Manchester High School for Girls: Glowing Inspection Report
This all-girls’ school, for ages four to 18, has been busy honouring its 150th Birthday throughout 2024 and now has even more reason to celebrate.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) identified a ‘Significant Strength’ at MHSG and said: “Staff are ambitious for the pupils and thread the values of learning, innovation, compassion, wellbeing and individuality through every aspect of school life. This results in empowered and dynamic pupils who flourish.”
This is the first time the school, founded in 1874 as the first academic girls’ school in the North, has been inspected since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The glowing report reflects the consistent hard work and dedication of staff, pupils and the wider school community.
Head Mistress, Mrs Helen Jeys, said: “We are delighted by the recognition that MHSG is a school that empowers the girls within its walls and enables them to flourish. The ethos that underpinned the school’s foundation in 1874 is still reflected in its provision today and will continue to do so well into the future.
“Under the new inspection framework, schools are rarely described as having a ‘significant strength’. We are therefore delighted that not only have we met all standards required of us as an independent school but, furthermore, demonstrated a significant strength. This is certainly something to celebrate in our 150th year of empowering girls.”
Inspectors were full of praise for MHSG’s approach to ensuring pupils’ academic attainment, their physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing. Leadership and management teams across the school were also lauded.
The ISI report said: “[The school has] an enriching curriculum combined with highly effective teaching, generates intellectual interest and ambition amongst pupils who respond well to the high expectations set by their teachers. This results in pupils of all ages being engaged in lessons, learning at pace and achieving well above the national attainment levels.
“Pupils grow in self-knowledge and self-esteem. Relationships between pupils and staff are respectful and highly positive.”
The school has an impressive alumnae list, including the Pankhurst sisters and a number of industry ‘firsts’ (the first female solicitor and the first female Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, among others).
