You can do both. Birmingham's main independent schools set their own entrance assessments, and they fall roughly a month after the grammar school test, so a child can sit the West Midlands partnership papers in September and an independent assessment in October.
Plenty of families here do exactly that, and it is the most useful thing to know before you treat this as an either/or decision.
Two tests, two timetables
King Edward's School, Birmingham is the best known of the independent options, part of the same King Edward VI foundation family but fee-paying rather than selective-state.
| West Midlands grammar schools | King Edward's School (independent) | |
|---|---|---|
| Test date | September of Year 6 | Saturday 3 October 2026, for 2027 entry |
| Papers | Two, covering English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning | Two one-hour papers, English and maths, set by the school |
| Reasoning tested? | Yes, 75% of the marks | No, verbal reasoning is no longer included |
| Interview | No | Yes, for a considerable number of candidates |
| Cost of a place | Free | Fees, with means-tested support available |
Those details come from the school's own admissions pages, and the dates move each year, so confirm them before you plan around them.
The independent paper is a different animal
Do not assume preparation transfers cleanly in both directions.
The independent assessment is a harder format in the sense that it is written by the school rather than standardised across nineteen of them, and it drops reasoning in favour of English and maths depth. A child drilled purely on verbal and non-verbal reasoning technique can be caught out.
The flip side is that strong English and maths serve both, which is why the two routes sit together more comfortably than parents expect.
The interview, and what it is really for
A considerable number of boys are invited to interview after the assessment, particularly those being considered for assisted places and scholarships, and borderline candidates.
That is worth reading carefully. An interview invitation is not a formality and it is not necessarily bad news. For a lot of families it is the stage where financial support is decided.
Fees, and the bursaries families talk themselves out of
Be realistic: the default expectation at an independent school is that you pay. A good score alone does not change that.
But the school offers a significant number of means-tested assisted places alongside academic and music scholarships, and this is where I would push back on families who rule themselves out early.
If your household income is low and your child is genuinely exceptional, do not assume the door is closed. Sit the test, apply for the assisted place, and let the school tell you the answer. I have seen that work out far better than families expected.
How to decide
- Sit the grammar test anyway. It is free and it is in September.
- If independent is a serious option, register separately and watch the September application deadline.
- Prepare English and maths properly, since those carry both routes.
- Apply for financial support at the same time, not afterwards.
- Compare real offers in the spring, not hypotheticals in the autumn.
See our guide to the Birmingham grammar schools and our guide to ranking preferences.
See where your child stands today
Timed sections in the GL Assessment format, marked instantly, with a topic-by-topic breakdown. No sign-up to start.
Do not rule yourself out of the fees before you have asked
This question comes up every year. In Birmingham the best known independent option under the King Edward's banner is King Edward's School in Edgbaston, and it runs its own entrance test about a month after the West Midlands one, in October. We have had many students over the years who sat that test in addition to the grammar test in September. It is a unique test and a slightly harder format.
The thing to understand is that most families will be expected to pay fees, even with a good score, and there is an interview as part of it. So go in prepared for that.
But here is what I would really say, and I say it to every family on a lower income who assumes this is not for them. Do not be deterred. If your child is exceptional, a scholarship is a real possibility. We have had students in the past who received a full one hundred percent scholarship on the strength of outstanding results. You will never know if you do not sit the test.
Mushtaque Ahmed, Founder of GrammarPath and Bright Mentors
Frequently asked questions
Can my child sit both the grammar school test and an independent school exam?
Yes, and many Birmingham families do. The West Midlands partnership test is sat in September of Year 6, while King Edward's School's entrance assessment falls about a month later, on Saturday 3 October 2026 for 2027 entry. The two timetables do not clash.
Is the independent school entrance exam harder than the 11+?
It is different rather than simply harder. King Edward's sets two one-hour papers in English and maths, written by the school, and no longer includes verbal reasoning. The grammar school test puts 75% of its marks on reasoning and English, so a child drilled only on reasoning technique can be caught out.
Do you have to be interviewed for an independent school in Birmingham?
At King Edward's, a considerable number of boys are invited to interview after the written assessment, particularly candidates being considered for assisted places and scholarships, and borderline candidates. An interview invitation is a stage in the process rather than a formality or a bad sign.
Can you get a free place at a Birmingham independent school?
There is substantial means-tested support. King Edward's offers a significant number of means-tested assisted places alongside academic and music scholarships. Families on low incomes whose children perform exceptionally should apply rather than assume the fees rule them out.
Should I choose a grammar school or an independent school in Birmingham?
You do not have to choose up front. Sit the grammar test in September, since it is free, and register separately for any independent assessment you are serious about. Prepare English and maths properly because they carry both routes, then compare real offers in the spring rather than hypotheticals in the autumn.