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Birmingham grammar schools: pupil-premium priority after the 2026 change

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial Team

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

In short

Every Birmingham grammar school gives some priority to children eligible for the pupil premium, but no extra marks: a child still needs the qualifying score. From September 2026, only "Targeted" free school meals count towards the pupil premium, so children eligible only under the new "Expanded" free school meals do not get pupil premium priority. The King Edward VI schools also set aside a share of places for pupil premium children.

What changed in 2026?

The free school meals rules in England widened. The Government's guidance says that from 2026 to 2027, any family on Universal Credit qualifies for free school mealsFree school meals for families on Universal Credit from 2026Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.View the official source. But it also says only “Targeted” free school meals count towards pupil premium; the new “Expanded” category does notFree school meals: the change from 2026 to 2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) is delivering an expansion to FSM eligibility to include all pupils from households in receipt of Universal Credit. [...] Following the expansion of FSM, only pupils eligible for Targeted FSM will be part of the Ever 6 FSM cohort.View the official source.

the King Edward VI FoundationBirmingham: Test administratorChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: The King Edward VI Foundation arranges the entrance test on behalf of each of the eight grammar schools in Birmingham:View the official source, which arranges the Birmingham test, has applied this to grammar school admissions: from September 2026 only "Targeted FSM" (the £7,400 income threshold) attracts pupil premium; children eligible only under "Expanded FSM" (Universal Credit) do not get pupil premium priorityBirmingham: Pp fsm change2026Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: Pupils who will now be eligible for FSM under the Expanded FSM will not attract the pupil premium and will therefore not receive pupil premium priority within the schools’ admissions policies.View the official source. The Foundation explains that Targeted FSM continues to use the existing £7,400 income thresholdBirmingham: Pp targeted definitionChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: ‘Targeted FSM’, which continues to be based on the existing £7,400 income threshold; andView the official source.

In practice, a family can now receive free school meals and still not count as pupil premium for a grammar school place. If your child started getting free meals only because of the wider rules, check with your primary school which category your child is in before you rely on a pupil premium place.

Who counts as pupil premium for these schools?

The King Edward VI schools use this definition: a child who meets the Government's pupil premium criteria and the primary school receives pupil premium funding for the child at the time of the testKing Edward VI Aston School: Definition (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Aston School.The source says: Children attracting Pupil Premium are those who meet the Government's criteria for Pupil Premium and whose primary school is in receipt of Pupil Premium funding for them at the time of the entrance test.View the official source.

Under the Government's rules, the pupil premium covers, among others:

  • children recorded for free school meals now or in the past 6 yearsPupil premium: free school meals now or in the last six yearsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: pupils who are recorded as eligible for free school meals (FSM), or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years (referred to as Ever 6 FSM)View the official source
  • children who were previously in care, including adopted childrenPupil premium: children who were in careChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: children previously looked after by a local authority or other state care, including children adopted from state care or equivalent from outside England and WalesView the official source

The "now or in the past 6 years" part matters. A child who had Targeted free school meals in an earlier year may still count, even if the family's circumstances have changed since.

Two groups cannot use the pupil premium route, because the definition depends on a state primary school receiving the funding: home-educated and independent-school pupils cannot be considered under pupil premiumBirmingham: Pp independent homeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: Therefore, if your child is home educated or attends an independent school they will not be eligible to be considered under the pupil premium criterion.View the official source.

How does the priority work at the King Edward VI schools?

Across Birmingham, every Birmingham grammar school gives some priority to pupil premium applicantsBirmingham: Pp all schoolsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: Each of the grammar schools in Birmingham offer some priority to pupil premium applicants within their admissions policies.View the official source. There are 6Birmingham: King edward schoolsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: There are six grammar schools within the King Edward VI Academy Trust:View the official source King Edward VI grammar schools, and each publishes its own admissions policy. At King Edward VI Aston, for example, places are offered in this order: (1) Looked-after and previously looked-after children with the qualifying score (by score, then distance). (2) Pupil premium children with the qualifying score living in the catchment area (by distance). (3) If category 2 fills under 25% of places: pupil premium children outside the catchment area, by score, up to 25% in total. (4) Children with the priority score living in the catchment area (older sibling first, then distance). (5) All other children with the qualifying score, by score (then sibling, then distance).King Edward VI Aston School: Oversubscription criteria (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Aston School.The source says: Where the number of eligible applications for admission exceeds the number of places available at the school, places are offered as follows:View the official source

Put simply:

  1. Every child must reach the qualifying score. For 2027 entry that was 205Birmingham: Qualifying score2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: The Qualifying Score for all of the Birmingham grammar schools for 2027 entry is 205.View the official source. The Foundation confirms: no extra marks for pupil premium; the qualifying score still appliesBirmingham: Pp no extra marksChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: extra marks are not awarded in the entrance test to applicants registered as pupil premium.View the official source.
  2. Pupil premium children inside the catchment come next after looked-after children, in order of distance from the school, not score.
  3. Pupil premium children outside the catchment can then be offered places in score order, but only up to the share of places set in the policy.
  4. Other children inside the catchment need the higher priority score, which was 224Birmingham: Priority score2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: The Priority Score for all of the King Edward VI Grammar Schools for 2027 entry is 224.View the official source for 2027 entry.

Taken together, at Aston this means at least 25% of places through the pupil premium categories (in-catchment first, then out-of-catchment up to 25%)King Edward VI Aston School: Places (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Aston School.The source says: If fewer than 25% of places offered (rounded to the nearest whole number) are offered to applicants in category 2, offers will be made to children attracting the Pupil Premium who achieve the qualifying score and live outside the catchment area, until a total of 25% of places have been offered.View the official source. Check each King Edward VI school's own policy for its exact categories.

How is Bishop Vesey's different?

Bishop Vesey's Grammar School uses distance zones instead of a catchment. Its order of priority is: (1) Looked-after and previously looked-after boys (including those adopted from care abroad) who reach the qualifying score, by score. (2) Up to 38 Pupil Premium boys living in Zone 1 (within 12 miles) who reach the qualifying score, by score; unfilled places go to Pupil Premium boys in Zone 2, then Zone 3. (3) Other boys living in Zone 1 (within 12 miles) who reach the qualifying score, by score. (4) Other boys living in Zone 2 (12 to 20 miles) who reach the qualifying score, by score. (5) If places remain, boys living in Zone 3 (over 20 miles), by score.Bishop Vesey's Grammar School: Oversubscription criteria (2027)Checked 13 Oct 2026 against Bishop Vesey's Grammar School.The source says: Where the number of applications for admission exceeds the number of places available at the school, places are offered to children as follows:View the official source

So at Bishop Vesey's, pupil premium places are capped rather than aimed at a share: no more than 38 pupils (Zone 1)Bishop Vesey's Grammar School: Places (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Vesey's Grammar School.The source says: Children attracting the Pupil Premium living within Zone 1, who achieve the qualifying score by rank order of standardised score but limited to no more than 38 pupils in this category;View the official source, filled in score order.

The evidence step is also different: Only families applying for a pupil premium place: tick the pupil premium box when registering for the test and send the school proof of pupil premium status. The school's two versions of its 2027 policy give different deadlines (before test day, or the end of November 2026), so check with the school.Bishop Vesey's Grammar School: Supplementary form (2027)Checked 12 Oct 2026 against Bishop Vesey's Grammar School.The source says: Parents/carers must submit a completed Pupil Premium eligibility form before the day of the entrance test and any evidence received after this date will be considered as lateView the official source

For 2028 entry, the school's published policy shows: No substantive change from the September 2027 V2 policy apart from dates (registration deadline 30 June 2027 4pm; Zone 1 evidence by 31 October 2027; pupil premium evidence by end of November 2027)Bishop Vesey's Grammar School: Changes (2028)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Vesey's Grammar School.The source says: The deadline to submit your selective test form is 30 June 2027 at 4PM.View the official source.

What about Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls?

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls sets its own admission rules. Its full 2027 policy was not available for us to check, so we cannot set out its pupil premium category here. Two things are confirmed:

  • The form: Only families applying for a pupil premium place need an extra form: a pupil premium form, completed by your child's primary school, uploaded when you register for the entrance test.Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls: Supplementary form (2027)Checked 12 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: For your child to be considered for places at any of the grammar schools under the pupil premium criterion, you must upload an additional form after it has been completed by your child’s primary school when registering for the entrance test.View the official source
  • Equal scores: equal scores: looked-after children first, then pupil premium, then nearest to the schoolSutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls: Tie break (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls.The source says: Firstly to looked-after or previously looked-after children, Second to students eligible for the Pupil Premium and, Lastly to those who live closest to the School.View the official source.

Please read the school's own policy before you rely on a pupil premium place there.

What do families need to do, and when?

The pupil premium priority is not automatic. You have to ask for it, with your child's primary school's help, and on time.

  • At the King Edward VI schools: Only families applying for a pupil premium place need an extra form: a pupil premium form, completed by your child's primary school, uploaded when you register for the entrance test.King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls: Supplementary form (2027)Checked 12 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: For your child to be considered for places at any of the grammar schools under the pupil premium criterion, you must upload an additional form after it has been completed by your child’s primary school when registering for the entrance test.View the official source At Aston, the rule is: Submit a completed Pupil Premium eligibility form before the day of the entrance testKing Edward VI Aston School: Evidence rule (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Aston School.The source says: Parents/carers must submit a completed Pupil Premium eligibility form before the day of the entrance test.View the official source.
  • The form for 2027 entry became available on 5 May 2026Birmingham 2027 entry: Pp form availableChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: The form will be available for download from 5th May 2026 when test registration opens.View the official source.
  • Registering late: children registered for pupil premium after the 12 September 2026 test date are not considered for pupil premium placesBirmingham: Pp late registrationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.The source says: Children who subsequently become registered for pupil premium after the entrance test date of 12th September 2026 will not be considered for one of the pupil premium places.View the official source.
  • Applying for the place: apply to your home council as well as registering for the testBirmingham: Council applicationChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Birmingham City Council.The source says: Applying to sit an entry test is not the same as asking for a place at the school (an expression of preference).View the official source. Registering for the test, and sending the pupil premium form, are not an application.

If you think your child may be eligible but are not sure, start with the primary school, because the definition depends on the funding the school receives. If you have not applied for free school meals, apply through your local councilPupil premium: Fsm apply whereChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Check if your child can get free school meals in England and find out how to apply on your local authority’s website.View the official source.

What should Year 5 families know for 2028 entry?

When we last checked, the 2028-entry test dates had not been published. Bishop Vesey's has published its 2028 policy, as shown above. For the other schools, please don't assume the 2027 rules, scores or deadlines will carry over unchanged. Our Birmingham 11+ guide is updated as each school publishes.

The 2026 change to free school meals may affect some Year 5 families. If your family's free school meals started under the new wider rules, it is worth checking the pupil premium position with your primary school well before test registration opens.

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked on 13 October 2026: the King Edward VI Foundation, King Edward VI Aston School, King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls and the Department for Education (GOV.UK).

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with the King Edward VI Foundation or any Birmingham grammar school. How we make our content.