Why Choose The Senior School?
Inspiring Academic Ambition
At Stockport Grammar School, knowledge is just the beginning. When curiosity is sparked and resilience is nurtured, pupils don’t just learn – they grow into confident, courageous young adults ready for whatever comes next.
Our teachers are more than educators; they are mentors who inspire bold thinking and a love of learning. Their dedication ensures every pupil feels seen, supported, and challenged to achieve their very best.
As the ISI Inspectors noted in 2023:
Inspired by the school’s aim for them to be academically ambitious, pupils are interested and motivated in their learning.
Every child is unique. Our class sizes allow us to focus on individual strengths and character development. In the First Year of Senior School, classes typically have 24 pupils, reducing as they progress to GCSE and A Level – where Sixth Form groups average just 10 to 15 pupils.
Our curriculum is broad, balanced, and tailored. We guide pupils to create a programme of study that reflects their ambitions. Unlike many schools, we don’t restrict choices through ‘option blocks’ at GCSE or A Level – giving pupils the freedom to combine subjects in ways that suit their aspirations.
The result? Exceptional outcomes. With expert guidance and a culture that champions ambition, our pupils progress to their first-choice universities and careers – equipped not just with grades, but with confidence, character, and purpose.
Sixth Form curriculum and guidance
Belonging to a community of individuals
We want girls and boys to enjoy school. SGS is a happy, diverse and inclusive community in which children feel confident to explore and expand the boundaries of their potential without undue pressure.
Co-education provides the very best start for both girls and boys as they prepare for life in a co-educational world – they learn to work together and to learn from each other. There are no gender stereotypes at Stockport Grammar School.
We encourage our girls and boys to be creative and flexible thinkers, with high self-esteem and an awareness of the needs of others. We provide many opportunities to work collaboratively and take on leadership roles, including the Model United Nations programme which starts in Lower School and runs through to Sixth Form. Our charity and volunteering links focus on both local and international need – from Stockport to Peru and Borneo.
Our exceptionally high standard of pastoral care creates a warm, caring and supportive environment, producing excellent relationships between pupils and with their teachers. Our two full-time School Nurses work closely with teachers and parents.
I love school because I can be with my friends and I’m allowed to be myself and be happy. – Third Year pupil
Creating a world of opportunity
Supporting girls and boys in their own personal development is at the heart of what we do. An exceptional number and variety of co-curricular opportunities in sport, music, drama, academic societies, outdoor pursuits and trips nurture the talents of individual students, help to produce well-rounded young people and enrich the life of our community. We were delighted to have been awarded a Platinum Artsmark Award, the highest possible grading, by the Arts Council England.
Our pupils take full advantage of the opportunities available to them. Large numbers of Senior School pupils are engaged in the musical life of the school and we are nationally recognised as a centre of excellence for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Not only do our sports teams win national trophies but we also provide so many sporting opportunities that every child who wishes to play in a team is able to do so. We offer an extensive range of diverse activities – last year over 97% of our First Year Senior School pupils chose to take part in a co-curricular sporting activity.
Continual investment has provided a superb range of facilities to support pupils’ development inside and outside the classroom. Each department is housed in well-equipped rooms offering pupils the perfect atmosphere in which to learn. Outside the classroom our facilities include a swimming pool, a climbing wall, an all-weather pitch and numerous grass pitches; as well as performance spaces for music and drama.
Founded in 1487 by Sir Edmond Shaa, Lord Mayor of London and Court Jeweller to three kings of England, we are one of the oldest schools in the country and very proud of our place in the history of the region and the nation. Our former pupils share that pride, returning regularly to school to inspire their younger peers and to help them find their paths in the world. From the West End stage, to the corridors of Westminster and the worlds of business, international diplomacy and law, the routes which Old Stopfordians take reflect confidence, a determination to embrace opportunities and pursue ambitions.
We want as many local children as possible to benefit from an education at Stockport Grammar School and each year at 11+ and 16+ we offer a number of means-tested bursaries. We also offer music and academic scholarships.
Find out more
To find out more, please explore our website, including the Admissions section and Frequently Asked Questions. We would be delighted to welcome you to an open event or for a school day visit. Hannah Atenyam, the Senior School Admissions Manager, can be contacted at admissions@stockportgrammar.co.uk and on 0161 419 2409.