Quick and detailed information for the 11+ exams in 2023-2024 of The Manchester Grammar School provided below for 11+ Parents reference.
The Manchester Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Information
- Address: The Manchester Grammar School, Old Hall Lane, Manchester, M14 6HL
- MGS Website: Click here for more information
- Admissions Contact:
- Telephone: 0161 224 7201
- Email: [email protected]
- School Type: Boys
- The Manchester Grammar School Fees: £12,930 per year (means-tested bursaries are available)
- Total Number of Students in School: 1,480 (approximately)
- Number of Places available: Parents need to check the latest updated information on the school website.
- Open Days: Parents need to check the latest updated information on the school website.
- Closing Date for 11+ Application: Monday 20 November 2023
- Closing Date for Junior School Application: Friday 24 November 2023
- Exam Provider: The Manchester Grammar School
- ISI Report: ISI Report | The Manchester Grammar School, London
The Manchester Grammar School 11+ Exam Dates
- Closing Date for 11+ Application is Monday 20 November 2023
- Entrance Exam: Wednesday 17 January 2024.
The Manchester Grammar School 11+ Exam Styles
Entrance Test :
- English (two papers) and Arithmetic (two papers)
- English exam timings: Paper A: 50 minutes, paper B: 30 minutes
- Arithmetic exam timings: Paper A: 30 minutes, Paper B: 1 hour
Access 11+ Past Papers with Detailed Mark Schemes and Answers.
School Catchment Area Criteria: Parents need to check the latest updated information on the school website.
School Fee: Manchester School 2020-2021 Academic Year Fees Details
Manchester School Social Profiles
- The Manchester Grammar School Twitter Page
- The Manchester Grammar School LinkedIn Page
- The Manchester Grammar School Instagram Page
11 Plus Exam Guidance - Facebook Group for Parents and Teachers- Key Stages Guidance - Facebook Group for Parents and Teachers
Choosing the Right School in the UK Education System
Choosing the right high school for your child can be a daunting task. Whether it’s a case of understanding the difference between your local free schools and comprehensive schools, meeting the entry requirements of your local authority’s selective schools or navigating the challenges of the independent school system, choosing between schools in England can present an overwhelming number of options.
The majority of secondary schools in the UK are state schools, run under the comprehensive system. As such, these schools are free and non-selective. However, there are 163 grammar schools in England which, while state-run and free, require prospective pupils to pass an entry exam known as the 11 Plus.
A separate third option exists in the form of independent secondary schools. While private selective schooling can be perceived as prohibitively expensive, bursaries and funding can often be provided for lower-income families, potentially making this type of secondary education more accessible than you might think. One independent school which offers bursary funding is The Manchester Grammar School.
The Manchester Grammar School: An Overview
The Manchester Grammar School is an academically selective independent school for boys situated in Rusholme, Manchester. Notably, it is the largest single-sex independent day school in the UK, with a roll of nearly 1,500 boys between years 3 and 12. The school enjoys a reputation for excellence both nationally and internationally, and is widely regarded as one of the highest-achieving academic schools in the country. In order to maintain these standards, the school is selective, and Year 7s are required to sit an MGS 11 Plus entrance exam.
MGS’ selectivity enables an approach to learning which both challenges pupils and promotes freedom of choice from a wide curriculum of subjects. This might contribute to ensuring that studying at MGS is qualitatively different from the experience of studying at many state schools.
As an independent school, MGS charges fees of £12,930 per year. However, with a stated aim to “educate the brightest young men in the North of England, regardless of their social, cultural, religious and financial background,” MGS prides itself on an inclusive approach to selecting their pupils by providing a significant number of means-tested bursaries for pupils entering years 3, 4, 7 and 12.
Unlike many high schools in the UK, MGS can boast that a statistically overwhelming majority of their pupils leave school and take up places at Russell Group universities, including Cambridge, Durham, Oxford, Warwick, Imperial, Bristol, and UCL.
History and Tradition at The Manchester Grammar School
Established in 1551, MGS has a lengthy history. It was founded by the Bishop of Exeter, Hugh Oldham, with the mission to educate local children irrespective of class or income. Oldham’s intentions for pupils are reflected in the school’s Latin motto, Sapere Aude, a phrase which translates as “Dare to be wise”. An emphasis on the link between courage and education remains in MGS’ ethos to this day, as the school aims to educate and equip boys with “the courage to use the understanding they gain” in the world at large.
The school has seen several significant changes in location and facilities during its long history. The original site saw the establishment in 1654 of the world’s first free public library after a bequest by a former MGS pupil. In 1776, the original 1515 building was pulled down and replaced on the same site; later, in the 1840s and 1870s, the site was extended to additional buildings, including laboratories and a gymnasium to reflect a growing student body and a widening curriculum.
In 1930, the school moved out of Manchester’s city centre to a site in Rusholme, where it still stands today.
Manchester Grammar School’s Exam Results
MGS’ outstanding results for A-Level and IGCSE/GCSE results in 2019 are summarised below; these are typical of a school with an exceptional reputation for academic excellence, and they clearly illustrate why the vast majority of leavers go on to study at top-rated universities.
- 2019 A-Levels: Of all grades, 89% were A*-B or the Pre-U equivalent, while 32% reached A* level or the Pre-U equivalent. 75% of all grades were at the A*-A level or the Pre-U equivalent.
- 2019 IGCSE/GCSE: Out of all grades awarded to MGS pupils, 89% were awarded 9, 8, or 7, or A* or A. 71% of grades were 9 or 8, or A*.
Facilities and Extracurricular Activities at The Manchester Grammar School
Beyond the classroom, MGS offers students many chances to develop and explore new interests.
Opportunities in sport are extremely varied, including facilities and equipment for athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cross-country, cycling, fencing, golf, football, judo, lacrosse, rowing, rugby, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis and water polo.
Pupils with creative tendencies can also benefit from state-of-the-art theatre and drama facilities and a venerable acting tradition at the school (award-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley and theatre director Nicholas Hytner are former pupils).
The school equally boasts a vibrant music culture, with over 30 music specialist staff members, three orchestras, alongside numerous jazz, swing, rock, and alternative music groups.
To encourage a spirit of adventure in its pupils, MGS run Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and have organised adventure treks annually since 1910; their most recent destinations have been Skye, the Atlas Mountains, and the Wahiba Sands in Oman respectively.
During their time at MGS, boys are expected to participate in acts of community, charity, and service. In keeping with the school’s ethos which emphasises freedom of choice, service can take a variety of forms: paired tutoring at primary schools, charitable local visiting, teaching English as a second language, eco-conscious projects, and working with pupils in special schools are just a few of the available options.
How to Register for 11 Plus at The Manchester Grammar School
Application forms for the Manchester Grammar School 11+ entry exam can be downloaded here. Deadlines for registration for the September 2020 Year 7 applications were due on Monday 23 November 2020 while Junior School applications were due on Friday 27 November 2020. To discuss late entry requirements, the school’s Admissions Manager can be contacted.
11 Plus Entry Requirements for The Manchester Grammar School
Boys applying for Year 7 entry are required to attend one of the school’s Assessment Days, and separately to sit the MGS 11+ Entrance Exam. A reference from your child’s current school is also required.
Assessment Day is an opportunity for applicants to experience a day of lessons and activities at MGS, and no prior preparation is required (or desirable) for this program- the focus is on an enjoyable, active school day that allows boys to gain experience of the school’s atmosphere. On Assessment Day, applicants participate in a Maths lesson, a creative writing task, a topic-based lesson, and a set of group-based activities.
The date of the Entrance Exam date for September 2020 is Wednesday 22nd January. The Entrance Exam consists of two arithmetic papers and two English papers.
11 Plus Exam Format
Two arithmetic papers and two English papers comprise the MGS 11+ Entrance Exam. Lunch will be provided, after which pupils will choose one of a range of informal activities (music, sport, outward bound, science-based) to participate in.
- English Paper A is completed within 30 minutes and assesses applicants under various headings: Use of English, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, and Handling Data.
- English Paper B is completed within 50 minutes- 5 minutes are for reading comprehension passage, and the remaining 45 are for answering questions on the passage.
- Arithmetic Paper A is completed within 30 minutes without a calculator and assesses applicants on a range of mathematical areas.
- Arithmetic Paper B is completed within 60 minutes without a calculator and assesses applicants on a range of mathematical problems and reasoning.
Exam Preparation for 11 Plus at The Manchester Grammar School
Copies of Manchester Grammar School past papers, along with answers from previous years, can be found here. It can be helpful for applicants to try completing Manchester Grammar School past papers to gain an idea of the exam format and to practice answering the types of questions that could be asked.
After completing one or two of the several papers provided, applicants might find it helpful to practice completing the papers within the allotted time limits. This can help build confidence in answering exam-style questions under pressure.
11 Plus Bursaries and Scholarships at The Manchester Grammar School
The school’s stated aim to “educate the brightest young men in the North of England, regardless of their social, cultural, religious, and financial background” informs its inclusive admissions process which provides a significant number of means-tested bursaries for pupils entering years 3, 4, 7 and 12. This year, 218 pupils are receiving full or partial bursaries- most of these are offered for pupils entering Year 7.
Bear in mind that bursary offers are variable and subject to the level of funding available. Assistance is based on the total gross income of an applicant’s household.
Currently, MGS does not offer academic scholarships.
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