Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
About the school
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (BVGS) is a selective state grammar school with academy status in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England. Founded in 1527, it is one of the oldest schools in Britain, the oldest state school in the West Midlands and the third oldest school in the West Midlands after two independent schools, Bablake School and Wolverhampton Grammar School. The school had boarders until 1969 but is now a day school only. The school was founded in 1527 by the Bishop of Exeter John Vesey (formerly John Harman) who was a friend of Henry VIII and tutor of his elder daughter Queen Mary I, and it currently has approximately 1025 pupils. The current headteacher is Dominic Robson, who was appointed to the position in September 2012. In 2004 BVGS became a Language College and, in 2007, the school gained Training School status. Former Assistant Headteacher Steve Baugh served as head of the Training School and Continuing Professional Development. The school also houses a co-educational sixth form college. It is situated on the A5127, next to Birmingham Metropolitan College (former Sutton Coldfield College) and the Cross-City Line.
Latest Ofsted inspection
Published Ofsted information, current as at 31 July 2026. Inspection outcomes are not performance rankings.
- Latest inspection
- 30 April 2024
- Published
- 9 June 2024
- Inspection type
- S5 Inspection
- Latest outcome
- Outstanding
Previous inspection framework
These judgements are retained by Ofsted from an earlier inspection framework.
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Yes
Early years
Not applicable
Sixth form
Outstanding
Results and school context
GCSE and key stage 4
Attainment 8
- School
- 77.1
- Birmingham
- 46.6
- England
- 46.1
Progress 8
The DfE has not published this measure for 2024/25.
- School
- N/A
- Birmingham
- N/A
- England
- N/A
English and maths grade 5+
- School
- 97.40%
- Birmingham
- 45.40%
- England
- 45.40%
English and maths grade 4+
- School
- 97.40%
- Birmingham
- 64.20%
- England
- 64.80%
EBacc entry
- School
- 93.20%
- Birmingham
- 47.60%
- England
- 40.50%
EBacc average point score
- School
- 7.51
- Birmingham
- 4.15
- England
- 4.09
A levels and sixth form
Average A-level grade
- School
- B+
Average A-level points
- School
- 44.36
AAB or better
- School
- 45.20%
Pupil context and attendance
DfE context data for 2024/25. These characteristics provide context and are not quality ratings.
Pupils on roll
1413
Girls
7.50%
Boys
92.50%
SEN support
6.86%
Education, health and care plan
0.50%
English as an additional language
26.90%
Eligible for free school meals in the past six years
14.30%
Overall absence
5.11
Persistent absence
17.96
Pupil destinations
DfE destination measures from the 2024/25 release. These outcomes are published after a time lag.
After Key Stage 4
Cohort
159
Sustained education or employment
98%
Education
97%
Apprenticeship
1%
Employment
0%
Not sustained
2%
After 16–18 study
Cohort
211
Sustained education or employment
90%
Higher education
73%
Further education
1%
Apprenticeship
3%
Employment
9%