King Edward VI High School for Girls

Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2UB

‘There is not a school in this league for miles,’ is the verdict of one happy customer. The Sunday Times clearly agreed, recently naming it top Independent School of the Year in 2005. The much-loved head, Sarah Evans, inspires adoration in her pupils and respect in her staff, all of whom share her passion for teaching beyond the strictures of the curriculum. Music and theatrical activities involve the boys’ school as a way of encouraging sixth-formers to stay on rather than seek out a co-ed alternative. The school year finishes with the elegant Syndicate Concert, performed, written and directed by leavers from both schools and accompanied by wine and strawberries in the gardens. This year sees several cultural and social events planned to celebrate the KEHS Foundation’s 125th anniversary – a chance for these high-flyers to let their hair down. The school offers a broad range of sports, with a number of girls gaining honours at national level. Evans is justifiably proud of her girls’ successes, both in and out of the classroom. ‘I just love them all to bits,’ she tells us.