The Manchester Grammar School

Following last evening’s celebratory reception, we were pleased to welcome individuals from across the UK today to MGS for a full day of thought-provoking discussions and presentations as part of the final Swire Chinese Language Day under the stewardship of the Swire Chinese Language Foundation.
Bringing together leading academics, educators and experts, the event featured a series of engaging, podcast-style conversations covering a wide range of topics. Sessions included “China: From Middle Kingdom to Superpower – Its Increasing Importance to the UK” and “A Vision for the Future of Mandarin Teaching in the UK”, highlighting geopolitical developments and the evolving role of language education.
The day provided valuable opportunities for learning, debate and the exchange of ideas.
Thank you to all those who attended!

Ten years ago, the first Swire Chinese Language Day was held at The Manchester Grammar School, marking the launch of the Swire Chinese Language Programme.
A decade later, as the Programme’s core funding reaches its conclusion and participating schools look towards a sustainable future, MGS is proud to host the final Swire Chinese Language Day under the stewardship of the Swire Chinese Language Foundation.
This evening, guests gathered in the Hibbitt Centre for a celebratory reception, reflecting on ten years of collaboration.
We look forward to welcoming participants tomorrow for a full day of podcast-style discussions and expert speakers exploring the growing importance of China in an increasingly interconnected world.

Our year 5 Junior School pupils concluded their time at Plas Menai by participating in Explore the Strait today. The morning provided opportunities to take the helm of a fishing vessel, learn about local marine wildlife, take part in crab catching, and enjoy a rafted canoe journey on the Menai Strait.
Despite encountering a range of weather conditions throughout their stay, the pupils approached every activity with enthusiasm, determination and commitment: their willingness to embrace new challenges ensured a memorable educational experience for all involved.

In two weeks’ time, our year 6 Junior School pupils will take part in their transition afternoon as they prepare for the exciting move to the Senior School in September.
This milestone will give pupils a valuable insight into life in year 7 and the breadth of opportunities that lie ahead.
Pupils will hear from the Director of Music and the Heads of Sport, who will introduce the diverse range of creative, musical, and sporting pathways available to them as they progress through the Senior School.
We are delighted to share a photograph of Teddy, one of our current year 6 pupils, who recently became AJIS Champion 2026 in Tennis at The King’s School, Chester.
Teddy’s achievement is a great example of the talent, determination and enthusiasm shown by our pupils.
We look forward to celebrating the continued success of all our current year 6 pupils, as well as warmly welcoming those joining us from other schools.

Our year 5 Junior School pupils enjoyed a fantastic day at Plas Menai today, taking part in outdoor climbing and the high ropes course. Throughout the day, pupils have developed teamwork, resilience, self-confidence, and a greater appreciation for the outdoors while embracing new challenges and supporting one another.

Our year 10 pupils enjoyed developing their tennis skills during Games lessons this afternoon. With pupils across different year groups currently balancing revision, internal assessments and preparations for public examinations, opportunities to participate in sport remain an important part of school life. Physical activity provides a valuable opportunity to stay active, support wellbeing and maintain a healthy balance alongside academic commitments.

In three weeks’ time, teaching will pause for Activities Week, when every pupil in the School elects to take part in a week-long activity beyond the classroom.
For pupils in Sixth Form, this is a valuable opportunity not only to contribute to activities across the School, but also to develop leadership skills, work collaboratively, and pursue interests beyond the curriculum.
Our current year 12 pupils — including incoming School Captain for the 2026–27 academic year, Will — will be undertaking a wide range of experiences.
Will will be attending Tía Tula Colegio de Español in Salamanca, where he will complete five days of Spanish lessons.
“As a Spanish A-level pupil, this will be a great opportunity for me to improve and develop my understanding of the Spanish language and culture. I am also using this experience for the Residential section of my Gold DofE.”
Zach will be assisting with Flight Club, teaching younger pupils the basic principles of flight and guiding them in constructing and flying their own remote-control aircraft.
“I hope to inspire pupils to develop an interest in aviation and engineering, much as Flight Club has done for me, while building their confidence and practical skills.”
A***n will be using the week to further develop his financial modelling skills, work on submissions for the Young Economist of the Year and FCDO Next Generation Economist essay competitions, and visit university open days at UCL and Warwick.
Aditya will also be using the week to prepare for university applications, working on economics essay competition entries and visiting Imperial and UCL to explore the campuses and courses he is considering.
Samuel will be volunteering with FareShare, having heard about the impact the School has made in previous years and wanting to contribute himself.
“I also thought it would be a good opportunity to develop my interpersonal skills, as well as myself as a person, by serving the community.”
Over the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing more about what members of the School Officer Team will be undertaking during Activities Week.

A memorable end to the season for our U14A Football team, who secured victory in the County Plate Final against Altrincham College of Arts: it was wonderful to see their Football season continue into the summer term and culminate in a great achievement.
Sport continues to play an important role in school life, providing pupils with valuable opportunities to challenge themselves, build confidence and work towards shared success. As we prepare to return for the second half of term, with many pupils continuing to balance training, fixtures and competitions alongside revision, internal assessments and public examinations, sporting opportunities remain important. We look forward to many more sporting highlights across the remainder of the summer term.

Two weeks ago, we were delighted to welcome Junior School pupils from Manchester High School for Girls for an athletics fixture against our year 6 pupils. The afternoon was a fantastic celebration of athletic talent and sportsmanship, with pupils from both schools showing great enthusiasm, determination and encouragement throughout every event. We look forward to many more opportunities for both Junior and Senior School pupils to represent the school in Athletics and across a range of sporting fixtures throughout the remainder of the summer term. Sports Day for all Senior School pupils will take place on the final day of term, a fantastic event to conclude the year and celebrate participation, competition and school spirit.

In Languages, we encourage pupils to approach new challenges with confidence, curiosity, and enthusiasm.
Last week, our year 3 and 4 Junior School pupils enjoyed a fantastic Languages Afternoon, celebrating modern foreign languages through a range of creative and engaging activities. Dressed as well-known figures from history and popular culture, pupils practised and performed in both Spanish and French, demonstrating impressive confidence, enthusiasm and speaking skills throughout.