Our history dates back to the time of Henry VIII when The Manchester Grammar School was founded in 1515 by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, to provide 'godliness and good learning' to the poor boys of Manchester.

The School proceeded to build a reputation as one of the country’s leading educational establishments, a position it still holds today as an independent day school.

Much has changed in the intervening five hundred years, but our core mission to educate the brightest young men in the North of England regardless of their social, cultural, religious and financial background, has not.

We aim to teach boys to think for themselves and to develop a life-long love of learning. Lessons are taught by academic specialists with a passion for their subject, and teaching goes well beyond the narrow confines of examination syllabuses, offering our students the best preparation for the very top universities, both in this country and abroad.

There is, however, much more to an MGS education than what happens in the classroom. What makes this School truly special is the outstanding achievement of our pupils in areas such as sport, music and drama, and in keeping with Hugh Oldham’s aims we produce well rounded young men who have a true sense of service to their communities.

As a former MGS pupil myself, I know just how much of an impact the School has had on my life. This is an extraordinary school, and I am very proud of all that we do. An education at MGS is a true adventure for ambitious boys with enquiring minds.

Junior School Assesses

On the day of their assessment boys are taught in groups of up to 10 and take part in a variety of lessons and activities. These include a Maths lesson and a topic-based lesson, and boys are set short tests on what they have learnt. Lesson content is purposefully based on areas boys will not have studied before, as we are looking to identify potential rather than prior learning. This also puts all boys on an equal basis during assessment. Some creative writing is also set.

11+ Assesses

On the Assessment Day, boys are taught a Maths lesson, a topic-based lesson, and participate in a series of group activities. They also complete a piece of creative writing. 

Entrance Examination Day, on which they will sit two English papers and two Arithmetic papers. In the afternoon, they take part in one of a choice of activities (e.g. sporting, science-based, musical, outward bounds) that reflect the opportunities available to MGS pupils.