Manchester Grammar School
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Image:Manchester Grammar School buildings in winter.jpg
The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) is an independent boys school (ages 11-18) in Fallowfield, Manchester, England. In the post-war period, it was a direct-grant grammar school which was not fee-paying, but it became an independent school in 1976 after the Labour government - in the person of Education Secretary Shirley Williams - removed funding from direct-grant grammar schools.
The school motto is sapere aude (dare to be wise). The school badge is a picture of an owl with a speech bubble saying the word "dom". This is a reference to the founder of the school, Hugh Oldham and the badge should be read as "owl dom".
MGS has two sister schools, Withington Girls' School and Manchester High School for Girls. MGS often collaborates with both schools particularly in artistic events, a collaboration encouraged by the absence of competition between the schools in the independent school market, and proximity.
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History
The school was founded by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, in 1515 to promote 'godliness and good learning'. The school's founding premise was that any boy, showing sufficient academic ability, and regardless of his background, be allowed to attend it. Entry to the school is determined by performance in a two-part entrance exam. "Founders' Day", which takes place on the 21st of October every year to celebrate both the continuing life of the school and the life of its founder, is the oldest tradition in Manchester. It is held in Manchester Cathedral.
The campus was, until the 1930s, in Manchester city centre, near the cathedral and next door to the Chetham's School of Music. In the early 1930s, the school moved out of the city centre to accommodate a growing student body. The budget was so tight at this time that, in order to finance the new buildings, the topsoil on the building site was sold; as a result of which the grounds lie below the surrounding land as though the school were surrounded by a moat.
When the Assisted Places Scheme was rescinded in the late 1990s, MGS was the first school to react with a seminal "Bursary Appeal", whose patron is HRH The Prince of Wales. To date (2004), the Appeal has accumulated a value of over £10m and finances bursaries, given to boys whose parents are unable to afford the school fees. Scholarships, however, are not awarded.
Alumni
MGS has a long tradition of academic excellence and is among the most celebrated schools in England. Its alumni ("Old Mancunians") include:
- mathematician and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge Sir Michael Francis Atiyah
- authors Alan Garner, Harold Brighouse (Hobson's Choice) and Thomas de Quincey
- journalists Jim White and Michael Crick
- cricketers Michael Atherton and John Crawley
- actors Sir Ben Kingsley, George Coulouris and Robert Powell
- double Academy Award winner Robert Bolt,
- current MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech and MP Neil Gerrard
- writer Martin Sixsmith, the former BBC correspondent and former communications director at the Transport Department.
- Director of the London School of Economics and former Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, Sir Howard Davies
- comedian Chris Addison
- pianist John Ogdon
Trivia
Several months into their school careers, first year (or in modern parlance, Year 7) pupils (known as "sprogs") must endure "The Sprog Jog", a long jog, typically twice around the school grounds. Performances are noted down and used to assess pupils' fitness and sporting ability. "The Gatley", another long jog through the surrounding area, takes place at the end of the Easter term for boys in years 7-10, although this is a voluntary inter-form event.
The school owns the "Owl's Nest," a converted barn situated in Disley, South Manchester, near to Lyme Park. The barn is used by forms and activity groups of the school as a base for outdoor trips and camping expeditions. It is most frequently used by classes in the first and second years, who spend a weekend there with their form teacher and class prefects. A typical feature of such trips is the "wide-games" that take place in the adjoining field. These vary from hide-and-seek to more aggressive games, but whatever form they take, it is expressly forbidden for any pupil to go so far as the disused quarry next door.
The name refers to the school's logo of the owl (pupils at the school are referred to as 'Sons of the Owl'), and is a key feature of an education at the school - it is unthinkable that a boy should finish his time there having never visited it. As such the Owl's Nest is as important a tradition to the school as the Sprog Jog.
The school operates a 7 day working week, called the seven day cycle. This is as opposed to the timetable repeating weekly. For example a particular Monday will next be repeated on the following Wednesday.
There are four annual camps which have been in existence for many decades. They are Grasmere, Lucton, Bassenthwaite and Borrowdale.
Every February, "Charities Fortnight" is held. This involves boys raising money for charity by sponsorship, through selling sweets or by setting up games (such as card stalls and computer games) in corridors and form-rooms. A major highlight is the "Grand Bazaar", held in the Memorial Hall for three days, where pupils fill the hall with stalls and games. Traditionally, four staff shows are also performed. These usually take the form of staff making their own edition of a well-known television programme. Past shows have included Shooting Stars and Gladiators.
Buildings
Image:MGS sports hall interior.jpg
The Main Building, in keeping with in the style of Oxbridge, features a quadrangle and a grandiose memorial hall. There is also the Paton Library, staff common room, lecture theatre, refectory, medical room, book shop, gymnasium and swimming pool. This is in addition to classrooms (subjects taught in this building are Maths, Classics, Latin, Greek, History and Religious Studies) and administrative offices.
The Mason Building is the school's language department. On the ground floor there is a suite of listening stations. Mr Cittanova has on occasion used the exterior wall for rock climbing.
The Physics Block, just west of the main building, hosts the following departments; Physics, General Science (taken by first and second years - before the subject splits into the usual three divisions), Geography and Maths. There are four physics laboratories, including one for radioactive experimentation, on the ground floor.
The English Block is just South of the physics block. It was intended to feature a drama hall in the centre, but this plan was scrapped due to a lack of funding. The intended use of the third floor, accessible only from the eastern staircase, is not currently known.
The Michael Atherton Sports Hall was opened by Mr. Atherton in 1997 and subsequently used by the Manchester Hallé Orchestra in recording of a live CD. The conductor, on a tour of the school, is said to have, upon entering, clapped loudly and then immediately requested the venue for the purpose, on hearing the acoustic qualities.
The Music Building is at the Telfer Avenue entrance at the rear of the school. It features a dozen or so music practise rooms, mainly used for private lessons. There is also a keyboard suite, computing facilities and a music library.
The Chemistry Building is adjoined to the Main Building. It houses the Chemistry department, and the upper floor is used for Middle School (years 9-11) Biology classes. The building, inconveniently, has two entrances (one near the Music Block, and one from the Main Building near the Refectory) leading to two non-connected corridors.
The Rectory is located near the Michael Atherton Sports Hall, and is the home of the Biology Department. However, only years 12 and 13 are taught there.
The Parker Art Hall is a three storey arts studio, situated in the south side of the main building. It includes a ceramics department with two kilns on the ground floor and also a dark room for photography.
The Pavillion contains changing rooms for sports teams and a cricket score board, is linked to the Butty Bar, a cafe serving MGS Burgers, Sandwiches, Slush Puppies etc., as well as the computing room upstairs.
Highmasters
2004- Dr. Christopher Ray
1993-2003 Dr. Martin Stephens