Manchester High School for Girls

Manchester High School for Girls was founded in 1874 by people from the city's academic, cultural and business life, becoming the first day school in Northern England to provide girls with an academic education. That origin still shapes its girls-only identity. The present school is an independent day community from age 3 to 18, with a Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form route and no boarding.

The curriculum gives younger pupils a notably wide start. Year 7 includes mathematics, English, science, humanities, technology, creative arts and languages such as Latin, Mandarin, Spanish, German and French. Design, Technology and Innovation adds a practical and inventive strand, while the senior years allow pupils to specialise as they move towards GCSEs, Sixth Form and later study.

Sport and the arts are woven into the week. Netball, hockey, badminton, tennis, water polo, swimming, athletics, football, dance and climbing sit alongside choirs, orchestras, instrumental groups, drama and LAMDA. The Well Being Programme gives regular space to personal, social, health and character education, while alumnae and archive work keep the school's long history present in current life.

The main entry points are Prep at 4, Senior School at 11 and Sixth Form at 16, with occasional in-year places when capacity allows. Applications are made directly through the school's admissions process, which covers entrance assessments as well as scholarship and bursary routes. The combination of a long academic tradition, broad early curriculum and extensive cultural life gives Manchester High a distinctive senior-school experience.