Private School News

Continued 11+ success for Blue Coat School

Youngsters at a Birmingham primary school have had plenty to celebrate following their successes in this year’s 11+ examinations.

In some of the region’s most competitive examinations 33 children gained places at the city’s maintained grammar schools, representing 66% of their year group.

A further 30 places including 3 scholarships were awarded by King Edward’s School and King Edward VI High School for Girls – two of the country’s leading independent schools – whilst Edgbaston High School offered places and a scholarship to all 12 of Blue Coat’s pupils.

Top performer James Kuo gained both an Academic and a Music Scholarship at King Edward’s School – a signal achievement following his recent success as the school’s youngest pupil to gain a Grade 8 with Distinction on the violin.

Located in Edgbaston the 500-strong preparatory school attributes much of its success to small class sizes, setting in English and Maths, and careful monitoring of each child’s progress. And the teaching of reasoning skills – so essential to 11+ success – forms an integral part of the school’s curriculum.

Headmaster Alan Browning explained: “Our favourable class sizes and setting policy enable us to give individual attention to each child’s needs in both of the core subjects. With a talented staff, supportive parents and a good number of able pupils, we’ve managed to produce another crop of good candidates in this year’s exams.”

Despite its success in the classroom, the school offers a broad extra-curricular programme of around 50 weekly activities, in which several children have achieved national recognition over the past two years.

Deputy Headmaster Richard Lynn commented: “Delighted as we should be by our 11+ successes, we concentrate on developing the whole child, both in and out of the classroom.”