Stockport Grammar School

Since 2023, Sarah Capewell. From a Cumbrian farming family, she attended St Bees school, developing a passion for classics, music and drama. Degree in classical studies from the University of Edinburgh, followed by PGCE from Cambridge. Her first

SGS is eight-form entry with between 180 and 190 in a year group, of whom about 35 per cent come through from the juniors. Progression from the junior school is not guaranteed and is based on an internally set and marked entrance exam. Those unlikely

In 2024, 68 per cent of fifth years gained places in the sixth form. The remainder either did not meet the entrance criteria or chose to continue sixth form studies in the state sector or to pursue more vocational courses not on offer at SGS. In 2024

In 2025, 58 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 41 per cent A*/A at A level (75 per cent A*-B).

SGS follows a traditional, largely academic curriculum. All pupils take French and German in the first year. Spanish and Latin are introduced in the second year and classical civilisation in the third year. All are offered at GCSE with around 10 per

This is a school that takes SEN very seriously. The SENCo is a former SGS pupil with a background in inner city comprehensive teaching before retraining as an educational psychologist and then heading up a pupil referral unit. She has a wealth of

Lovely drama studio, a theatre with raked seating and a great technical area which complements the school hall in providing venues for popular whole-school shows such as Sister Act, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Wind in the

The director of sport says, ‘We are a sporty school not a sports school. If you want to be competitive in a range of sports we will do well for you. It’s sports for all and elite for some. The A team are about winning the B and C teams are about

In addition to heads of year and form tutors, there are non-teaching pastoral support workers for each section of the senior school (key stages 3 and 4 and the sixth form) who work closely with academic staff, school nurses and the SEN team, again

While the majority of pupils are white British, the school celebrates its diversity with a good number of Muslim, Hindu and Jewish students. Parents love the school. ‘Would I chose SGS for my two again? In a heartbeat, yes. When issues happen, which

There are a small number of scholarships based on performance in the entrance examination, giving a £1000 reduction in fees. There are also two music scholarships a year giving a 25 per cent reduction. Means-tested bursaries are available for

SGS is a big school, with all the advantages that brings in terms of breadth of curriculum and co-curriculum, but it has the feel, warmth and family atmosphere of a much smaller school. We got the impression of a down-to-earth place with high