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Junior School
Our Junior School offers a challenging and creative curriculum to inspire our pupils to become problem-solvers and to take risks from early in their school careers. All our Junior School pupils gain automatic entry to the Senior School.
The Junior School curriculum is a creative one, where boys use their initiative and dare to take risks.
Our Junior School offers a challenging and creative curriculum designed to inspire our pupils to become problem-solvers and risk-takers from an early age. All our Junior School pupils are taught by primary and subject specialists, supported by a dedicated team of teaching assistants and gain automatic entry to the Senior School. We provide free Wraparound Care from 8 am before school to 6pm after school, supporting the lives of our MGS families. Care is provided by teaching assistants who know the pupils well.
Pupils receive a rich educational experience, free from the constraints of the National Curriculum. While they master the fundamentals, we recognise that bright boys need more. In Years 5 and 6, we have a strong partnership with the Senior School, sharing facilities and specialist teaching in English, Maths, History, Science, Art, and Languages. In Languages, we want boys to be confident in embarking upon new challenges. Hence we study Spanish in Year 3, French in Year 4, Latin in Year 5 and Italian in Year 6. With automatic entry into the Senior School, there is no need for exam preparation, allowing time for our Options programme, which runs for half a day each week and offers activities ranging from Sewing to Philosophy.
PE & Games
All boys participate in competitive sports representing the school in fixtures and every Year 3 pupil will have had the opportunity to participate in a fixture by the end of the first half-term. Approximately 180 Junior School pupils attend after-school sports clubs each week with about 90 different Sports teams representing MGS across each term in a variety of sports.
Music & Drama
Each year, all pupils take part in a year group Drama production which is performed in our purpose-built Cryne Theatre. Alongside the Drama production, there are 2 whole-school concerts, 3 teatime concerts, a carol service, a Year 4 Partnership concert and a Junior School Music Festival which all take place annually. There are opportunities to learn an instrument, and all Year 3 pupils play trumpet, trombone, ukulele, violin, flute and clarinet as part of the Options programme. There are 13 co-curricular music ensembles exclusively for Junior School pupils, which range from Harp Club and a theory class to the school orchestra and a very popular choir - which is the largest boys' choir in Manchester.
Co-curricular
The Junior School provides a wealth of co-curricular activities, for all tastes and talents. Our sporting clubs offer team games, as well as individual sports. The Junior School orchestra, instrumental groups and choirs give boys the opportunity to work and perform with other musicians.
However, our greatest focus is on inclusivity, enabling sport and music to be open to all. Our extensive range of clubs caters for everything from gardening to badge-making and squash to tap dancing. Activities take place before school, during lunchtime and after school, with wrap-around care facilitating a later pick up. Co-curricular clubs are a great way to make friends, develop new interests and enhance existing ones.
Activities Week
Just as in the Senior School, A ctivities Week includes a residential or day trip-based programme, with a further optional residential for each year group at different points in term and a ski trip for Years 5 and 6.
Pastoral Care
Pupils are supported by a close relationship with their form tutor, who teaches them key subjects and builds positive relationships. New pupils are welcomed each year, and all boys are placed in new forms each September. We have a house system and buddy system, and Sixth Form prefects who encourage pupils to increase their confidence and learn more about their journey at the school. The School Council and Year 6 positions of responsibility are integral parts of our community. We also have termly award badges for merit, reading, Wise Old Owl, and Club Star.
Admissions
Our rigorous assessment process is carried out by the Junior School principal assessor and staff familiar with the age group.
There is so much more to tell you about Junior School life. The best introduction is a visit!
