Manchester Grammar School Information Brochure 2016

INFORMATION 2016

Information

The Manchester Grammar School

Staff List MGS staff are subject specialists with a love of academia and engagement with pupils.

Chair of Governors Maurice Watkins CBE High Master M A Boulton BEng PhD Bursar G M Batchelor BSc Deputy High Master P A M Thompson BA MAEd DPhil Deputy Head (Academic) N D Smith BA Deputy Head (Pastoral) A N Smith BA Surmaster (Co-curriculum) J W Mangnall MA Head of the Junior School L A Hamilton BEd Director of Admissions M G P Strother MA MPhil Admissions Manager K Heathcote

Governing Body Mr Maurice Watkins CBE Mrs Clare Bolton Mr Jonathan B Diggines (Treasurer) Mr Barry Dixon CBE Professor Tom A Hinchliffe

Ms Joy Kingsley Mrs Jane Luca Mr Peter Wainwright Mr JohnYoung

Professor David A Cardwell

Dr Jonathan R W Prag Dr Tim Westlake The Dean of Manchester The Lord Mayor of Manchester Professor Richard Carwardine (President of Corpus Christi, Oxford)

Art & Design R E Berry BA J Dobbs BA MAEd J Hargreaves BA L J Murphy MA S Taylor BA Biology J Blair BSc S J Burch BSc PhD S G Crawshaw BSc PhD P W Freeman BSc MSc E Loh BSc MSc PhD N A Loughlin BSc C Morgan BSc M J Smedley BSc PhD A Wicking BA

Chemistry T Ahmed BSc I Airth BSc C Buckley BSc M Facchini BSc MSc S Graham MSci PhD H M Hughes BSc T C James BSc D Moss MA F C Roberts MChem G M Tinker MEng Classics H L Eckhardt MA B S Edwards MA C A Owens BA MA J O Ross BA P A M Thompson BA MAEd DPhil N G Williams BA R G Williams BA DPhil

Computing S J Duffy BSc

Economics H L Jones BA G J McSherry BSc D Wilson BA

English R E Adams BA R J L Geldard BA MA MA J C Gibb MA V E Horsfield BA MEd S C James BA A Lloyd-Hughes BA C McCarthy BA MA L E Nelson BA MA H Sargeant BA MA B Townsend BA J N Tucker BA MA N Warrack MA MA J Welsh BA MA

Electronics M S R Hesketh BSc MSc

General Science D L Virr BSc

Drama S Abbs BA K Hellier BA M J Nichols BA J Sherratt BA J M Williams BA

01 | 02

Geography F C G Baker BA M D Corbett BSc A Curry BSc P J Higgins BSc S P Jones BA MBA J W Mangnall MA M A Nowell BSc S P G Spratling BA P J Wheeler BSc History E Carter MA S R Garvey BA A R T Hern BA MPhil D O Lacey BA MEd M A S Lowe BA MPhil S Orth BA MA PhD W B Pye BA A M Smith MA N D Smith BA M G P Strother MA MPhil D M Taylor BA Junior School K V Atty BA D R Barnett BEd C Beattie BA L E Brunsden BA C Burke² BSc MSc S M Callaghan BA T Campbell-Green² BA MA PhD G Clayton BSc S Gilmour BSc T Glennie BA R L Glynn MA² L A Hamilton BEd B A Hanson BA AY Leigh² BEd H Mortimer BSc MEd T C Neild BA S Reed² BA N Reynolds² BSocSc J Robinson BA² V Shingler BA E J Thorpe BSc V J Tierney² J M Ward BA Z L Ward LLB

SEND A Batchelor BSc² H Butchart BA LTCL S Cocker² R Daws BSc² S T Kukoyi² L Merlo BA MA R A Shoesmith BSc² R Williams² BA Mathematics J K Allinson BA MA N T Burin BSc J J Burke BSc PhD A P Burrows BSc PhD A E Carolan BSc A R Davies BSc MSc A C Hunter BSc MSc PhD D Jeys BSc MA I Z Khan BSc O W J Llewelyn-Smith BSc G J Morris BSc D V Naughton MM T J Pattison BSc MIMA CMath S E Phillips BMus H G Read BSc PhD R L Sharkey BA N M Williams BSc Modern Languages E C F Cittanova LèsL MèsL DEA H Closa¹ MA E R Dalton LèsLEA ECDL A P Dobson BA MA S Fragagnano¹ E A Garnett BA I Kovtunenko BA¹ A V Hemsworth BA A Jacinto BA C M Jarrett BA MA O Kelly-Saltaleggio BA R Lan BA MA D Minguito-Pantoja BA B Parolin BA MA PhD L Patzl¹ S J Paulson BA

L M Rigby BA M Robert¹ G Rrugeja N J Sharples BA MA R W Simpson BA L Speed Mosc Dipl C P Thom MA K J Tinslay BA S Vellisco¹ Y Zhang PhD¹ M Zhao MSc¹

Music G Blackwell F A Bradley BMus H Butchart BA LTCL R M Carey MA D E Francis MusB GRNCM ARNCM LRAM LTCL ATCL E M Shercliff BA Physical Education T A Grainger BSc J L Leggett BA M J Roe BSc J H Shoard MA S Swindells M Watkinson G Wilson M A Walmsley BSc S R Walsh Physics M A Boulton BEng PhD S M Hewett BSc P Holt BSc DPhil S J F Hunt MA D W F Inglis BSc PhD D P Smith MEng PhD L Thewles BSc Politics S Foster BA MA R N Kelly BA MA MPhil E C Kilheeney BA MA D O Lacey BA MEd

Religion & Philosophy L J Anderson BA E L Bellieu BA D Brown BD STM MLitt M P A Coffey MA D Farr MA A Greggs BA A N Smith BA J A Whittell BA Names in blue denote Head of department ¹ language assistant ² teaching assistant

Teaching and Learning Our over-arching aim is to challenge our pupils to open their minds to new ideas and perspectives, to foster individual passions and to encourage a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

It is with this aim in mind that we offer our pupils a very wide choice of subject from as early an age as possible, with increasing scope to specialise as they progress through the School.

03 | 04

Senior School Curriculum YEAR 7-8 Boys are taught:

Maths, English, General Science, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Classics (including Latin inYear 8), Drama, Physical Education (both games and swimming), PSHE, Art, Music and Computing.

In addition, boys are given the choice of one of five languages to study – French, Spanish, German, Russian and Mandarin.

Junior School Curriculum

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL DAY YEARS 3-4

Boys are taught:

Maths, English, General Science, History, Geography, Religious Studies, ICT and Programming, PSHE, Physical Education (both games and swimming), Art, Drama, Music and a language (Spanish inYear 3, French inYear 4, Latin inYear 5 and Italian inYear 6).

In addition, boys are offered a series of options, with examples including Cookery, Business Enterprise, Community Action, Gardening, Robotics, Law and Legality, Philosophy, Politics, Photography,Tech Squad and Woodwork.These rotate termly and vary from year-to-year, depending on the skills and interests of teaching staff.

THE SENIOR SCHOOL DAY Period 1

9:00 - 9:50

Registration

9:00 - 9:10

Period 2

9:50 -10:40

Period 1

9:10 - 9:50

Break

10:40 -11:00

Period 2

9:50 -10:40

Period 3

11:00 -11:50

Break

10:40 -11:00

Period 4

11:50 -12:40

Period 3

11:00 -12:00

Lunch

12:00 -1:10

Lunch (including assemblies and tutorials)

12:40 -2:10

Period 4

1:10 -1:50

Period 5

2:10 -3:00

Form time/Assembly

1:50 - 2:10

Period 6

3:00 -3:45

Period 5

2:10 - 3:00

Period 6

3:00 - 3:35

YEARS 5-6 Registration

9:00 - 9:10

Period 1

9:10 - 9:50

Period 2

9:50 -10:40

Break

10:40 -11:00

Period 3

11:00 -11:50

Period 4

11:50 -12:40

Lunch

12:35 -1:50

Form time/Assembly

1:50-2:10

Period 5

2:10 -3:00

Period 6

3:00 -3:45

Senior School Curriculum YEARS 9-11 In Year 9, boys study:

Maths, English, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Religious Studies and the language they have studied sinceYear 7.

They are able to choose any three of the following: Latin, Greek, Drama, Art, Electronics, Music and any additional language out of French, German, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin that were available atYear 7, as well as Italian. PE and PSHE are also part of the curriculum. Classical Civilisation is offered fromYear 10.

At the end ofYear 9, boys choose what to continue to International GCSE, a qualification we pursue in each possible subject area because we regard it as more challenging, better-suited to bright boys and a better preparation for Sixth Form study.

Typically boys take 10 IGCSEs. Some take 9, with an AS Extended Project Qualification taking the place of the other choice.

InYears 10 and 11, all boys continue to study Maths, English (as Literature and Language), their choice of modern language and at least one science subject. Boys are then able to choose any five of the subjects previously named. A proportion of students pursue Additional Mathematics if the subject suits their ability. PE remains part of the curriculum, but is not an examined subject.

Sixth Form Curriculum We are committed to providing the most challenging and rewarding courses in Sixth Form.

The benefit of our status as an independent school is that we have the freedom to make such decisions in the best educational interests of our pupils.

Sixth Formers study four subjects which might include A-Level, International A-Level or Pre-U courses (the latter being a highly recognised qualification offered by Cambridge International Examinations).

In each subject we choose the course which we believe provides the best preparation for study at leading universities, whether in the UK or abroad.

All Sixth Form pupils participate in a programme of enrichment.

They follow our own innovative and challenging course, ‘Perspectives’, which enhances their analytical skills and enables them to place their subject knowledge in a broader intellectual context. Other enrichment choices include taster courses (e.g. in computer programming, archaeology or psychology) and the possibility of learning the basics of a new language.

There are also diverse opportunities to take part in community service, and a range of sports is offered. Pupils choose their courses under the guidance of their Tutor.

Explanatory note What precedes is a description of our current curriculum in the Junior and Senior Schools. From time to time the School may make changes to both the curriculum and the way in which it is delivered. Choices are always subject to the School’s ability to meet needs.

05 | 06

Results 2015 MGS pupils are amongst the highest achievers in the country and go on to study the most competitive courses at leading universities.

A-LEVEL RESULTS 2015 SUBJECT

RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITIES

% A*-B

ENTRIES

A*

A

B

C

Art

67

3

2

0

0

1

OFFERS 2016

Biology

83

69

20

24

13

8

Oxford

16 11

No.

Chemistry

90

82

31

26

17

7

Cambridge

Classics`

100

2

0

2

0

0

Durham

44

Economics

90

51

17

18

11

3

UCL

41 21 39

Electronics

67

3

1

1

0

1

Imperial

English Literature

87

15

1

10

2

2

KCL

Further Maths

97

32

18

10

3

0

LSE

7

French

100

7

0

6

1

0

Bristol

55

Geography

95

22

2

11

8

1

Leeds

66

German

100

3

0

2

1

0

Birmingham

31

Greek

100

1

1

0

0

0

Manchester

40 76

History

96

48

14

21

11

2

Nottingham

Italian

83

6

0

4

1

1

Edinburgh

25

Latin

100

3

2

1

0

0

York

15

Mathematics

98

115

61

34

13

5

Warwick

32

Music

100

6

0

4

2

0

Liverpool

15

Physics

86

56

18

20

10

6

Newcastle

29

Politics

84

32

6

15

6

4

Sheffield

21

RS

89

19

2

8

7

1

Russian

100

8

5

3

0

0

Spanish

92

Totals 90% of all grades were A*-B; 34% of all grades were A*

13

5

6

1

0

596

206

226

107

42

IB RESULTS 2015

IB RESULTS 2015

The School’s average points score per pupil was 37.6 out of 45.

The School’s average points score per pupil was 37.6 out of 45.

ENTRIES

7

6

5

SUBJECT

ENTRIES

7

6

5

Biology (Higher)

8

1

5

2

Maths (Studies)

1

0

0

1

Chemistry (Higher)

9

1

3

Economics (Standard)

1

0

1

4

Philosophy (Higher)

1

0

1

0

0

Philosophy (Standard)

2

2

0

0

English Lang and Lit (Standard)

4

2

2

0

Physics (Higher)

1

0

0

0

English Literature (Higher)

2

1

1

0

Physics (Standard)

1

0

1

0

French (Higher) French (Standard)

1

1

0

0

Psychology (Higher)

1

1

0

0

2

0

1

1

Spanish (Higher)

2

0

2

0

Geography (Higher)

3

2

1

0

Spanish (Standard)

3

1

1

1

Geography (Standard)

1

0

1

0

Totals

56

15

24

13

History (Higher)

2

1

0

1

Results for the IB are graded out of 7, with 7 being the highest

Italian ab initio

2

0

1

1

Maths (Standard)

9

2

3

2

SUBJECT

IGCSE AND GCSE RESULTS 2015 SUBJECT

UNIVERSITY OFFERS 2016

% A*-B

ENTRIES

A*

A

B

C

Art

100

30

22

8

0

0

Biology

97

137

105

20

8

3

Architecture

12 24

COURSES

No.

Chemistry

99

153

120

26

6

0

Computer Science

Chinese

95

21

20

0

0

1

Economics

121

Classical Civilisation

100

15

7

4

4

0

Engineering

64

Drama

100

39

29

10

0

0

English

16 21

Electronics

98

49

29

13

6

1

Geography

English Language

98

167

93

54

17

3

History

27

English Literature

98

167

97

46

20

4

Languages

79

French

98

59

46

11

1

0

Law

21

Geography

100

93

70

19

4

0

Management Studies

35

German

100

23

17

5

1

0

Mathematics

14

Greek

100

11

10

1

0

0

62

History

98

127

79

37

8

1

Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary

100

30

27

2

1

0

Natural Sciences

111

Italian

40

28

8

2

2

21

Latin

95

Philosophy

100

167

126

31

10

0

Politics

33

Mathematics Mathematics (additional)

100

50

44

6

0

0

Music

96

23

14

6

2

1

Physics

100

139

116

19

4

0

RS

96

55

34

15

4

0

Russian

92

25

17

5

2

1

Spanish

97

Totals

72

49

15

6

1

1,692

1,199

361

106

18

92% of all grades were A*or A; 70% of all grades were at A*

07 | 08

Co-curricular programme

Co-curricular An education is much more than what is delivered and experienced in the classroom, and MGS has a strong tradition of encouraging pupils to participate in one of the country’s widest and most innovative co-curricular programmes.

BetweenYears 3 and 13, there are over 220 clubs, societies, activities and sports available for pupils to enjoy, free of charge.These activities are linked to the curriculum in some circumstances and are entirely recreational in others.

The co-curricular side of academic life is so important because of the qualities it develops in pupils beyond their normal experience. Indeed, we support pupils who want to start their own club if they find like-minded individuals who have a passion in an area which is not already catered for.

We are a diverse community, but one thing our boys have in common is that they are busy. It is a sign of the School’s emphasis on co-curricular involvement that each pupil’s report contains his tutor’s comments on what he has achieved in this regard.

MGS has one of the country’s widest and most innovative co-curricular programmes.

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES – a few examples

SPORT Football Club

Hockey Club

General Science Club

Rugby Club

Rowing Club

Natural History Society

Cricket Club

Lacrosse Club

Phil Soc

Basketball Club

Climbing

Doc Soc

Cross Country – MGS Harriers

Judo Club

Squash Club

Fencing Club

Badminton Club

Weights Club

Water Polo

Athletics

Swimming

Table Tennis Club

Tennis

Chess Club

Senior and Junior Politics Societies Warhammer and Board Games General Knowledge Quiz ICT Club Jazz Band Pottery Club Creative Writing Group Classics Society Pi Shop (Maths) Senior Orchestra Interfaith Forum Dust and Monsters MGS Choir Debating Societies Senior and Junior History Societies Linguistics Club

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Lakeland Trek (Lake District)

Bassenthwaite Camp (Lake District)

Football Tour (Shrewsbury)

South Stainmore Outward Bounds (Cumbria)

5 days Years 7-8

6 days Years 7-13

6 days Year 7

Scottish Trek (Isle of Skye)

Borrowdale Camp (Lake District)

Parliament Trip (London)

10 days Years 9-13

6 days Years 7-13

1 day Years 7-10

St John’s Smith Square (London)

Grasmere Camp (Lake District)

Plas Menai Activities (Wales)

2 days Years 7-13

6 days Years 7-13

4 days Year 5

Owls’ Nest (Disley)

Wye Camp (Herefordshire)

Lake Windermere

2 days Years 7-8

6 days Years 7-13

1 day Year 3

Plas Menai Activities (Wales)

Cricket Tour (Hertfordshire)

Dern Valley (near Doncaster)

6 days Years 7-13

4 days Years 8-9

3 days Years 3-4

2 days Year 6

North Wales Junior History (Conwy and Beaumaris) 1 day Year 5

London Theatre Trip 2 days Years 5-6

Cadbury’s World (Birmingham) 1 day Year 3

Scandanavia Gothia Football Youth Cup (Gothenburg) 8 days Years 11-13

Southern Territory Trek (Norway) 12 days Years 9-13

Model United Nations (Copenhagen) 5 days Years 12-13

Western Europe Pyrenees Trek (France Spain Border) 14 days Years 9-13

Montpellier (France) 5 days Years 12-13

Paris Rugby Tour (France) 5 days Years 8-9

United States of America West Coast USA (San Francisco and Los Angeles) 12 days Years 9-13

Politics Trip (Washington DC) 6 days Year 12

Broadway Theatre (New York) 7 days Years 7-13

Desert Trek (Morocco) 16 days Years 10-13

Southern Europe Sierra de Gredos (Spain)

MGS School Trips

6 days Year 7

Madrid (Spain) 6 days Year 12

Lisbon Football Tour (Portugal) 6 days Years 9-10

Porto Football Tour (Portugal) 6 days Years 11-13

Vicenza (Italy) 7 days Years 10-13

Battlefields (Gallipoli) 6 days Years 7-12

Classics (Naples and Rome) 6 days Years 7-13

MGS offers its pupils a range of opportunities to experience new cultures and develop new perspectives.

Senior School trips Junior School trips

Lombardy (Italy) 5 days Year 6

Alps Ski Trip (Italy) 7 days Years 5-6

09 | 10

Central Europe Augsburg (Germany) 8 days Years 10-13

Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland) 5 days Years 12-13

Ski Trip (Austria) 7 days Years 7-13

Russia (Moscow and St Petersburg) 7 days Years 9-13

Beijing and Wuhan 14 days Years 9-13

Cricket Tour (Sri Lanka) 8 days Years 10-13

Rugby Tour (Cape Town, Johannesburg) 15 days Years 11-12

Medical facilities

Looking After the Individual

The School has a dedicated medical room with two full-time nurses and a part-time consultant paediatrician.

The School’s care for its pupils is extensive and specialised.

MGS is split into four ‘sections’: the Junior School (Years 3-6); Lower School (Years 7 and 8); Middle School (Years 9, 10 and 11); and the Sixth Form.

In the Junior School, boys remain in their form for the majority of their lessons. Friendships are quickly formed through such close proximity, and the care with which our form tutors nurture boys. Classes contain no more than 22 pupils.

When boys make the transition to Senior School, tutor groups are formed of no more than 13.This allows tutors to get to know their tutees extremely well. In this way, tutoring becomes far more personal and tailored to the individual strengths and quirks of each pupil.

It is the tutor’s role to act as the primary support and guide for his or her tutees.The tutor monitors the development and progress of each individual and maintains regular contact with parents to ensure clear lines of communication. Dedicated tutor periods are timetabled at least twice a week, allowing pupils and tutor together to discuss a variety of issues.

It is the School’s belief that opportunities to develop maturity and responsibility should be offered wherever possible. As a result, once boys reach the Middle School and Sixth Form, they are increasingly involved in helping guide the co-curricular interests of younger boys.

Relationships between boys in different year groups are fostered through a system of form prefects, who are specially chosen Sixth Form pupils. In the Lower School these form prefects come to know the younger boys and become their confidants and friends.

This system is invaluable in providing an extra basis of support for boys inYears 7 and 8. Alongside tutors, the prefects are instrumental in the settling-in period for new boys and are on hand for them throughout the year.

Explanatory note Please note that from time to time the School may make changes to the way it provides pastoral care.

11 | 12

Transport Private services Private services are also currently available to parents in the following locations:

MGS is a truly regional school, educating boys from as far afield as Liverpool, Sheffield, Preston, Congleton and North Wales, alongside those pupils who travel to us from more local areas.

The School currently operates three shuttle bus services.The first provides a quick and easy link with Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria train stations.

The second shuttle travels from Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle and Didsbury.The third shuttle travels from Timperley, Hale and Altrincham, through Didsbury.

Chorlton (Belle Vue Coaches) Knutsford (Bullocks Coaches) All shuttles are accommodated in our bus park within the School site.

In July each year we hold a ‘trial run’ of the services to allow parents and son the chance to travel together to familiarise themselves with the routes.

The School has a dedicated Transport Co-ordinator, who can be contacted by prospective parents to advise on the best method of travelling into MGS. Please e-mail transport@mgs.org to seek further information.

Late services run on the majority of routes to allow pupils to take part in the numerous co-curricular opportunities that take place after school.

We recognise that the travel arrangements for their child can cause parents some initial uncertainty and therefore to make the journey easier we operate a Friends Scheme, using current pupils as contacts for new boys.

This provides a reassurance for new starters as they are looked after on their travel by older pupils. Matches are made by postcode so that new pupils are able to confide in and benefit from the experience of those from similar areas.

Prestbury, Handforth, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield,Wilmslow (Roy McCarthy Coaches) Prestwich and Whitefield (Finglands Coaches) Worsley (Belle Vue Coaches) Warrington, Lymm and surrounding areas (Mayne Coaches)

Admission Procedure Parents will often ask how best their child can prepare for the Assessment Day. We deliberately design the day so that it cannot be prepared for, as this can obscure the innate skills and abilities of the boy himself.

Visiting MGS To give the best possible insight to the School, we offer as many opportunities as we can to show you what makes us so special:

Whole School Open Events – Thursday 22 September 2016 (4:30-7:00pm), Saturday 5 November 2016 (9:30am-12:00pm) and Thursday 11 May 2017 (4:30-7:00pm). Registration is not required.

Sixth Form Admissions Evening Thursday 10 November 2016.

Arrive for a 6:00pm start, registration required.

Arrange a tour of the School on a normal working day with the Director of Admissions, Michael Strother, by contacting our Admissions Manager, Kath Heathcote, on 0161 224 7201 ext 234 or k.heathcote@mgs.org From time to time the Director of Admissions hosts coffee mornings to allow parents to discuss informally the requirements and procedures for entry.

These are advertised on our website, mgs.org For further information contact Kath Heathcote.

Junior School For places in the Junior School for September 2017, please apply by 16 November 2016.

Pupils are assessed for entry to any of Years 3, 4, 5 or 6. On receipt of application, we will contact you to confirm that your son has been registered for an assessment.

We will contact you later with a date for your son to spend time with us on an Assessment Day in a group of no more than 12 boys.These days are held on a normal school day and start in October. During the day your son will be taught a series of lessons.

Short tests are set on the topics that have been taught.The purpose of the day is to establish a boy’s potential to thrive in our environment. For this reason the lessons are based on topics and concepts that boys will not have met before.Typically, the day will involve a Maths lesson, some creative writing, a topic-based lesson (relating, for instance, to something in current affairs), group work and a design task. Snacks and lunch are provided, taking into account special dietary requirements of which we are notified.

Our own pupils hostYear 5 and 6 candidates throughout, and therefore offer a chance to find out first-hand what life is like in the Junior School.

Decisions are made on the basis of a boy’s performance in lessons and in the tests administered on the day.

We also take into account the reference provided by the boy’s school and his last school report.

13 | 14

Senior School YEAR 7 For places in Year 7 for September 2017, please apply by 16 November 2016.

The procedure for entry to the Senior School inYear 7 consists of two parts: an Assessment Day and an Entrance Examination.

Parents will often ask how best their child can prepare for the Assessment Day. It is important to stress that we deliberately design the day so that it cannot be prepared for, as this can obscure the innate skills and abilities of the boy himself.

Instead we would suggest that parents encourage their son to read widely and discuss with him what he has read.

Logic puzzles are also a good way of challenging a boy.

Places in the Junior School are oversubscribed and competition is therefore very strong.We ask that, if unsuccessful, parents leave a two-year period before any re-application.This is to allow boys the chance to develop at their own speed and settle in their present school.The exception to this is Year 6 entry, where boys are welcome to re-apply forYear 7 the following year.

All decisions are posted on Friday 20 January 2017. Parents are able to contact us by telephone on Monday 23 January to ask for results.We require offers to be accepted by 31 January 2017.

On receipt of an application, we will contact you to confirm that your son has been registered for an assessment.

We will contact you later with a date for your son to spend the day in MGS in a group of no more than 12 boys. He will be taught a series of lessons based on topics he will not have encountered before. He will experience a Maths lesson, a topic-based lesson (which might involve a current affairs topic) to challenge boys’ inference skills, some group work and a piece of creative writing. Assessment days for Year 7 entry are held on a normal school day and begin in the first week of October.

MGS pupils host boys at break time and lunch, helping to give an insight into what life inYear 7 is like, and acting as guides.There is often the chance to participate in some of the many cocurricular clubs and societies that take place during a normal lunchtime.

The Entrance Examination takes place on Wednesday 18 January 2017.

On the day, boys will take two Maths papers and two English papers.

They are then given lunch in our Refectory, hear a talk from some of our Lower School boys and spend the afternoon undertaking an activity that represents a club/society or sport available in our normal co-curricular programme. We hope, therefore, to provide more of an insight into life at MGS. It also helps boys relax and have fun after a morning of examinations.

Past Entrance Examination papers are available on our website, along with answer sheets.

Decisions for entry are made on the basis of the Assessment Day and Entrance Examination results combined. We also consult school references where provided. We do not publish a breakdown of results to parents after offer letters are sent out.

Our Director of Admissions is happy to discuss performance with parents once decisions are known.

Decisions will be posted on Friday 24 February. Parents are able to contact us by telephone on 27 February to ask for results. We require decisions on bursary offers to be submitted to us by Monday 13 March, and full fee offers by Wednesday 15 March.

Sixth Form Applications are welcomed for places in our Sixth Form, where, typically, we admit between 10 and 20 new pupils each year.

Senior School YEARS 8-10 Entry to MGS for or during Years 8, 9 and 10 is determined by an Assessment Day, similar in nature to those for other entry points.

In addition to a Maths lesson, boys can expect to be taught a Use of English lesson and a topic-based lesson, designed to test their inference skills.

A Maths paper, similar in structure to the Entrance Examination forYear 7, will be given. A science teacher will spend time discussing each boy’s understanding of topics studied to date.

It is the philosophy of the School that pupils should take at least one language to IGCSE or GCSE, and therefore any applicant will either be given a short written test or have a conversation in the language he identifies as his strongest, so long as it is taught in the School. Finally, interviews will take place with the Director of Admissions and the Head of Section.

Any offer made is on a conditional basis, relating to the results a boy gains in his GCSEs (or equivalents).

Typically, but not exclusively, offers will require an A-grade average. For the best chance of success at MGS, we suggest pupils should aim for A* grades in the subjects they wish to study, though this is not necessarily a criterion for entry. In setting the terms of a conditional offer, the Director of Admissions will take into account the background and experience of the applicant.

In a similar style to admission in other year groups, we make our decisions for entry to Sixth Form by inviting candidates into MGS in groups of no more than eight.The boys are taught a series of lessons relating to the subjects they identify as of interest for their Sixth Form career.What the boys have learned in the lesson is tested.

An interview will also take place with the Head of Sixth Form or Director of Admissions.

Those candidates who choose to pursue Art,Theatre Studies or Music in the Sixth Form may be asked to bring some of their work with them to present to the relevant Head of Department.

Linguists will be expected to have a short conversation in the target language with a member of the Modern Languages Department.

Overseas Applications We accept applications for entry to all year groups (apart from Years 11 and 13) from overseas students who are relocating with their family from abroad and are to study within the English educational system.

It is our policy that the prospective pupil attends the School for a day where, depending on the year group he wishes to join, he will be taught some lessons either in a group or individually, and sit tests in Maths and English, as well as a short test in a modern language.

In addition, he will be interviewed by his Head of Section and the Director of Admissions.

It is the School’s policy that any pupil relocating from overseas must live with a parent or close family member of adult age throughout his time at the School.

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Extra Costs Some additional costs are incurred for the following, details of which can be discussed with our Admissions Office:

School lunches Uniform Musical instrument lessons School trips

Fees and Financial Assistance

Transport

The fees for the academic year 2016-17 are £11,970. Fees can be paid by direct debit in ten monthly instalments from September to June, or termly at £3,990.

It is possible to pay a year’s fees in advance to gain a discount. Please check with the Bursar, Mrs Gillian Batchelor, for further details.

The School is proud of its bursary provision, created through the generosity of its Old Mancunians and other benefactors, which sees around 220 pupils benefit from some form of financial support.The Old Mancunian vision is that the School should have a needs-blind admissions policy. Since 1997, donations from the Old Mancunian community have created a protected capital fund which produces income in perpetuity to subsidise the fees of able boys from families of modest means.This bursary fund protects the quality and diversity of our entry. In the coming years the School will aim to raise further funds to take us closer to our ultimate aim of admitting all deserving boys.

Bursary funding is determined on a means-tested basis, taking into account the household income of a family and including assets and investments.

In 2015-16, those families whose combined earnings were £50,250 or less were eligible for some support with fees. A family income of £27,000 or less qualified for full fee support. A sliding scale operates to determine the level of support if earnings lie between those figures.

The level of financial assistance is reviewed annually for those in receipt of a bursary.

Pupils who receive bursary support are sometimes eligible for financial support for transport costs, dependent on postcode.We consider contributions towards the cost of school trips, in discussion with parents.

Bursaries are awarded on academic merit, as determined by the Director of Admissions.The majority are

available forYear 7 entry, although some are awarded to Junior School pupils inYears 3 and 4.There are also a number of bursaries for Sixth Form applicants, awarded on academic merit.

Financial support is not available to those looking to enter the School in other year groups.

It is the School’s philosophy that its funding provision be utilised for means-tested academic awards.

For this reason, the School does not offer scholarships (for instance, in music or sport).

Further details of financial support are available from the Bursar.

MGS Alumni An MGS education prepares its students to thrive in a competitive and changing world.

Old Mancunians can be found living and working all over the world, some of whom are familiar faces to us all. They act as role models for MGS students.

Old Mancunians An education at MGS prepares its pupils for many different careers.

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admissions@mgs.org |

The Manchester Grammar School Old Hall Lane, Manchester, M13 0XT 0161 224 7201

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