King Edward VI College Stourbridge has topped the Midlands for Oxbridge offers in 2024, according to The Sunday Times (29 June 2025). With 24 students securing places at Oxford or Cambridge, the college outperformed every other state and independent school in the region.
Principal Holly Bembridge said:
“This result reflects the ambition and integrity of our students and staff. We’re proud to be inclusive and rooted in our local community, while also competing — and winning — on a national stage. We want our students not just to aim high, but to thrive in the most demanding academic environments in the country. The fact that our college leads the Midlands — including some of the region’s most prestigious independent schools — shows just how far aspiration and hard work can take you.”
With 87 applicants and a 28% success rate, King Ed’s stands out not just for performance, but for impact. In a national landscape where most Oxbridge offers go to schools in London and the South East, this achievement signals real progress on social mobility.
Ms Bembridge added:
“We don’t chase prestige — it’s about ensuring that talented young people from every background have the support and belief to realise their full potential. That’s what King Ed’s stands for, and we’re proud of every student who takes up that challenge.”
