The MGS Entrance Exam - In Pictures

Posted by Rachel Kneale on 16 Jan 2025

Leaving on EE Day

This week, nervous boys from all over Greater Manchester will arrive at the School to take the MGS entrance examination. The first entrance examination was introduced by High Master Frederick Walker in 1862. A more consistent form of examination was conceived in 1946, with Part 1 taken by all boys, and the top percentage of boys invited back for Part 2. This system endured with very few alterations until 2009, when an assessment day element was added alongside written papers. To read more on the history of the entrance exam, follow this link

Old Mancunians who would like to relive the experience of the their entrance exam can view past papers here

We have a number of photographs of boys on entrance exam day:

                                                                                    The entrance examination in the Art Halls, c. 1950s

                                                                                                  The entrance exam in the 1950s

                                                                  Parents and boys leaving the School, post-Entrance Examination, 1953

                                                                           Crowds of boys and parents on Entrance Exam day, c .1965

                                                                                             Queuing for the Entrance Exam, c. 1965

For the last decade or so, boys have taken the Entrance Exam paper in the morning, and then in the afternoon select an activity which gives them a chance to experience the extra-curricular life of the School. Options have included Art, Fencing, Cricket, Hands on History, Water-polo and Computing.

                                                                                                  Boys taking part in the Art activity, 2020

                                                                                                            Science Activity, 2015

                                                                                                     Hands on History Activity, 2015

Comments

Peter Grahame Fish

1 Like Posted 22 days ago

I sat the entrance exam in 1955 and remember Old Hall Lane being crammed with cars and motor coaches dropping off boys prior to the starting time.  I sat both parts in the Memorial Hall, but it seems from the photos that other areas were used, including the Art Hall.  Do the records show how many entrants there were in the 1950s ?   

Rachel Kneale

0 Likes Posted 18 days ago

Hi Peter,

Yes, I've taken a look in the governors minutes and we have the data for most years:

1950 - 1654

1951 - 1600

1952 - 1550

1953 - 1750

1954 - 2100

1955 - 1850

1956 - 1850

1957 - 1903

1958 - not recorded

1959 - not recorded

1960 - not recorded

1961 - 1320

1962 - 1165

1963 - 1047

So you can see the numbers peaking in the mid-1950s, and reducing into the 1960s,

Best wishes,

Rachel

Chris Openshaw

1 Like Posted 19 days ago

Looking at the photos of the entrance exam in 1954, not sure I had a jacket!

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