- Location
- Southampton
- Age range
- 10–19
- Attendance
- Day school
About King Edward VI School
Schoolscout directory record ·
King Edward VI School offers a vibrant and enriching educational experience for students, fostering both academic excellence and personal growth. With a st...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon — colloquially known as "the Stratford Grammar" — has its origins in the thirteenth-century Guild Hall school of Stratford-upon-Avon and was formally re-founded in 1553 by King Edward VI as part of the post-Reformation reorganisation of English chantry schools. The school's current foundation has therefore operated continuously for 472 years; its educational lineage in Stratford stretches back over 700 years. The school is co-educational only in the Sixth Form (Years 12-13); Years 7-11 are boys-only. Today it educates around 872 pupils. The Headmaster is Bennet Carr.
The school is most famous because William Shakespeare — born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 and widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language — almost certainly attended it as a boy in the 1570s. Although no school registers survive from Shakespeare's period, it is overwhelmingly accepted by scholars that the son of John Shakespeare, an alderman of Stratford with the entitlement to a free place at the grammar school, was a pupil at what was then the only school in the town. The Tudor schoolroom in which Shakespeare would have been taught — a Grade I listed building on Church Street — still stands and continues in use today as part of the school. The schoolroom can be visited as a museum.
Shakespeare's near-contemporary Richard Field — the printer who published Venus and Adonis (1593) and The Rape of Lucrece (1594), Shakespeare's earliest published works, in his London printshop — was a slightly older pupil at the same school. Another contemporary was Robert Dibdale, a Catholic priest who was martyred at Tyburn in 1586 and beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1987. From earlier in the school's history, the brothers John and Robert de Stratford — both educated at the medieval Guild school — became Archbishop of Canterbury (John, 1333-48, also Treasurer and Chancellor of England) and Bishop of Chichester respectively.
The school is a member of the HMC. The school operates a substantial bursary programme via the King Edward VI Foundation, intended to maintain the 1553 royal foundation principle of providing educational access for the boys and girls of Warwickshire regardless of family means.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 13th-century origins; re-founded 1553 by King Edward VI — 472 years on current foundation, 700+ years total
- Most famous alumnus: William Shakespeare (born Stratford-upon-Avon 1564)
- Boys-only Years 7-11; co-educational Sixth Form
- ≈872 pupils
- Set in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
- HMC member; the principal independent school of Shakespeare country
- School building includes the original 'Schoolroom' (a Grade I listed Tudor building) Shakespeare himself would have known
- Substantial bursary programme via the King Edward VI Foundation
- 992-pupil community
- A-Level A*-B*: 36% achieve AAB+
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 10–19
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Religious ethos
- None listed in this source
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Literature (William Shakespeare alumnus)
- Drama (school is in the home town of England's national playwright)
- Classics
- Modern languages
- Sciences
- Music
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Warwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Imperial)
- Royal Shakespeare Company / Globe Theatre internships
- US universities
Alumni notes
- William Shakespeare (the playwright; widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language)
- Robert Dibdale (Catholic priest and martyr; beatified 1987; possibly a contemporary of Shakespeare at the school)
- Richard Field (Elizabethan printer; published Shakespeare's poems Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece)
- John de Stratford (Archbishop of Canterbury, 1333-48; Treasurer and Chancellor of England)
- Robert de Stratford (Bishop of Chichester; principal minister to Edward III)
- William Wyse (Cambridge classical scholar)
- Numerous Stratford-upon-Avon civic and cultural figures across 500 years of the school's history
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Bennet Carr
- Founded
- 1553
- Religious ethos
- Church of England
- Campus setting
- Urban
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Additional source record ·
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options not indicated in this record; availability unconfirmed.
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 992
- Boys
- 583 · 58.77%
- Girls
- 409 · 41.23%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 213 · 21.47%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 1 · 0.1%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.71 (Well Above Average)
- Average grade
- A-
- AAB percentage
- 35.80%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | Lower amount: £9,612 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
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Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is King Edward VI School?
King Edward VI School is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 10 to 19, located near Southampton in Hampshire. The school offers education from Prep through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to King Edward VI School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Applications typically begin 1–2 years in advance and may include registration, assessments and interviews. Families can explore the UK private school admissions timeline to understand key dates and entry points.
What are the fees at King Edward VI School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Fees for King Edward VI School vary by year group, with typical termly costs around £9,612.
Is King Edward VI School a day or boarding school?
King Edward VI School offers day options. Where boarding is available, this may include full, weekly or flexi arrangements.
Is King Edward VI School selective?
King Edward VI School may use interviews or entrance assessments as part of its admissions process.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Wilton Road
- Town / locality
- Southampton
- County
- Hampshire
- Region
- South East
- Postcode
- SO15 5UQ
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationWilton Road, Southampton, Hampshire, South East, SO15 5UQSchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Additional source record ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.