Founded in 1570 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Bury Grammar School (BGS) boasts a proud heritage of educational excellence. The school was established by Reverend Henry Bury, a wealthy philanthropic clergyman who was committed to educating the people of Bury. He was joined in this endeavour by Reverend Peter Shaw, the Rector of Bury, and Edward Stanley, the third Earl of Derby, who generously donated the land on which the school was built.
Originally located beside the Rectory in Bury, near what is now Bury Parish Church, BGS began as a modest institution likely focused on teaching basic literacy skills. One of the earliest known pupils was a local boy called Thomas Wilde, whose father was given financial help for his son’s education at the School. It is likely that at the start, Bury Grammar School only employed one school master and, initially a boys-only school, BGS opened its doors to girls in 1884, embracing a broader vision of education.
Today, Bury Grammar School is an ambitious and forward-looking institution, offering a co-educational experience from ages 3 to 18. With a strong ethos of aspiration and positivity, we firmly believe in the transformative power of education. Our journey begins in a co-educational Kindergarten, progresses to single-sex education in Senior School from ages 11 to 16, and culminates in a co-educational Sixth Form.
This distinctive structure allows students to benefit from focused-learning environments, while also enjoying the best of both worlds through co-educational activities and a varied enrichment programme. We pride ourselves on fostering confident, well-rounded individuals who are ready to face future challenges.
Transition from one key stage to the next is smooth, as individual pupils’ potential and talents are very well known to us. BGS has a caring and happy environment where each pupil is known and nurtured as an individual. Pupils make friends easily and many friendships formed often last a lifetime.
A curriculum for the 21st century. Our ‘all-through’ curriculum not only reflects our 450+ year history but also equips pupils for life in a global, fast-changing world. The curriculum is designed to meet the evolving demands of higher education while staying true to the values of a traditional grammar school education. Pupils consistently achieve outstanding results at both GCSE and A level, securing places on competitive courses at elite universities.
‘Quality is never an accident: it is always the result of intelligent efforts.’ Quality is the common thread running through our history and into our future: this is the hallmark of a Bury Grammar School education.
We have the facilities to offer extensive sporting and enrichment activities to all our pupils, both indoor and outdoor, with a swimming pool, 3G pitch, outdoor games areas, tennis courts, netball pitches, sprint track, 4 large sports halls, a dance studio, fully equipped gym, a Forest School, athletics field, 2 rugby and 5 football pitches and 2 cricket squares. Our estate provides an exceptional learning environment for all academic subjects, with 17 A level-equipped science labs, art studios designed to allow the flow of natural light to optimise creativity, drama and music studios with light and dark learning areas, and 4 large school halls to showcase performances, plus 4 beautiful libraries designed for peaceful independent and group learning.
Our Primary Division understands the connection between indoor and outdoor learning: their beautiful octagonal hall, PE hall and music rooms compliment their 3G pitch, BGS garden, playgrounds and ample outdoor facilities ready to use whatever the weather.
The Senior classrooms are large and airy, but our class sizes are purposely small, as they are across the whole school – we know all our pupils and we work hard to build strong relationships with them and our parents, so together we provide the best environment for pupils to grow.
Sixth Form enjoy their own dedicated academic area in ‘The Courthouse’, a university-style environment, with seminars conducted in specialist facilities entirely dedicated to A Level teaching and learning, alongside access to The Courthouse Hall, a dedicated café and common rooms for study and socialising.
Leadership, personal development and enrichment. BGS offers outstanding personal development through our Enrichment programme, with over 130 clubs and societies to choose from. Outside the classroom, pupils enjoy an extensive extracurricular programme and grow in confidence and maturity, growing into socially confident people. Above all, we are committed to fostering a happy, inclusive, learning environment where pupils can thrive, try new things without fear of failure and harness their passions, developing transferable skills and broadening interests which will stay with our pupils for life.
The BGS Combined Cadet Force stands as the largest voluntary CCF in the country and boasts a rich legacy as one of the oldest. Our CCF program unites an Army Section affiliated with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and an RAF Section, providing students and pupils with unparalleled opportunities. The CCF, alongside the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and outdoor education experiences, help students to develop leadership, responsibility and resilience. Arts and culture are absolutely central to the ethos and culture of BGS and our well-equipped department encourages creativity in mediums ranging from ceramics to animation. BGS competes in local and national competitions with a considerable degree of success. There is a range of competitions for pupils, which take place across many subject areas. The Biology, Languages and UKMT Challenges, Maths Olympiads and the Rotary Public Speaking events are just a few examples of areas in which BGS pupils can stretch themselves. Aspiring lawyers gain valuable court experience in the Sir Rhys Davies Mock Law Trial too. Music is woven into the fabric of life at BGS, enriching every facet of our educational experience. With a variety of choirs, orchestras and ensembles to join and opportunities to master a wide range of musical instruments, we guide every pupil toward the realisation of their musical potential, nurturing a lifelong love for music and offering chances to compete at local, regional and national levels. For example, the ABRSM and Trinity and LCM examinations, Orchestra Day, AJIS Choral Festival, Rotary Music Competition, National Children's Orchestra, National Youth Band, Hallé Choirs and orchestras. Sports, physical activity and wellbeing are integral components of our comprehensive educational offering. Our commitment to sports is not only about competition; it's about fostering a lifelong passion for physical activity. While our BGS teams engage in hundreds of competitive fixtures annually, our dedication extends beyond the scoreboard. We consistently excel at local, regional and national levels in a wide range of sports, including netball, basketball, rugby, football, swimming, and athletics. Many of our pupils have achieved representative honours, with some even earning international selections, and we have an Elite Sports Programme in place. Beyond these, our sports offerings encompass table tennis, badminton, rounders, tennis, golf, handball and yoga.
Pastoral care. The wellbeing of each pupil is at the heart of Bury Grammar School. We place great emphasis on promoting and safeguarding the health, welfare and safety of children in our care, ensuring that the primary focus is always that pupils are safe, happy, and thriving at BGS. Our pastoral care system ensures that every student feels known, valued and supported, while our dedicated health team and onsite counsellor offer comprehensive care. We take our commitment to inclusivity very seriously here and are proud to be a Gold Standard Centre for Inclusion in Education and an IQM (Inclusion Quality Mark) Centre of Excellence.
Careers. The Careers Department aims to provide all pupils with access to the information and advice they need to make informed and sensible decisions about their futures. Guidance is provided by individual interviews, regular careers conventions, mock interview mornings, a regular Careers newsletter, lectures from Alumni and visiting speakers, the BGS Pathway Plan, the Unifrog and MOOCs systems. All pupils are also required to complete a period of work experience during Year 10 and Year 12.
Bury Grammar School Alumni. Our alumni are leading lights in a wide range of areas: whether they are eminent medics, leading journalists, international sports stars, award-winning actors, renowned academics or dedicated public servants, it is fair to say that Bury Grammar School has proudly played a part in the success of so many ex-students who are making a difference to our society. We teach our students that the sky really is the limit. alumni@burygrammar.com Admission, scholarships and bursaries. Admission is by examination/assessment and interview. Subject to places being available, admission is possible through the year from Kindergarten to Year 8. Usual points of entry are Kindergarten, Primary, Year 7 and Year 12. A limited number of means-tested bursaries, based on academic performance and financial need, are awarded each year.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Senior School and Sixth Form £4,581; Primary Division £3,482 (excluding VAT).
Charitable status. Bury Grammar Schools Charity is a Registered Charity, number 526622. The aim of the charity is to promote educational opportunities for boys and girls living in or near Bury.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
Chair of Governors: Mr R Smyth
Vice Chair of Governors: Ms N Smith
Dr F Dad
Mrs S Gauge
Mr N Greenhalgh
Mr P Lee
Mr D Long
Mr T McDougall
Ms S McNeill
Mr G Yeung
Clerk to the Governors: Mrs A Cloke
Principal of Bury Grammar School: Mrs J Anderson, BA, PGCE, MEd
Deputy Principal, Director of Academic Provision, IT & Operations: Mrs V Leaver, BSc (Geography)
Head of Sixth Form: Miss J Sherriff, BSc (Geography)
Senior Deputy Head, Enrichment and Partnerships: Mr R Lees, BA (MFL)
Senior Deputy Head, Pastoral: Mrs R Newbold, BSc (Physical Education & Geography)
Deputy Head, Educational Visits and Health & Safety: Mr A Dennis, BSc (Mathematics, Head of Outdoor Activities)
Director of Studies: Mrs K Lewis, MSc (Physics)
Director of Communications & School Information: Mrs C Lynskey, BA
Principal’s PA: Mrs A Cloke
Deputy Principal’s PA: Miss E McDonnell