Manchester High School for Girls: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

School: Manchester High School for Girls
Location: Grangethorpe Road, Manchester M14 6HS
Type: Independent day school for girls
Entry Points: Year 7 (11+), Sixth Form
Contact: +44 161 224 0447
Website: www.manchesterhigh.co.uk
Assessment: 11+ entrance examination

About Manchester High School for Girls

Manchester High School for Girls is a distinguished independent day school for girls aged 11-18, situated in the vibrant Rusholme area of Manchester. Founded in 1874, the school has built an exceptional reputation over nearly 150 years for academic excellence and developing confident, articulate young women who excel in their chosen fields.

The school serves approximately 900 pupils across its senior school and sixth form, maintaining a nurturing environment where girls are encouraged to pursue their passions whilst achieving outstanding academic results. With consistently strong A-level and GCSE performance, Manchester High School for Girls regularly secures places for its graduates at top universities including Oxford, Cambridge, and leading Russell Group institutions.

Located within easy reach of Manchester city centre, the school benefits from excellent transport links whilst offering a safe, focused learning environment. The school's ethos centres on empowering girls to become independent thinkers and confident leaders, preparing them thoroughly for the challenges of higher education and beyond.

Fees and key dates for 2026/27

Manchester High School for Girls publishes day fees of £6,224 per term for 2026/27, taken from the school's own fees page in October 2026. Registration for the next 11+ round closes on 16 December 2026. The assessment takes place on 13 January 2027. Written exam in Mathematics, Essay Writing, Comprehension and Reasoning, with strong candidates then invited to interview with senior staff. Fees and dates change each year, so the school's website remains the reference for the current round.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Manchester High School for Girls operates a selective admissions process through their 11+ entrance examination, typically held in January for September entry. The assessment is designed to identify academically able girls who will thrive in the school's challenging academic environment.

The entrance examination comprises three key components:

• English: Reading comprehension, creative writing, and language analysis to assess literacy skills and written expression
• Mathematics: Problem-solving, numerical reasoning, and mathematical concepts appropriate to Year 6 level
• Reasoning: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests to evaluate cognitive abilities and logical thinking

The school also conducts interviews with prospective pupils and their parents as part of the selection process. These interviews allow the admissions team to assess each candidate's suitability for the school's academic programme and community values.

Registration typically opens in the autumn term preceding entry, with examinations held in January. Parents are advised to register early as places are highly sought after, with the school receiving significantly more applications than available places.

How to Apply

The application process for Manchester High School for Girls requires careful planning and attention to deadlines:

Step 1: Registration
Complete the registration form available on the school's website, submitting it with the required registration fee by the specified deadline (typically October/November).

Step 2: Assessment Day
Attend the entrance examination day in January, which includes the academic assessments and individual interviews.

Step 3: School Reports
Provide current school reports and references as requested by the admissions team.

Step 4: Results and Offers
Receive notification of results and any conditional offers, typically by February.

Step 5: Acceptance
Confirm acceptance of offered places by the required deadline, along with deposit payment.

The school encourages prospective families to attend open days and arrange individual visits to experience the school's atmosphere and facilities firsthand before applying.

Preparing for the Manchester High School for Girls 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the Manchester High School for Girls 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families in Greater Manchester and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.