A well-established all-girls school in Manchester is celebrating an exceptional inspection report.
Manchester High School for Girls, an all-girls school for ages four to 18, has been busy celebrating its 150th birthday throughout 2024 and now has even more reason to celebrate.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) identified a ‘significant strength’ at MHSG and said: “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.”
This is the first time the school, founded in 1874 as the first academic girls’ school in the North, has been inspected since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The glowing report reflects the consistent hard work and dedication of staff, pupils and the wider school community.
‘Significant strength’
Head Mistress, Mrs Helen Jeys, said: “We are delighted by the recognition that MHSG is a school that empowers the girls within its walls and enables them to flourish.
“The ethos that underpinned the school’s foundation in 1874 is still reflected in its provision today and will continue to do so well into the future.
“Under the new inspection framework, schools are rarely described as having a ‘significant strength’.
“We are therefore delighted that not only have we met all standards required of us as an independent school but, furthermore, demonstrated a significant strength.
“This is certainly something to celebrate in our 150th year of empowering girls.
“Our school prides itself on offering a fully rounded educational experience, with academic excellence at its core, at a competitive fee.”
Growing in self-knowledge and self-esteem
Inspectors were full of praise for MHSG’s approach to ensuring pupils’ academic attainment, physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Leadership and management teams across the school were also lauded.
The ISI report said: “[The school has] an enriching curriculum combined with highly effective teaching [which] generates intellectual interest and ambition amongst pupils who respond well to the high expectations set by their teachers.
“This results in pupils of all ages being engaged in lessons, learning at pace and achieving well above the national attainment levels.
“Pupils grow in self-knowledge and self-esteem. Relationships between pupils and staff are respectful and highly positive.”
Empowering girls since 1874
MHSG pupils also achieved another bumper crop of results in their A-levels in 2024, with half of all students achieving AAA or higher across their subjects.
So it’s no surprise that the school has an impressive alumnae list, including the Pankhurst sisters and a number of industry ‘firsts’ (the first female solicitor and the first female Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, among others).
See for yourself
MHSG is hosting a series of Open Events across September and October, including a Sixth Form-specific Open Evening on Wednesday, September 25, from 5pm to 8.30pm.
There is also an extremely limited number of places available in Year 7 and 8.
To find out more about the school and to attend events, visit manchesterhigh.co.uk, call 01612240447 or email [email protected]. Follow MHSG on socials @manhighgirls.