King Edward's School Birmingham offers a broad education where academic excellence is complemented by cultural and personal development.

The aims of King Edward's School are:

• to be an independent school providing education of the highest quality;
• to be open to boys with the ability to benefit from its education regardless of social, religious or ethnic background;
• to treat each boy as a valued individual and to provide an effective system of pastoral care;
• to ensure breadth and balance in the academic curriculum and through a rich and varied extra-curricular programme;
• to promote and develop our links with parents, Old Edwardians and the wider community;
• to enable each boy to fulfil his potential and to grow towards reflective, responsible adulthood.

A good school cannot stand still. A constant programme of improvement is essential.

John Claughton, Chief Master What would we want for our children? We'd want them to live happy, fulfilled lives. In what do happiness and fulfilment consist? Well, I'd say that this doesn't just mean material prosperity. We would all value love and family and friendship, passion for some things in life, an interest in and respect for others and their worlds, the chance of challenge and achievement, an attachment to the life of the mind. If that is what we want for our children, I assume that a school's education should contribute to that end. It shouldn't be about, or only about, success and results and skills and creating units that will contribute to the economic benefit of the community. King Edward's School can and does do success and results. After all, it is one of the best performing independent day schools in this country, but we don't think that's enough. Our declared aim is 'to provide an educational experience that is the richest, most diverse and most exciting possible in an atmosphere that provides support, encouragement and care for everyone, pupils and staff, here. We want our pupils to love coming here and to go from here prepared for all that human life has to offer.' It's easy to write these fine superlatives and comfortable words, but it is something that we are honestly trying to do. We are fortunate with a beautiful site, the freedoms of independence, a pupil population as diverse in background as the city itself, staff of real commitment and relationships of trust and understanding between pupils and staff. And, beyond all that, there is a life that could not be fuller, not of work, but of sport and music and drama and debating and expeditions and societies and camps and trips and laughter. We believe that all of this activity contributes to the happiness and fulfilment of boys now and gives hope that the same things will be found in adult life. We also believe one more thing, that this opportunity should be accessible to as many able boys as possible. To that end, there are substantial funds available through scholarships and Assisted Places to support able boys from families who might not otherwise be able to come. This is central to our purpose and we are trying to extend that provision year by year. This is not a closed world for someone else. It is meant for every boy of talent and aspiration.