School Address

Contact Information

Email Address enquiry@keaston.bham.sch.uk

Telephone (Main Office) 0121 327 1130

Website Address https://www.keaston.bham.sch.uk%20

Parking in the school

Parking can be found on the school premises and a number of car parks within a 30 minute walk.

• Wilton Street Car Park – Wilton Street, Birmingham, B19 1LB (Opening Times: all day Mon-Sun)
• Adams Street Car Park – Adams Street, Birmingham, B7 4DH (Opening Times: all day Mon-Sat and 08:00-18:00 Sun)

The GL 11 Plus Test: Overview

The GL 11 Plus Test, the entrance test for Birmingham grammar schools, is made up of four components: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal Reasoning. For a detailed breakdown of the entrance test, please read our article  ‘Selective Tests in Birmingham- The GL 11 Plus Test’  

Overview

• Paper One and Paper Two are both 60 minute papers; both include all 4 areas tested by the GL 11 Plus: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal Reasoning. Each area tested has its own section in the paper.

The GL 11 Plus Test: Pass Criteria

Children will receive their test scores by October for the following year of entry. These results are statistically standardised to compare any one child’s score to the average score of their school year. As the results are standardised, younger children are not penalised because of their age. Further, there is no such ‘passing grade’. Instead, there is a ‘qualifying mark’ or “qualifying grade”, variable each year. This qualifying mark is the minimum mark which a child must meet for Aston to consider them for admission. The school estimates the top 25% of students in the country will receive a qualifying grade. For more information please see our article ‘Selective Test in Birmingham – GL 11 Plus’.

Catchment Area

Applicants achieving the ’qualifying score’ or ‘qualifying mark’ are eligible for admission to the school. The “qualifying score” is the minimum standardised score achieved on the entrance test to make them eligible for entry to the school. 

Priority is given to eligible students who reside in the catchment area. The catchment area consists of home addresses that are within the electoral wards in Birmingham and Solihull, set out below. It is notable that these catchment areas are not exact, as they change every year.

Birmingham:

• Alum Rock, Aston, Bromford & Hodge Hill, Castle Vale, Erdington, Garretts Green, Glebe Farm & Tile Cross, Gravelly Hill, Heartlands, Nechells, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, Shard End, Sheldon, Stockland green, Sutton Four Oaks, Sutton Mere Green, Sutton Redicap, Sutton Roughley, Sutton Trinity, Sutton Vesey, Sutton Walmley & Minworth, Sutton Wylde Green, Ward End, Yardley East, Yardley West & Stechford.

Solihull:

• Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Kingshurt & Fordbridge, Smith’s Wood

Additional eligibilities:

While the catchment area outlined above indicates the general method of priority, that priority is given to children who reside in that catchment area, Aston School operates on an additional 5-tier priority basis, outlined below. 

1. First, Looked After (Or Previously Looked After) Children* who have achieved the “qualifying score”. These children will be ranked by test score and then distance to the school;
2. Children who attract the Pupil Premium** and hence are registered for free school meals at any point in the 6 years prior to the closing date for registration and who live in the school catchment area;
3. If fewer than 35 places are filled by children in category 2, offers will be made to children who attract the Pupil Premium**, but live outside the school catchment area;
4. Applicants who achieve the “Priority Score”*** (an above average standard mark, indicating to the schools the most successful children in the Entrance test) and live within the school catchment area*. Applicants in this category will be given priority if they have an older sibling at the school; then ranked by distance from the school;
5. Applicants achieving the “qualifying score”. Applicants in this category will be ranked by test score. Where scores are equal, priority will be given to those with a sibling at the school; then ranked by distance from the school.

*Children who have been in, or previously have been in, the state care of local authorities.

**Children who have been registered for school meals at any point during the 6 years prior to the closing date of registration.

***A mark indicative of overachievement on the entrance test, inducing priority on the child who receives this mark