King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) is celebrating being named the top independent school in the West Midlands for academic performance for the third consecutive year.
It is the fifth time in seven years that the school has been ranked first in a Sunday Times Parent Power Guide for West Midlands independent secondary schools.
The guide, which is published online today and will be available in print on Sunday (3 December), ranks schools according to their public exam results from this year. The performance of KEHS GCSE and A Level pupils earned the school the title of “West Midlands Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance”, an accolade it will hold for the entirety of 2024. It is placed 10th nationally, a rise from 15th last year. This is a tremendous achievement for a school based outside of London and the South East, the region which dominates the top rankings.
Second in the West Midlands is Concord College, an international boarding school near Shrewsbury, while the third-placed school is much closer to home, being KEHS’s “brother” King Edward’s School, Birmingham.
Kirsty von Malaisé, KEHS Principal, said: “We’re delighted to be named the West Midlands Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance and that our pupils’ consistent success over a number of years has been recognised in this way. We celebrate the team effort from pupils, their families and our dedicated staff.
“Our staff are passionate about their subjects and encourage lively questioning and engagement, teaching beyond the curriculum. Giving space for independent study, such as through our renowned Athena Programme, which sees pupils from Year 7 upwards exploring their own academic interests, is hugely important here, as is interdisciplinary learning, making connections between different subjects. Our programmes beyond the formal curriculum are also essential in developing intellectual courage, curiosity and confidence.
“Our pupils’ consistently outstanding achievements are not only the result of expert teaching in a supportive and pastorally-rich environment, but are also a byproduct of our all-round education. We feel a particular sense of pride in the huge range of individual pursuits and passions, be they in sport, the arts, clubs and societies, fundraising or serving the local community, which underpin our pupils’ academic successes.
“It is also a source of great pride that both KEHS and KES are ranked in the top three independent schools regionally. Both schools are renowned for their commitment to accessibility, providing unrivalled education for the brightest girls and boys from across the West Midlands, irrespective of their family circumstances.”
Helen Davies, Editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2024, said: “The educational landscape continues to be challenging across both the state and independent sectors, and this is the first true assessment of post-pandemic exam results. We believe these rankings – and all the additional information on offer in Parent Power – provide parents with a more reliable guide to academic achievement in schools today.”
KEHS and KES are part of the King Edward VI Foundation, which aspires to make Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK.
In addition to its consistent top academic rankings, KEHS is often listed among the country’s best value independent schools.
