions). No school drugs offence policy – 'Any cases would be dealt with on an individual basis'. No exclusions or 'asked to leave' during current head's tenure. Recognises they also have to help high fliers deal with failure. Staff send girls cards wishing them luck in their exams – a nice touch. Good parental contact. In principle, parents can contact senior staff, head or her deputy 'certainly within the hour', if it is clearly an urgent matter (other schools please note).

Pupils and Parents

Seriously bright children of professional families, middle to lower middle class. Not the tidiest bunch we've seen, not particularly girlie girls, but they are confident, savvy, happy to get stuck in and share responsibility. They take learning seriously (absolutely fine to be clever), live life to the full but enjoy it and have fun along the way. Shares transport system with boys at King Edward's; girls come from as far away as Lichfield, Bromsgrove, Wolverhampton, Solihull. 'Not a school in this league for miles and precious few anywhere,' say parents. Approximately 35 per cent ethnic minorities as you might expect – no problems here. Ecumenical outlook. Active school council – black jumpers and recycling among recent initiatives. Established OG society; currently working to draw more Old Girls into today's school community.

Entrance

School's own very selective test 'designed to test the children, not their teachers' (nice one). School spends two weeks searching the completed tests 'for potential, not raw marks'. About half come from state primaries. Tough entry post-GCSE (and girls are 'warmly welcomed' at this stage) – school's own exam in relevant subjects, plus interview and previous school's report. By their statutes girls have to be resident in the area of the West Midlands with their parent(s).

Exit

Very few after GCSE (having the boys next door removes the urge to fly off to a co-ed), and NB does not chuck girls out for doing badly at GCSE but stands by its commitment to them. 10-20 to Oxbridge and the rest to the top range of universities – Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, London etc, almost always to their first choice. After university to the professions, arts, media, industry, business; school records 'noticeably more and more high achievers – no glass ceiling'.

Money Matters

Assisted places have been replaced by an 'equivalent governors' means-related' scheme - up to 14 places a year. Academic scholarships up to the value of two full-fees at 11 (not more than 50 per cent per pupil).