The Manchester Grammar School, Manchester
The Manchester Grammar School is an independent school for boys aged 7 to 18 in Manchester. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in January 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Manchester Grammar School in detail
The Manchester Grammar School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "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."
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 6pm, an open day on Saturday 14 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Saturday 21 November 2026 at 1pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Manchester
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Open days on the school's site (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 The Manchester Grammar School 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 The Manchester Grammar School are Manchester High School for Girls (0.5 miles, selective); Manchester Vocational and Learning Academy (0.8 miles, Good); Withington Girls' School (0.9 miles, selective); and Progress Schools - Gorton (1.4 miles, Requires improvement).
Manchester High School for GirlsManchester Vocational and Learning AcademyWithington Girls' SchoolProgress Schools - Gorton
Where pupils go next
Of the 180 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 81% went on to university or other higher education and 7% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 202 pupils (12.3%) received SEN support and 5 (0.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Levenshulme Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Telfer Road (near), 140 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 January 2024
Short Visit
10 May 2023
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
30 April 2019
Regulatory Compliance
19 April 2016
Integrated
24 September 2013
About
The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) is a highly selective private day school for boys aged 7–18 in Manchester, England, which was founded in 1515 by Hugh Oldham. It is the largest private day school for boys in the United Kingdom and has been described as "one of Britain's most prestigious independent day schools", known for its strong academic focus; having...
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 The Manchester Grammar School 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 The Manchester Grammar School
GCSE Results 2026
20 Aug 2026
A Level Results 2026
13 Aug 2026
Personal Research Programme 2025-26
12 May 2026
New School Captain 2026 27
21 Apr 2026
Swire Chinese Language Foundation conference 2026
3 Apr 2026
Poetry, Song and Scholarship: a concert for the German Exchange
25 Mar 2026
From The Manchester Grammar School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with The Manchester Grammar School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Manchester Grammar School.
- The Den Holiday Club Ltd840m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 16 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
3 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
94%
Near capacity
1,642 pupils
1,750 places
108 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
202
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
12.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
1,642
Total Pupils
1,642
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Manchester Grammar School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Manchester Grammar School
What are GCSE results like at The Manchester Grammar School?
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 The Manchester Grammar School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was The Manchester Grammar School last inspected?
The Manchester Grammar School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in January 2024.
How many pupils go to The Manchester Grammar School?
The Manchester Grammar School has around 1642 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to The Manchester Grammar School?
The Manchester Grammar School 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 The Manchester Grammar School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of The Manchester Grammar School: The Den Holiday Club Ltd (840m 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 The Manchester Grammar School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 16 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 3 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 The Manchester Grammar School?
The Manchester Grammar School is at Old Hall Lane, Manchester, Lancashire, M13 0XT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)