FAQs

Pupils achieve excellent examination results at MHSG. In 2024, a total of 86% of our students' A-level grades were the 'gold standard' of A*-B, 31% were the highest grade possible, A* and the average (median) grade was an A.

At GCSE level, 80% 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.

MHSG's values are:
 

Compassion

Individuality

Innovation

Learning

Wellbeing

For more detail, please visit our History & Values page.

The deadline for our Preparatory Department & Senior School entry applications is Wednesday 18th December 2024.

The deadline for our Sixth Form entry applications is Friday 28th February 2025.

For more information about our applications process, visit our Applications Process page.

For entry into our Senior School in September 2025, our entrance examination is being held on Friday 10th January 2025.

For entry into our Preparatory Department in September 2025, our entrance examination is being held on Saturday 11th January 2025.

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

MHSG currently holds 110 places for Year 7 each year.

With automatic entry from our Year 6 cohort into our Senior School, typically around 35 to 40 of our incoming Year 7 students will be from our Preparatory School.

Pupils are tested in English (writing and comprehension), Maths and Reasoning (in a computerised test).

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

We do not sell past papers but all candidates who register for the entrance examination are sent sample papers to practise.

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

Yes. A small number of partial or full bursaries are available. They are means tested and awarded on the basis of academic ability.

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

We have a small number of academic, music, sport and dance scholarships available each year for 11+ entry.

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 in Year 7 (Latin, Mandarin, Spanish, German & French) but not all at the same time.
We introduced Mandarin to the curriculum in 2023.

Pupils study a Design, Technology and Innovation programme in Year 7, covering a variety of subject areas, including Food, Textiles, Product Design & Graphics). This is a new course that was introduced in September 2022.

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 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 small groups, including practical subjects like Science and Art.

At GCSE level, the average class size is around 18.

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

We have a Special Educational Needs Coordinator, who monitors and supports pupils with SEN.

These pupils are taught alongside everyone else, but special programmes are arranged if it is considered appropriate for the individual concerned.

We recently opened our Wellbeing Hub, featuring specialised SEN spaces for our Senior & Sixth Form students.

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 run a bespoke Well Being programme throughout the School.

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 have 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 and more.

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

We have some joint activities in Sixth Form, including PhilSoc, Ethics Matters and our Book Club.

Yes. We run a variety of day trips, UK residential trips and overseas trips.

For instance, Year 7 trips include Chester Zoo and our Lakeside residential.

For older pupils, 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).

Yes, We have bus routes to and from a wide area, including a City Centre Shuttle service that collects pupils from the main train stations in Manchester.

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

All pupils in Years 7 and 8 have school lunches.

Our catering company is Thomas Franks.

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

The school food is of good quality and there is plenty of variety.

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

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

Stevensons is currently MHSG's uniform supplier across our Preparatory Department and Senior School.

Our PTA also run a sustainable pre-loved uniform shop.

For more detail, a full uniform requirement list, prices and ordering process information, please visit our Uniform page.

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