WITHINGTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL
The Sunday Times Parent Power
Independent Secondary School of the Year, 2009/2010
Financial Times Best Value Day School, 2012
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Withington Girls’ School was founded in 1890 by a small group of eminent and far-sighted
Manchester families who wanted the same educational opportunities available for their daughters
as were already available to their sons. In keeping with the Founders’ wishes, the School has
remained relatively small, with approximately 650 pupils; 90 in the Junior School (Years 3 – 6) and
170 in the Sixth Form.
Public examination results consistently place Withington among the top ten schools in the UK. In
2013, our pupils were awarded over 94% A* and B grades at A Level, with 80.4% achieving A* or
As and 37.6% securing A*s; at GCSE 74% of all entries achieved A* grades, and 96% A* or A
grades, defying a national downwards trend. Sixth Formers leave to study a wide range of degree
courses, the vast majority at one of the country’s 30 most selective universities.
Academic excellence is secured alongside an extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities,
including Music, Drama, Sport, Mathematics and Science Olympiads, Duke of Edinburgh and
Young Enterprise Schemes, Model United Nations, Bridge and Robotics. Sixth Formers work as
voluntary assistants in local primary schools, a centre for severely disabled children, residential
homes, hospices and hospitals. All girls, throughout the School, engage in charity fundraising,
collectively raising over £23,000 in 2013. There are special links with Barnardo’s, two schools and
a hospital in Kenya and a school in Uganda. A group of Upper Sixth Formers engage in voluntary
projects in The Gambia each December and pupils take part in annual World Challenge
Expeditions, with the Ladakh region of Northern India being the most recent expedition. Academic
departments offer subject-related trips and activities in addition to cultural trips at home and
overseas.
Pupils come from a wide geographical area and from many different social and cultural
backgrounds, creating a diversity in which the School rejoices. The School is non-denominational
and girls of all faiths, or none, are equally welcome. Through the WGS Trust, approximately 90
means-tested bursaries are offered to Senior School pupils each year and the forward-looking
development programme has, over the last ten years, provided new Sports, English, Drama and
Music facilities, an extended and refurbished Science Wing and a multi-media Language
Laboratory. A state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre, together with six new classrooms, opened in
May 2009. The Development Office is strengthening links with alumnae and organised the 100+
Bursary Appeal which reached its £2 million target in 2011. The Withington Onwards (past pupils)
and Parent Teacher Association Committees are active in, and committed to, supporting the
School and there are close links with the local community. The Governing Body is forward-looking
and supportive of all areas of the School.
The quality of teaching is a major factor in the outstanding level of achievement secured by pupils,
both within and outside the classroom. Staff are eager to share their passion and enthusiasm for
their individual subjects and give willingly of their time to assist individual pupils outside lesson
times; a particular strength of the School is the relationship between pupils and staff.
The School runs on the 3 Rs of Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for
personal actions and its pupils thrive within the warm, friendly and supportive environment. At
home or abroad, Withington girls attract positive comments and we are just as proud of them as
they are of their school.
2013/14