Founded in 1515 by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, it moved in 1931 to Fallowfield where it grew to its present size. The buildings have been constantly added to, recently a new junior section (in the award-winning Bexwyke Lodge), a sports hall and new drama centre; facilities are excellent. The playing fields are adjacent and the whole area covers 36 acres. As its founder intended, it is a predominantly academic school and has long been one of the most distinguished in the country. Each year about 200 boys join, from widely differing backgrounds and from a broad area of the north-west. Intellectually and academically very high-powered, its examination results are consistently excellent and very large numbers go on to Oxbridge. The school now offers the International Baccalaureate alongside traditional A-levels. All the major religions are represented and religious studies, taught as an academic discipline, forms a fundamental part of the curriculum. Many boys represent the country in various scientific olympiads. Very strong in music, drama, art and design. An excellent range of games and sports in which high standards are attained. There is an immense range of out-of-school activities - many carried to remarkable levels of achievement. Considerable emphasis on outdoor pursuits and the school owns sites in the Peak District, Grasmere and South Stainmore in Cumbria. Local community schemes are active. It has a very high reputation locally and far afield.
Pupils: Age range 7-18 from 2011; currently 9-18, 1500 day boys. Entrance: Main entry ages 7, 9, 10, 11 and 16. Entry to junior section (age 7-11) by assessment day; at age 11, by own entrance exam and assessment days; for sixth form entry, interview and average of grade A in GCSEs (including sixth-form subjects). High ability in English and mathematics looked for; no religious requirements. State school entry 50% main intake, plus 60% to sixth form. Pupils come from a wide geographical range of prep and state junior schools.
Up to 40 pa means-tested bursaries. Parents not expected to buy textbooks.
High Master: Dr Christopher Ray, appointed 2004. Educated at Rochdale Grammar School and universities of London (philosophy) and Cambridge (history and philosophy of science). Previously Headmaster at John Lyon School, Director of Studies at King's College School, Wimbledon and, lecturer at universities in UK and overseas. Also former OUP science education editor. Teaching staff: 127 full time, 21 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 42.
GCSE/IGCSE: 201 pupils in fifth, all gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels:185 pupils in upper sixth, all passing in 3+ subjects with an average final point score of 420. (No IB results yet available.)
98% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course, 30% to Oxbridge, UCL, Imperial and Harvard. 40% plus take courses in science, medicine, maths and engineering, 50+% in humanities and social sciences; a few each year go on to art or music colleges or straight into careers.
IGCSEs and GCSEs, AS and A-levels, and IB Diploma. 17 IGCSE subjects, 5 GCSEs; 20 AS and A-level subjects. Sixth form: Some 30% of pupils follow the IB Diploma curriculum. Remainder take 3 or 4 subjects at AS and A-level; general studies taught but not examined. 33% take science A-levels; 33% arts/humanities; 33% both. Various optional key skills courses offered. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Specialist staff in learning support department help pupils with eg Aspergers, dyspraxia, dyslexia, ADD ADHD; physical disability catered for (2 pupils in wheelchairs, 6 with serious visual impairment). Languages: Arabic, classical Greek, French, German, Italian, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. ICT: Taught across the curriculum. 400+ computers for pupil use (8 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access; most pupils also have access to a computer at home.
Music: 20% of pupils learn a musical instrument in school (many more take lessons outside school); instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups include orchestras, bands, choirs and many chamber ensembles. St John's, Smith Square, concert every two years. Regular choir tours to Europe. Several boys recently been members of National Youth Orchestra, Britten-Pears Orchestra, National Children's Orchestra, Pro Corda etc. Recent Oxbridge organ scholarships and to St George's Chapel Windsor. Drama: Drama offered as part of the curriculum. Many pupils are involved in school productions and some in pupil-directed productions. Two major awards in regional drama competition. Leading actors in recent TV series. Art and design: Design, pottery, graphics also offered.
Sport: Soccer, rugby, cricket, athletics, tennis, swimming, cross-country, squash, hockey and judo to age 14. Additional options: basketball, rowing, water polo, lacrosse, golf, squash, badminton, climbing, diving. Regional and national representation in many sports including rugby, swimming, water polo (winners of the U14 National Cup for five consecutive years; GB men's and women's team captains both on coaching staff), cross-country and cricket. Rugby teams (2 age groups) successful at county level, winner of the ISFA schools cup; national winners in cross-country. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. Community service optional; long-standing links with local special needs school and inner-city community scheme; annual fund-raising activities for local and national charities. Over 50 clubs, including philosophy, debating, war hammer, astronomical, aviation, climbing.
Uniform: School uniform worn; specific dress regulations in the sixth form. Houses and prefects: Houses in junior section only. School officers and school captain, appointed by High Master following application and interview. School Council. Religion: Historic link with the cathedral but school is a multi-faith community, which is reflected in all aspects of religion within it. Religion is taught as an academic subject. Weekly assemblies for the major religious traditions represented. Social: Joint society meetings, productions, other activities with local girls' schools. Some 50 trips a year, including links to Uganda, China, Germany, France, United States, Russia, regular treks in the Sahara. Pupils allowed to bring own car to school (but not park on site). Meals self-service.
Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect verbal warning. For more serious offences there is a staff-supervised Punishment School, both after school and on Saturday mornings. Drug offences are treated seriously, and are likely to result in suspension/expulsion.
is run by Mrs Jane Graham, c/o the school (j.graham@mgs.org).
Sir William Barlow (chairman of the Post Office); Lord (Geoffrey) Tordoff (Lib Dem politician); Sir Ben Kingsley, Robert Powell (actors); Sir Nicholas Hytner (director of the National Theatre); Professor Sir Michael Atiyah (mathematics); Alan Garner (children's author); Sir Howard Davies (director of the LSE); Martin Sixsmith (journalist); Mike Atherton (cricketer); John Crawley (former IPCC commissioner); Paul Ormerod (economist and writer); Sir Walter Bodmer (geneticist), Michael Crick (political editor of Newsnight); Stanley Fink (hedge-fund chief executive and philanthropist); Michael Wood (historian).
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