The Manchester Grammar School was founded in 1515 to promote ‘godliness and good learning’, and it has endeavoured throughout its history to remain true to these principles, whilst adapting to changing times. It is now an independent boys’ day school with around 1,600 pupils. Almost all leavers go on to university, and there is a strong tradition of boys progressing to Oxford and Cambridge and other leading Russell Group universities. A number of pupils each year obtain offers from prestigious US universities. Over 150 qualified teaching staff provide all pupils with a broad, traditional and flexible curriculum; for example, boys may study up to five languages at GCSE, from a choice of Latin, Greek, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. Courses studying Archaeology and Anthropology and Cyber Security and Cryptography are also available as part of the enrichment programme in the Sixth Form. The School offers a vast and diverse range of co-curricular opportunities.
The tradition of offering places to clever pupils regardless of their background is maintained by MGS bursaries. Approximately 200 pupils in the school receive means-tested bursaries. Our pupils come both from primary and preparatory schools and represent a wide variety of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Registration and Entry. Entry to the Junior School is considered at age 7, 8, 9 and 10, subject to availability at any stage during the academic year. Junior School pupils progress automatically to the Senior School. Entry for most other boys joining the School is at age 11, although entry at other ages is considered, subject to availability and applicants for Sixth Form entry are particularly welcomed. At all levels the normal assessment for entry involves prospective pupils spending a day in School, being taught and assessed in small groups. Alongside these assessment days, there is an entrance exam for entry at age 11. Sixth Form entrants have to meet GCSE grade requirements. Further details are available from the Admissions Office.
Fees per term (2023-2024). £15,180 per year, or £5,060 per term.
Bursaries. 200 pupils currently receive full or partial bursaries. Bursary places are available for boys joining Years 3 and 4, Year 7 and the Sixth Form, with the majority of funding being offered for entry in Year 7, and are only offered to families who are permanently resident in the UK, and living the North West of England, at the point of application. The School's ability to offer bursaries depends upon the level of funding available. The School does not offer academic scholarships.
Junior School. The Junior School opened in September 2008 in award-winning accommodation. It admits boys from age 7 and currently has approximately 240 pupils. There is a strong focus in its curriculum on creativity, academic enrichment and skills-based learning. Specialist teachers from the Senior School contribute to the academic enrichment in Years 5 and 6.
Senior School Organisation and Curriculum. During the first two years, the boys will study English, Mathematics, a modern foreign language (French, German, Russian, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese are offered), Classics (including Latin) History, Geography, General Science, Religious Studies, PSHE, Computing, Music, Art & Design, Drama, PE, Swimming and Games. Greek, Italian and Electronics are introduced as options in Year 9; there is also the opportunity for pupils who have not already done so to take up languages offered in Year 7. In Year 10, pupils may opt to study for an AS Extended Project Qualification; Classical Civilisation is also offered. Pupils make GCSE choices towards the end of Year 9 and typically take ten subjects, including Mathematics, English, English Literature, a language and at least one science subject.
In the Sixth Form, A Level and Pre-U courses are offered, with each department selecting the course which offers the best preparation for university; in addition, all pupils participate in the School’s own non-examined enrichment programme, which includes a philosophical and critical thinking course (Perspectives).
Pastoral Care. Each form in the school is looked after by a Tutor, who is responsible, with the appropriate senior members of staff, for the academic and general progress of each pupil. In the Senior School Tutors work with no more than 13 boys. Regular written reports are supplemented by Parents’ Evenings. The School Medical Room is staffed by a part-time doctor and two full-time Nursing staff. The older pupils selected as prefects are encouraged to help younger pupils in running societies and other co-curricular activities.
Creative Arts. All pupils experience Music, Art & Design and Drama within the curriculum; in addition, each of these areas offers activities to large numbers of pupils during the lunch-hour and after school. There are choirs, orchestras and instrumental tuition; plays, drama workshops and musicals; clubs for art, pottery, and computer design. There are regular exhibitions and public performances both in school and in public venues. The School has a well-equipped theatre and drama studios, providing many opportunities for pupils both to perform and provide technical support for productions.
Sport. All boys take part in timetabled games and the school produces successful teams in most sports. A new sports hall opened in 2015 and a water-based hockey pitch was added in 2018; there are extensive playing fields, a gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, squash courts, tennis courts and fitness suite. The choice of sport increases with age, to include rowing and climbing in addition to mainstream sports. The importance of positive competition and the value of teamwork are understood very strongly here. Our philosophy in sport is that every boy is important to us and can develop as sportsmen irrespective of his starting point. We also have sporting programmes in place which enable the better sportsmen to achieve their true potential. Specialist coaches help develop the skills of players, and many members of the teaching staff manage teams and deliver coaching sessions themselves, helping to form close bonds between boys and teachers. Boys in the Junior School also participate in a range of sports (with a 100% participation rate in our major games of rugby, football, hockey, and cricket), with current pupils performing at an Elite level within Gymnastics, representing GB U12 Tennis and affiliated to elite football clubs. Swimming and Water-Polo are a cornerstone of PE & Sport at MGS including our individualised swim development programme which caters for those less able in the water. Water-Polo teams enjoy national success across all age groups while our swimmers attend all ESSA and HMC national competitions. We do not offer sports scholarships; however, our Elite Performer Programme supports our high-achieving sportsmen and balances the demands on leading performers in multiple sports. In recent years, we have supported our national individual sportsmen in sailing, windsurfing, cycling and fencing, to complement the achievements of boys within teams.
Outdoor Pursuits. The school has a long tradition of camping and trekking and there are numerous weekend and holiday excursions. The School is the largest centre for D of E in the North West. Mountain activity days are offered most weekends, free of charge. Four annual camps cater for the full age range and offer a wide choice of activities. In recent years expeditions have visited the Alps, the Pyrenees, Morocco and Scandinavia. The School has two centres in Cumbria and one in Derbyshire.
Foreign Visits. Many trips abroad are organised each year, providing enjoyable holidays of broad educational value. Destinations include France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, India and China.
Societies and Activities. There are over 100 clubs and activities available to boys at The Manchester Grammar School, and pupils can also start their own clubs. Across the school, there are over 70 regular clubs and society activities, over and above those connected with Music, Sport, Outdoor Pursuits and Volunteering. These mainly take place at lunchtime and after school. Post-covid there has been a huge resurgence, especially in Chess, Pottery and Bridge among others. It is a joy to watch boys duelling at chess while eating their sandwich lunches or the ever present Latin Scrabble Club! Boys often organise new activities, for example, the new Year 7 Engineers are currently dreaming of launching a rocket. At the senior end, MUN is very popular and busy, while clubs such as Berkeley Society, Wildlife Soc, Pi Shop (Mathematics), Doc. Soc. and Eng. Soc., which are all led by pupils, flourish.
Prizes and Scholarships. In addition to bursaries, funds are provided for grants to help deserving pupils with the expense of a range of co-curricular activities. Prizes are awarded in all subjects in the curriculum.
Old Mancunians’ Association and MGS Parents’ Society. The Old Boys’ Association has a well developed network all over the world. There is an annual Old Boys’ Dinner in Manchester with further events in the UK and overseas. The Development Office Administrator is Julie Wright, who can be reached at the School.
The MGS Parents’ Society has a membership of parents and friends and exists to support school activities and promote a programme of social events.
Charitable status. The Manchester Grammar School is a Registered Charity which provides Public Benefit. The aim of the School is to prepare able boys from the Manchester area, regardless of their financial background, to proceed to university and make a positive contribution to society in their adult life.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Dr David Barker
Mr Allan Beardsworth
Mrs Clare Bolton (Chair)
Professor David A Cardwell
Ms Joy Kingsley
Mr Brandon Leigh (Treasurer)
Mrs Jane Luca
Dr Helen Moore
Dr Jonathan R W Prag
Mr Robert Race
Mr Michael Robinson
Mr John Young
Ex officio Governors:
The Dean of Manchester
The Lord Mayor of Manchester
Bursar and Clerk to the Governors: Mrs G M Batchelor, BSc
High Master: Dr M A Boulton, BEng, PhD
Deputy High Master: Mrs M A S Lowe, BA, MPhil, MEd
Academic Deputy Head: B Bowles, MEng, MMath
Academic Deputy Head Teaching and Learning: D O Lacey, BA, MEd
Deputy Head Safeguarding & Designated Safeguarding Lead: D Farr, MA
Deputy Head Pastoral & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: S Crawshaw, BSc, MA, PhD
Surmaster & Head of Co-Curriculum: J W Mangnall, MA
Head of Junior School: E R Losse, MA
Director of Development: S P Jones, BA, MBA
Head of Lower School: P W Freeman, BSc, MSc
Head of Middle School: P J Higgins, BSc
Head of Sixth Form: M D Corbett, BSc
Assistant Head: S Foster, BA, MA
Proctors: S E Jones, BA; D M Taylor, BA
Director of Admissions: D L Virr, BSc
Director of Studies: D Jeys, BSc, MA
Academic Staff:
* Head of Department/Subject
Art and Design:
R E Berry, BA
K Davidson, BA, MA
J Dobbs, BA, MAEd
L J Murphy, BA, MA*
S Taylor, BA
Biology:
J Blair, BSc*
S G Crawshaw, BSc, MA, PhD
P W Freeman, BSc
E Loh, BSc, MSc, PhD
N A Loughlin, BSc
C Morgan, BSc
N Rowlands, BSc, MSc
E Tal, BA
A Wicking, BA
Chemistry:
I Airth, BSc
C Buckley, BSc
M Facchini, BSc, MSc
S Graham, MSci, PhD
H M Hughes, BSc
T C James, BSc
H Martin, MChem
F C Roberts, MChem*
G M Tinker, MEng
Classics:
L D Hopkins, BA, MPhil, DPhil
F E Hunt, BA
E Nabney, BA, MA, PhD
C A Owens, BA, MA*
S R Sharma, BA, MPhil
C Sykes, BA, MA
N G Williams, BA
Computing:
R Brown, BSc
B J Charlton, MSci
D E Millington, MSc, BSc*
D Soon, BSc, MBA, MBCS
Duke of Edinburgh:
M D Rollinson, BSc, MEd
S Wild*
Drama:
H Baldwin, BA
J Best, BA
M J Nichols, BA*
J Sherratt, BA
K Tetley, BA
Economics:
I Iliffe, BA, MBA
G R McSherry, BSc*
A E Rigler, BA
D Wilson, BA, MA
Electronics:
D P Smith, MEng, PhD*
English:
R E Adams, MA, MA
E C Appleton, BA, MA
A Dixon, BA
J L Geldard, BA, MA, MA
J Grant, BA, MEd
R Keep, MA Cantab, PGDipEd
A Lloyd-Hughes, BA
C E McCarthy, BA, MA
I McConnell, BA, MA
H Sargeant, BA, MA
B Townsend, BA
S Van der Ouderaa, MA
J Welsh, BA, MA
L F Williamson, BA, MA*
General Science:
H Beaumont, MEng
D W Inglis, BSc, PhD*
D L Virr, BSc
Geography:
F C G Baker, BA
M D Corbett, BSc
A Curry, BSc
P J Higgins, BSc
J W Mangnall, MA
M A Nowell, BSc
L E Price, BA, MA, PhD
M D Rollinson, BSc, MEd
S P G Spratling, BA
P J Wheeler, BSc*
History:
G R Barker, MA
N Carter, MA
K Edwards, BA
A R T Hern, BA MPhil, MPhil*
J Hopkins, BA, MA, PhD
D O Lacey, BA, MEd
M A S Lowe, BA, MPhil, MEd
S Orth, BA, MA, PhD
W B Pye, BA
A M Smith, MA
M G P Strother, MA, MPhil, MSt
D M Taylor, BA
Junior School:
C T Ashurst, BA, MEd
J M Aspinall, BA
K V Atty, BA
D R Barnett, BEd
J M Barnett, BA
A J Bentley, LLB
A G Bird, BSc
C E Boddington, BSc
S C Callaghan, BA
C Daly, BA
L I Doyle, BEd
D D Freeborn, BA
T O Glennie, BA
N J Grundy, BA
F E Jones, BSc
E R Losse, MA* (Head of the Junior School)
S Mercer-Murray, BMus
J Robinson, BA
E Thompson
L Wass, BEd
Teaching Assistants:
L L Birch²
C M Burke²
S Butt²
J S Caverly²
K Faulkner²
E Malik²
C Mercer²
S Reed²
N Reynolds²
J Robinson²
C Shovlar2
V Tierney²
Mathematics:
J K Allinson, BA, MA
J P Barker, BSc
B Bowles, MEng, MMath
A E Carolan, BSc
A R Davies, BSc, MSc
T J Dessain, MMATH, PhD
L Devlin, MSci
A Graham, BA, MA, PhD*
D Jeys, BSc, MA
I Z Khan, BSc
M Lawley, MSci, PhD
L Lawrence, MMath
S J Leigh, BEng
O W J Llewellyn-Smith, BSc
J L McMillan, BSc, MA
G J Morris, BSc
D V Naughton, MM, PhD
J Parkinson-Jones, MMATH
T J Pattison, BSc, MIMA, CMath
R Varro-Zelena
R T Watt, BSc
Modern Foreign Languages:
D Bannatyne, MA
P J Chadwick, BA, MA, DPhil
K David, MA
A P Dobson, BA, MA
A V Hemsworth, BA*
J A Houghton, BA*
A Jacinto, BA*
S E Jones, BA, MEd
R Lan, BA, MA*
S Lu, BA
D Minguito-Pantoja, BA
M Morato
R J Neal, BA, MA, MEd
S J Paulson, BA
E Rayers, BA
G Rrugeja
N J Sharples, BA, MA*
C J Shaw, BA
L Speed, Mosc Dipl*
E Stafford, BA
Language Assistants:
G Bozzi¹
C Granger¹
G Hernandez
A Schutz¹
N Vazquez Miro¹
E Velardi¹
M Zhao¹
Music:
G Blackwell
F A Bradley, BMus
H Butchart, BA, LTCL, ARCM
R M Carey, MA*
E L Jackson, BMus
PSHE:
C E McCarthy, BA, MA*
Physical Education:
T A Grainger, BSc, MA
R F Jennings, BA
A Khares
J L Leggett, BA
D R Paddon
M J Roe, BSc
S Swindells, RFU II, RFU III
W Van Zyl, BSc
M Watkinson, Levels 1-4 Coaching Cricket*
G Wilson, Euro I
T C Young, BA
Physics:
M A Boulton, BEng, PhD
N W Davenport, BEng
J Holt, BSc, DPhil*
A J Marsden, MSc, PhD
S H McGarry, BEng, MSc
R W Morley, BSc, MA
S U Riley, BEng, PhD
M Saghir, MSc, BSc, PhD
D P Smith, MEng, PhD
L Thewles, BSc
Politics:
S Foster, BA, MA, LLB
E C Kilheeney, PhD, BA, MA*
Religion and Philosophy:
M W Bolton, MA
A Brower Latz, BA, MA, PhD*
M P A Coffey, MA, MA
D Farr, MA
A Greggs, BA
J Kenny, BA, MA
N D Raven, BD, MTH
A N Smith, BA
SEND:
A V Batchelor, BSc, MA
H Butchart, BA, LTCL, ARCM*
R Daws, BSc, MEd
R Malhotra3
I Merlo3
L Merlo, BA, MA
H E Sargeant, BA, MA
* head of department
¹ language assistant
² teaching assistant
3 SEND assistant
PA to the High Master: P Harrison
Admissions Office Manager: K Heathcote