Chetham's School of Music, Manchester
Chetham's School of Music is an independent school for pupils aged 8 to 19 in Manchester. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2024.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Chetham's School of Music in detail
Chetham's School of Music in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are the largest specialist music school in the UK, and the only one in the north of England. Originally established as a charity school in 1653, we became a co-educational, specialist music school in 1969 and we’re now a central part of music education in the UK."
Coming up: an admissions event on Saturday 13 February 2027 and an open day on Saturday 13 February 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Manchester
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Chetham's School of Music can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Chetham's School of Music are Abbey College Manchester (0.3 miles); Sol Christian Academy (1.2 miles, Good); Talmud Torah D'chassidie Belz (1.3 miles, Good); and Tiferes (1.4 miles, Requires improvement).
Abbey College ManchesterSol Christian AcademyTalmud Torah D'chassidie BelzTiferes
Where pupils go next
Of the 60 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 65% went on to university or other higher education and 8% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 58 pupils (17.5%) received SEN support and 3 (0.9%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Manchester Victoria Rail Station, about 120 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
24 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chapel Street, 100 metres away.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
23 April 2024
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
14 January 2020
Regulatory Compliance
15 March 2017
Short Visit
1 February 2016
Integrated
19 May 2014
About
Chetham's School of Music is a private co-educational boarding and day music school in Manchester, England. Chetham's educates pupils between the ages of 8 and 18, all of whom enter via musical auditions.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Chetham's School of Music can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Latest from Chetham's School of Music
Why Collaborative Leadership Matters in Specialist Education
23 Sep 2026
Welcoming our new Chairs
8 Sep 2026
Celebrating GCSE Results 2026
20 Aug 2026
Celebrating A-Level Results 2026
12 Aug 2026
Strong culture of care at Chetham’s
6 Jul 2026
What Your Fees Cover at Chetham’s School of Music
24 Jun 2026
From Chetham's School of Music's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Chetham's School of Music
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Chetham's School of Music.
- ESHABS950m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 91
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 25
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 91 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 25 serious and 66 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
14 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
331 pupils
355 places
24 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Manchester council
Places available
7,220
Applications
6,542
Got 1st preference
77.1%
Got preferred school
94.7%
All secondary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
58
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
18.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
331
Total Pupils
141
Boys
190
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Chetham's School of Music
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Chetham's School of Music
What are GCSE results like at Chetham's School of Music?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Chetham's School of Music can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Chetham's School of Music last inspected?
Chetham's School of Music is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2024.
How many pupils go to Chetham's School of Music?
Chetham's School of Music has around 331 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Chetham's School of Music?
Chetham's School of Music is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Chetham's School of Music have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Chetham's School of Music: ESHABS (950m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Chetham's School of Music?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 91 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 25 serious and 66 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 7 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 14 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Chetham's School of Music?
Chetham's School of Music is at Long Millgate, Manchester, Manchester, M3 1SB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)