Stockport Grammar School

Stockport Grammar School
Location
Buxton Road

Stockport
,
Greater Manchester
,
SK2 7AF

England
Coordinates53°23′27″N 2°08′38″W / 53.3907°N 2.1440°W / 53.3907; -2.1440
Information
TypePrivate day school
MottoLatin: Vincit Qui Patitur
They who endures, conquers
Established1487 (1487)
FounderSir Edmund Shaa
Local authorityStockport
Department for Education URN106156 Tables
Chair of GovernorsMr Paul Brearley
HeadSarah Capewell
GenderCo-educational
Age3 to 18
Enrolment1500
HousesArden, Nicholson, Vernon, Warren
ColoursBlack and gold    
SongPsalm 130
PublicationThe Stopfordian
Taking Stock
The Old Stops' Review
Former pupilsOld Stopfordians
Websitestockportgrammar.co.uk
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
1km
0.6miles
The Stockport Grammar School

Stockport Grammar School is a co-educational private day school in Stockport, England. The school was founded in 1487 by Sir Edmund Shaa, a former Lord Mayor of London, and is a member of The Heads' Conference

History

Foundation

The Main School's West Face. The photo (left) was taken shortly after its construction in 1916. The photo (right) was taken in 2012.

The school was founded in 1487 by Sir Edmund Shaa, who was the Lord Mayor of London in 1482 whose will provided for a school and a small chapel in St Mary's Church in Stockport and funds to maintain a priest to chant masses and teach grammar.[1] Alexander Lowe, the Mayor of Stockport, left the school a permanent home in Chestergate in his will.

The school became increasingly successful with pupils being accepted at the ancient universities of Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews, while the curriculum became increasingly broad with the rudiments of Greek joining a study of Latin, the Christian religion, writing in English and arithmetic.[2][3] Five years after the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths met to discuss the possibility of transferring the school to a different site, new buildings opened where Greek Street meets New Wellington Road. As well as paying for the building, the Goldsmiths also increased the salaries of the headmaster and usher and paid the running costs.[1]

Path to Convent Site

Current site on Buxton Road

The Greek Street building became unsuitable for the demands of a modern school, and the school was relocated in 1915 to its present site [1] and was inaugurated on 29 January 1916 by the Chairman of Cheshire County Council.[3]

Move to coeducation

In 1980, girls were admitted to the school.[4]

The school site

The Mile End buildings 1916-1980

The Hallam Hall, seen from across the Old Quad below was named after the Mayor of Stockport and benefactor Ephraim Hallam.

New Woodsmoor building 2013 - present

In 2011, planning permission was received to erect a new teaching block on the Woodsmoor side of the site,[5] to replace the Woodsmoor hall and laboratories that were demolished in 2010.[6] The build was completed in June 2012, and the "black and white tower" and classics block were demolished later that year.

View of the Hallam Hall across the Quad

Academic performance

The % of A level grades at A* and A for 2023 at Stockport Grammar was 39%.[7] In 2025, the average grade at A-Level was B+, compared to B on average in all Stockport schools and B- average across the UK.

The Bursary Fund

A bursary provides financial assistance for pupils who may not be able to afford the fees otherwise. The school runs the bursary program on a means-tested system; the amount of the bursary depends on family income, full support is available for families earning less than £32,000 yearly. [8]

Giving Day

Between 18 and 19 March 2026 the school hosted its very first giving day in aid of the Bursary Fund.[9] In just 36 hours, the school raised £129,696 from 299 donors.[10] Some of the giving day events included an inflatable obstacle course race between the houses in the Senior School. Vernon won that which meant the whole house were able to collect a tub of ice cream with their dessert on the Friday. The Junior School learnt how to play quidditch which was won by Arden. However the main event was the Head to Head battle, inspired by the BBC show Gladiators the Senior School head (Sarah Capewell) was called Sarah 'The Boss' Capewell, and the Junior School head (Mathew Copping) was called Mathew 'The Mighty' Copping. They had 3 rounds and Sarah 'The Boss' Capewell came out on top.[9]

Extracurricular activities

In their 2023 inspection, the Independent Schools Inspectorate said "Pupils experience a broad curriculum complemented by an extensive selection of co-curricular activities" and "Co-curricular activities provide opportunities for pupils to learn relaxation techniques for their physical wellness".[11]

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The school is its own Duke of Edinburgh's Award operating authority.[12] In 2010, the school issued its 1000th Duke of Edinburgh Award,[13] a milestone which was marked by the visit of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.[14] Each participant’s programme is tailor-made to reflect the individuals starting point, abilities and interests.

Model United Nations

In 1985 SGS represented the USSR at the 40th anniversary Model United Nations conference held at Central Hall, Westminster, to celebrate the first United Nations General Assembly. In 1990 the SGS delegation won the best delegation award at The Hague Model United Nations.

The school has hosted a biennial Model United Nations (MUN) conference since March 2006. At 2008's conference, Labour MP and former home secretary David Blunkett was the school's guest speaker. At 2012's conference, Senior Liberal Democrat MP, Andrew Stunell was the guest speaker.[15]

Expeditions

The school runs a series of expeditions for Sixth Formers every two years[16] to places such as Venezuela, Vietnam, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, Honduras, Madagascar and in 2015 an expedition to Bolivia & Peru.[17] In 2017, an expedition took 41 students to Borneo. Pupils participate in planning the trips and manage their own finances, accommodation, food and transportation.[16]

Publications

The Stopfordian

The school's annual publication is The Stopfordian, a comprehensive review of the school year.[18] The Stopfordian covers both Junior and Senior School.[19] A predecessor was named simply Stockport Grammar School Magazine.

Taking Stock

Taking Stock is the school’s termly magazine and it features news and photos from both the Senior and Junior Schools.[20] First published in 1996 the magazine has 85+ issues.

Old Stops' Review

Old Stops’ Review is Stockport Grammar School's annual magazine which features news from and interviews with Old Stopfordians young and old, memories of times gone by and highlights from the past school year, as well as details on future events and how to keep in touch.[21] It was first published in 2011.

Old Stopfordians

Former pupils are known as "Old Stopfordians", not to be confused with simply Stopfordians (the demonym of Stockport being "Stopfordian"), or the former pupils of Bishop Stopford's School at Enfield, who are also known as Old Stopfordians.

Stopfordians Lacrosse Club

Stopfordians’ Lacrosse Club became a section of Disley Amalgamated Sports Club in 1987.[22] The Stopfordian Lacrosse club merged into Norbury in 2013 and the merged club runs 3 senior teams in the North of England Leagues.

Old Stopfordians Golf Society

The Old Stopfordians’ Golf Society hold regular events where former pupils can get together. Courses they play at include Knutsford, Bramhall and Stockport Golf Clubs.

Notable Old Stopfordians

Headteachers

  • 1496 Sir John Randall
  • 1509 Sir Randall Hulton
  • 1521 Sir George Bamford
  • 1534 Sir William Chorlton
  • 1534–1543 Scholemaister of Stopport (name unrecorded)
  • 1557 Sir William Chorlton (reappointed)
  • 1559 Leonard Harrison
  • 1564 Thomas Leigh
  • 1565 John Brownswerd
  • 1579 Bamford
  • 1587 Francis Lowe
  • 1597 William Nicholson
  • 1597–1598 William Lingard
  • 1601 Kirke
  • 1601 Lang
  • 1601 Nicholson
  • 1601–1602 John Cobb
  • 1604 Thomas Bower
  • 1609 Luke Mason
  • 1610 Walter Pott
  • 1623 Thomas Rossen
  • 1625 Reginald Pott
  • 1627 Edmund Clough
  • 1628 John Pollett
  • 1630 William Plant
  • 1633 Samuel Edwards
  • 1634 Bradley Hayhurst
  • 1645 Randall Yarwood
  • 1647 Thomas Peirson
  • 1651 Rev Thomas Coombes
  • 1668 Rev Daniel Leech
  • 1669 Rev Joseph Whittle
  • 1673–1674 Rev Samuel Needham
  • 1683 Rev Timothy Dobson
  • 1691 Rev George Esclome
  • 1692–1693 Rev William Dickens
  • 1703 Rev Joseph Dale
  • 1752 Rev William Jackson
  • 1792 Rev George Porter
  • 1792 Rev Elkanah Hoyle
  • 1829 Rev William Newstead
  • 1832 Rev Thomas Middleton
  • 1847 Rev William Gurney
  • 1860 Rev Charles G Hamilton
  • 1887 Rev William A Pemberton
  • 1903 Alfred E Daniels
  • 1929 Christopher Herman Gilkes
  • 1941 Frederick H Philpot
  • 1962–1979 Francis Willoughby Scott
  • 1979 Hugh Wright
  • 1985 David Bird
  • 1996–2005 Ian Mellor
  • 2005–2018 Andrew Chicken
  • 2018-2023 Paul Owen
  • 2023-present Sarah Capewell

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Stockport Grammar Junior School". educationbase.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. ^ Nicholas Carlisle, Concise Description of Endowed Grammar Schools (1818)
  3. ^ a b Stockport Grammar School | Stockport Grammar School. facebook.com. Retrieved on September 7, 2012.
  4. ^ Ball, James and William (1987). Stockport Grammar School 1487-1987. Old Vicarage Publications.
  5. ^ Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, notice of planning decision. stockportgrammar.co.uk. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  6. ^ New building | Stockport Grammar School Archived 2012-01-30 at the Wayback Machine. stockportgrammar.co.uk. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  7. ^ "Talk:Stockport Grammar School", Wikipedia, 30 September 2025, retrieved 13 April 2026
  8. ^ "Bursaries and Scholarships". Stockport Grammar School. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  9. ^ a b "SGS inaugural Giving Day - 18th & 19th March 2026". Stockport Grammar School. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  10. ^ "In just 36 hours, we achieved an incredible £129,696 from 299 donors, and we are truly grateful to count you among our generous supporters." (Received in an email from oldstops@stockportgrammar.co.uk)
  11. ^ "School Inspection Report - Stockport Grammar School" (PDF). Independent Schools Inspectorate. 16 November 2023. pp. 3, 8.
  12. ^ Duke of Edinburgh's Award | Stockport Grammar School. stockportgrammar.co.uk. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  13. ^ Cheshire Life Single Issues - January 2011 digital edition. Cheshire Life Magazine. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  14. ^ Cheshire Independent Newspaper | Local Community Newspaper for the Cheshire Area. The Cheshire Independent. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  15. ^ Greenhead News - The Newsletter of Greenhead College. Greenhead College. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Jungle adventure takes pupils to new heights". Stockport Grammar School. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Out and About: Bolivia and Peru" (PDF). Taking Stock (Stockport Grammar School Newsletter) (61): 4. Autumn 2015.
  18. ^ Stopfordian magazine | Stockport Grammar School . stockportgrammar.co.uk. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  19. ^ "The Stopfordian". Stockport Grammar School. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  20. ^ "Taking Stock". Stockport Grammar School. Retrieved 14 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Old Stops' Review". Stockport Grammar School. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  22. ^ "Lacrosse". Disley Amalgamated Sports Club. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
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