FAQs

Pupils achieve excellent examination results at MHSG. In 2025, a total of 86% of our students’ A-level grades were the ‘gold standard’ of A*-B, 22% were the highest grade possible, A* and the average (median) grade was an A.

At GCSE level, 78% of grades awarded were between 9 & 7 (A*-A equivalent) and a total of 909 grades were at Grade 7 or above.

For more details, please visit our Exam Results & University Destinations page.

In April 2024, inspectors from the Independent School Inspectorate body visited MHSG. 

The new inspection framework provides no qualitative judgements. There are no longer any comments relating to provision being ‘excellent’ or ‘outstanding’; rather, the report focuses on child-centred, holistic summaries of the school’s provision.

It is rare for schools to receive a ‘significant strength’. We are, therefore, delighted that not only have we met all standards required of us as an independent school and therefore ‘passed’, but the following significant strength of the School was noted by inspectors:

“Leaders have high aspirations and have firmly established core values that underpin the school.  This results in a caring, inclusive and diverse community.  Staff are ambitious for the pupils and thread the values of learning, innovation, compassion, wellbeing and individuality through every aspect of school life.  This results in empowered and dynamic pupils who flourish.”

For more detail, please visit our School Policies, Handbooks & Inspection Reports page.

We are proud to have firmly established core values which result in empowered and dynamic pupils. Our staff are ambitious for the pupils and thread the values of compassion, individuality, innovation, learning and wellbeing through every aspect of school life. 

For more details, please visit the Our Values page.

The deadline for 2026 entry into our Preparatory Department & Senior School entry applications was Wednesday 17th December 2025.

The deadline for our Sixth Form entry applications is Tuesday 31st March 2026. Interviews will take place between the spring and summer terms.

We do, however, host occasional vacancy assessments throughout the year, allowing for in-year entry across some year groups, depending on availability.

For more information, please contact our Admissions Team or visit our Applications page.

For entry into our Senior School in September 2026, our entrance examination was held on Wednesday 14th January 2026.

For entry into our Preparatory Department in September 2026, our entrance examination was held on Saturday 17th January 2026.

We do, however, host occasional vacancy assessments throughout the year, allowing for in-year entry across some year groups, depending on availability.

For more information, please contact our Admissions Team or visit our Applications page.

Usually, between 300 and 400 pupils sit our Senior School entrance examination each year.

We have 112 places for Year 7 entry each year.

With automatic progression from our Year 6 cohort into our Senior School, typically around 35 to 40 of our incoming Year 7 students join us from our Preparatory School. Our Preparatory School students sit the Entrance Exam and are interviewed by the Head Mistress. 

Pupils are tested with written papers in English (Writing and Comprehension) and Maths. Reasoning is assessed with a computerised test on a desktop computer.

For more details and sample papers, please visit our Admissions page.

We do not provide past papers but all candidates who register for the entrance examination have access to sample papers with which to practise.

For more detail about our entrance examinations, please visit our Admissions page.

We have a limited number of partial or full bursaries available for students joining us for Year 7 and Year 12. These are means tested and awarded on the basis of academic ability.

For more details, please visit our Bursaries & Scholarships page.

We have a small number of Academic, Music, Sport, Dance and Drama scholarships available each year for 11+ entry.

Academic Scholarships are awarded at the Head Mistress’ discretion for excellence in performance in the entrance examination.

For more detail, please visit our Bursaries & Scholarships page.

Our curriculum is broad and balanced. Pupils study around 20 different subjects including Maths, English, Science, Humanities, Technology, Languages and Creative Arts.

For more information about our Senior School curriculum, please visit our Senior School Curriculum page.

Pupils study five languages throughout Year 7 (Latin, Mandarin, Spanish, German & French). Mandarin was introduced in 2023 and is now available as a GCSE subject. 

Pupils study a Design, Technology and Innovation programme in Year 7, covering a variety of subject areas, including Food, Textiles, Product Design & Graphics).

For more information about our Senior School curriculum, visit our Senior Curriculum page.

We have some ability grouping in Maths from the start of Year 7. We also have ability grouping across the year in Maths and English from Year 8 onwards.

All other subjects are taught in ‘mixed ability’ groups.

Form groups are made up of around 28 pupils in Years 7 to 9, but several subjects are taught in smaller groups, including practical subjects like Science and Art.

At GCSE level, the average class size is 18.

At A-level, the average class size is 12.

At Manchester High School for Girls, we want all students to thrive, and we value the diversity amongst the learners that make up our school community.

We aim to enable students to achieve their individual academic and social potential by providing excellent teaching as well as opportunities to contribute to school life in a wide variety of ways. Our Learning Support Department is based in our Wellbeing Hub, a dedicated space that supports our students’ learning and wellbeing. This space includes a Computer Room for focused intervention and small group work, led by our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo).

Throughout their school journey, students will be provided with targeted support on learning and revision strategies; this allows each student to be reflective and to know what works for them as an individual. Each student with Special Educational Needs has a One Page Profile which is regularly reviewed in collaboration with the student and their parents to highlight their strengths and identify strategies that would best support them in the classroom. Access arrangements for examinations for students with Special Education needs are determined in accordance with JCQ requirements and guidance.

Contact: sen@mhsg.manchester.sch.uk.

We are proud to have a proactive approach to pastoral care at Manchester High School for Girls. We have a dedicated and experienced team who are adept at identifying issues and concerns and are committed to ensuring all students flourish. 

Each pupil has a form tutor and an assistant form tutor who they see on a daily basis.

Each year group has a Head of Year, who has pastoral oversight of all of the pupils in that year group.

There is also a Head of Lower School (Years 7 & 8), and a Head of Middle School (Years 9, 10 & 11).

The Deputy Head (Pastoral) oversees the pastoral side of school life and is our Designated Safeguarding Lead.

We have two dedicated school nurses, who also provide pastoral support as well as medical help to students. We also have a School Counsellor, who offers support to Senior School and Sixth Form pupils.

We deliver personal, social, health and character education through our bespoke Well Being Programme. The weekly lessons that make up this programme support our students in developing the knowledge, understanding, skills and characteristics needed to thrive personally and in their relationships with others.

We are proud to offer an extensive extra-curricular offering at MHSG.

For Sport, we offer activities including, but not limited to, netball, hockey, badminton, tennis, waterpolo, swimming, athletics, football, handball, cricket, dance and rock climbing.

Music activities and groups include choirs, orchestras and instrumental groups. Peripatetic music lessons are also available on a wide variety of instruments.

Drama productions and drama groups are also on offer (as well as individual and group LAMDA Speech and Drama lessons).

Subject-based activities, such as Science Clubs and MFL film clubs, are also extensive.

Non-subject based activities are also available, including gardening, knitting, origami, Model United Nations, and many more.

For more information, please visit our Senior Extra-curricular pages.

We have some joint activities with The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) including Philosophy Society, Ethics Matters, Book Club and Thursday Singers. Students also collaborate on Drama productions. 

The Head Girl and Head Boy teams from MHSG and MGS meet on a regular basis to discuss shared opportunities and arrange charity fundraising events. 

We run a wide variety of day trips, UK residential trips and overseas trips for students.

Residential trips begin in Year 3 and continue throughout a pupil’s time at MHSG.

For instance, Year 7 trips include our Lakeside Residential to help the girls to get to know each other in the first few weeks of the autumn term.  

We have recently run overseas trips to Spain, France and Germany (for Modern Foreign Languages), the USA (for Drama and English) and Iceland (for Geography).

We also have Music and Sports tours running across the UK, Europe and worldwide.

We have a range of bus routes to and from a wide area, including a City Centre Shuttle service that collects pupils from the major train stations in Manchester city centre.

Other areas that our bus routes cover include:

• Altrincham, Bowdon, Hale & Hale Barns
• Altrincham, Bowdon, Cheadle & Hale
• Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme
• City Centre Shuttle Bus
• Knutsford
• Macclesfield, Prestbury & Alderley Edge
• Oldham
• Piccadilly station bus stop
• Prestwich & Whitefield
• Warrington, Grappenhall, Lymm, Little Bollington
• Whitefield Shuttle
• Wilmslow & Handforth
• Worsley & Eccles
• Victoria Station bus stop

For more information, please visit our Transport page.

All pupils in our Preparatory School and Years 7 & 8 have school lunches.

Our catering company is Harrison Catering Services.

There is a wide choice of hot main meals available every day, including vegetarian and allergen appropriate options, as well as a salad bar, sandwiches, pasta, jacket potatoes and soup.

The school food is of great quality, with a wide variety of options for even the pickiest of eaters. 

Breakfast can also be purchased before school and snacks are available at break time.

Our Sixth Formers benefit from a dedicated Sixth Form dining area in the Sixth Form Centre, offering hot lunches and breaktime snacks.

To view sample menus, please visit our Lunch Menus page.

Stevensons is MHSG’s supplier for all uniform across our Preparatory Department and Senior School. They sell MHSG uniform online and run pop-up shops in the summer at the School for pupils to try on and purchase items in person.  

Our PTA also run a sustainable pre-loved uniform shop with a monthly drop-in on the first Thursday of each month. Please visit our PTA page to find out more. 

For information on Sixth Form dress code, please also visit our Uniform page.