Introduction
School Name: Manchester Grammar School
Description: Boys’ Independent Day School
Acceptance Ages: 11+
Overview
The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) was named Independent Secondary School of the Year for the North West in The Sunday TimesSchools Guide 2018. It is an independent day school for boys aged 7 to 18, situated in the Rusholme area of south-east Manchester.
The school was founded by the Bishop of Exeter in 1515 and has 500 years of history. It has an excellent academic reputation, with students studying for IGCSEs rather than GCSEs and, in the sixth form, and an option to work towards Cambridge Pre-U qualifications as well as A-levels. In 2018, 91% of IGCSE grades awarded to MGS students were A*– A / 9–7.
Alongside its traditional academic curriculum, MGS fosters talent in many other areas, particularly sport, music and drama.
Manchester Grammar School 11 Plus Admissions
The Manchester Grammar School hosts assessment days for all prospective students. Applicants spend a day at the school where they attend lessons and participate in different group activities.
The lessons are in Mathematics and one other subject that focuses on the lessons that have never been taught. All day, the boys will be evaluated on prior knowledge and tasked to complete a piece of creative writing. The Manchester Grammar School uses this type of assessment to select applicants suited to the school’s approach to education and plays an important part in the selection process.
The entrance examination will be in January that consists of formal papers in English and Arithmetic. A reference is also required from each applicant’s current school.
The school compiled a useful list of FAQs relating to the admissions process on its website and a copy of its admissions policy is available for download.
How to Apply for 11 Plus Entry to Manchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School hosts an open day for aspiring students and their parents in early May. However, personal tours can be arranged through the Admissions Manager: k.heathcote@mgs.orgor 0161 224 7201 ext. 234.
To process an entry to MGS, you must complete an application for admission form by the deadline in mid-November with a registration fee of £40.
On receipt of application, the school will contact the applicant’s current school to request a reference and will send you details of the assessment day and examination day in due course.
The school does not offer any academic scholarships but means-tested bursaries are available.
Manchester Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Manchester Grammar School entrance examination consists of the following papers:
- English A is for 30 minutes: grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary, comprehension and some data handling and/or reasoning-type questions
- English B is for 45 minutes and 5 minutes reading time: comprehension
- Arithmetic A is for 30 minutes: short arithmetic and problem-solving questions
- Arithmetic B is for 1 hour: multi-part problem-solving questions
(Calculators are not allowed for the maths papers.)
