The Ultimate Guide to Bury Grammar School Admissions

If you are a Bury parent wondering how to get your child into a grammar or selective school, here is the short answer. There are no state grammar schools in Bury itself. The best-known selective school in the town, Bury Grammar School, is an independent (private) school. It charges fees, but it also offers means-tested bursaries to help families who need support.

If you would like a free state grammar school, the closest one for most Bury families is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) in Rossendale. Many Bury boys also sit the entrance exam for The Manchester Grammar School (MGS), another independent school with bursaries.

This guide explains, in plain English, which selective schools your child can apply to from Bury, how each exam works, the key dates, how places are given out and how to prepare, whatever your budget.

🤔 State grammar or independent school: what is the difference?

Before we look at each school, it helps to know the words you will see:

• State grammar school (for example BRGS): free to attend, but selective. Your child must reach a high standard in an entrance test (often called the 11+).
• Comprehensive school (like most secondary schools in Bury): free and not selective. Places usually depend on distance, siblings and similar rules.
• Independent (private) school (for example Bury Grammar School or MGS): charges fees, sets its own entrance exam and decides who to offer places to. Many offer bursaries.
• Bursary: help with school fees for families who need it. It depends on your household income and savings.

Watch out: the word "grammar" in a school's name does not always mean the same thing. Bury Grammar School and The Manchester Grammar School both have "grammar" in their names, but both are fee-paying independent schools. BRGS is a free state grammar. Always check the school's own website so you know which type you are looking at.

🏫 Which selective schools can a Bury child apply to?

There are three main selective routes for academically able children in Bury: an independent school in the town itself, a free grammar school in Rossendale, and an independent boys' school in Manchester. Here is a fuller picture of each one.

1. Bury Grammar School (Boys and Girls): independent and selective

Bury Grammar School is on your doorstep, on Tenterden Street, close to Bury town centre. It has deep roots in the town: the Revd Henry Bury founded it in 1570, and a gift from the Revd Roger Kay re-founded it in 1730. A girls' school followed in 1884 and moved into its Bridge Road building in 1906. The school history page tells the full story.

Today it is one school for ages 3 to 18, with separate senior schools for boys and girls from Year 7 and a sixth form. The school says Year 7 places are highly competitive, and more than half of its Year 7 pupils join from other primary schools. Its 2026 GCSE results broke the school's own records, with 54% of all grades at 9 to 7 and an average grade of 7.

Getting there: many Bury children can walk, cycle or take a local bus. For families further out, the school's coach services run routes including towards Bolton and Oldham, for pupils from Year 4 upwards. Seats are booked online through Vectare, the company that manages the school's coaches.

The entrance exam is sat in January of Year 6. It has three papers:

• English
• Mathematics
• Verbal reasoning (word-based puzzles and problem-solving)

An interview follows, and the school says it is very important. Free example Maths and English papers are on the admissions page. Applications close in mid-December, so do not leave it until after Christmas. Children already in Bury Grammar's own primary school do not sit the 11+.

Bursaries: Bury Grammar offers means-tested bursaries for pupils joining in Year 7, which can cover the full fees, depending on your family's finances. Your child must sit the entrance exam, and you must complete the online bursary form by the January deadline, which falls just before the exam. Funding is limited, so not every application succeeds. The school also has the Batey Bursary, a special means-tested award for a pupil who lives in, or goes to school in, Heywood, which is useful for families near the Bury and Heywood border. Read the full rules on the school's bursaries page, and see the fees page for costs.

2. Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS): free and selective

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School is a mixed state grammar school in Waterfoot, Rossendale, north of Bury, and it is completely free to attend. It first opened in 1701, paid for by a bequest from a local man, John Kershaw, and has been on its Waterfoot site since 1913. In 2023 it joined the Star Academies trust. The BRGS history page has more.

BRGS takes up to 180 pupils into Year 7, all chosen on academic ability, and has a sixth form. In June 2026, Ofsted judged it Exceptional in all seven areas of its report card. In the 2026 GCSE results, 99% of pupils achieved grades 9 to 5 in English and maths.

Getting there: the BR1 school bus, run by Moving People, starts at the Art Picture House in Bury town centre. It travels up Brandlesholme Road and through Greenmount, Holcombe Brook, Ramsbottom, Stubbins, Helmshore and Rawtenstall to the school, taking about an hour. Tickets must be bought in advance, and the BRGS travel page has the latest route details.

The entrance test is set by GL Assessment and sat on a Saturday in late September of Year 6. It has three papers: verbal reasoning, maths and English. Free familiarisation materials are available from GL Assessment. You register for the test directly with the school, registration closes in mid-September, and late registrations are not accepted.

The catch for Bury families: BRGS is mainly for children from primary schools in Bacup, Rawtenstall and the surrounding area. Children at a list of local "Area 1" and "Area 2" primary schools get priority. Most Bury children apply in the "all other children" group, so they usually need a very strong score. We explain how this works below.

3. The Manchester Grammar School (MGS): independent and highly selective

The Manchester Grammar School is an independent day school for boys on Old Hall Lane in south Manchester. It is more than 500 years old: Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, founded it in 1515. The High Master's welcome sets out what the school stands for.

Boys can join the Junior School or enter at Year 7, and they can stay through to the sixth form, which has a new home in the Hibbitt Centre. Results are remarkable: in 2026, 84% of GCSE grades were 9 to 7, and 46% were the top grade 9, as reported in the school's GCSE results news.

Getting there: from Bury, the simplest route is the Metrolink tram from Bury Interchange into Manchester Victoria. From there, the MGS Shuttle takes boys to school. MGS says many pupils now travel this way, by train or tram and then the shuttle from Victoria or Piccadilly.

The entrance process has two stages:

1. An Assessment Day in the autumn. Boys are taught new lessons, take part in group activities and do some creative writing. The school says no preparation is needed or possible for this day.
2. Entrance Examination Day in January. Boys sit two English papers and two Arithmetic papers, then join an afternoon activity.

The school may also ask your son's primary school for a reference. To be sure of a place at an Assessment Day, apply before the deadline in November.

Bursaries: MGS says 194 pupils currently receive full or partial bursaries, and most of these are full bursaries. Bursaries are offered for boys joining in Year 7 or the Sixth Form, to families who live permanently in the UK and in the North West of England. See the MGS fees and assistance page for how to apply.

MGS is for boys only. Girls aiming for a selective school from Bury can look at Bury Grammar School (Girls) or the mixed BRGS.

A note on Trafford: Trafford, across Greater Manchester, also has state grammar schools, but it is a long journey from Bury. See the Trafford Council entrance test page if you want to explore it.

🔍 Bury Grammar, BRGS and MGS: at a glance

Details accurate as of October 2026. Always check each school's website for the latest admissions information.

📆 Key dates for September 2027 entry (children now in Year 6)

If your child is in Year 6 now, these dates matter right away.

The BRGS test for this year group has already taken place (26 September 2026). If your child is in Year 5, expect the next BRGS registration window to open in the spring or summer of 2027, with the test in September 2027. The independent schools usually follow a similar calendar each year, but always check the new dates on each school's website.

Dates accurate as of October 2026. They change each year, so always confirm on the school websites and the Bury Council secondary admissions page.

📍 Catchment and priority areas: how places work

Bury Grammar School and MGS do not use catchment areas. You apply directly, your child sits the exam and the school decides who to offer places to. These schools are not on your council form.

BRGS works differently. It is a state school, so:

1. You register your child for the BRGS entrance test with the school.
2. The school tells you whether your child reached the required standard before 31 October.
3. You must name BRGS on your Bury Council application by 31 October. Bury families apply through Bury Council, even though BRGS is in Lancashire. Passing the test is not enough on its own.

If BRGS has more qualifying children than places, it gives priority in this order: children with an EHC plan naming the school; looked-after and previously looked-after children; children at Area 1 primary schools (around Bacup and Rawtenstall); children at Area 2 primary schools (such as Haslingden, Helmshore, Edenfield, Stubbins and Whitworth); children of some staff; siblings; then all other children, ranked by score. You can see the full list of Area 1 and Area 2 primary schools in the BRGS admission arrangements for 2027/28.

To give you a real picture: for September 2026 entry, BRGS received 381 preferences for 180 places, and 96 places went to children in the "all other children" group. So places are possible from Bury, but competition is strong.

✅ How places are given out (and what a "pass" really means)

Parents often ask, "What is the pass mark?" For most selective schools there is no fixed pass mark you can aim for.

• At BRGS, your child must reach the "required standard" in the test to be considered. Passing does not guarantee a place. Qualifying children are then ranked using the priority rules above. BRGS also has a short review process if you think something went wrong on the day.
• At Bury Grammar School, the school looks at the exam papers and the interview. It is looking for ability, potential and a love of learning. Bursaries are decided separately, based on your household finances.
• At MGS, the school uses both the Assessment Day and the January exam, and sees each boy as an individual, not just a score.

What really helps is preparation that lets your child show their true ability on the day.

📚 Your 11+ preparation timeline (Year 4 to Year 6)

The children who do best are rarely the ones who cram at the last minute. They build skills and confidence steadily. Here is a realistic plan.

Year 4: build strong foundations

Focus on reading every day, growing vocabulary and getting confident with times tables and core maths. Wide reading helps with English, verbal reasoning and comprehension later on.

Year 5: learn the question types

Start gentle practice with the question types each school uses, such as verbal reasoning puzzles, comprehension and maths problem-solving. Little and often works best. This is also a good year to visit schools at their open events. Make a note of the registration dates, because the BRGS window opens and closes before Year 6 begins.

Summer before Year 6: practise under exam conditions

Move on to timed practice papers so the format feels familiar. Use the free past papers from Bury Grammar and MGS and the GL Assessment familiarisation materials for BRGS. Find weak spots and work on them, while keeping things calm.

Year 6: test time

Sit the BRGS test in September, complete your Bury Council application by 31 October, and then prepare for the January exams at Bury Grammar and MGS. Because the tests fall at different times, many families prepare for more than one. It keeps your options open.

For a step-by-step guide to the 11+ in general, see our complete guide to 11+ exams.

💷 Worried about the cost of 11+ preparation?

Because Bury's best-known selective school is independent, entrance exam preparation can feel like something only better-off families can do. It should not be. At Learning Cubs, many families qualify for funded or subsidised places, so expert 11+ support can cost little or nothing. Take two minutes to check if your family is eligible for a funded place.

🌟 Give your Bury child the best chance, whatever your budget

Aiming for Bury Grammar School? Our Bury learning centre on Gigg Lane runs targeted 11+ mock exams and reasoning preparation aligned to its entrance paper format. We also help children get ready for the MGS exam and the BRGS GL Assessment test, as well as children who simply need to rebuild their confidence and love of learning.

We teach in small groups of no more than six, with one-to-one help where it is needed, and build a learning plan around each child, from those who are struggling to high-flyers we push even further. Learning Cubs is Ofsted-registered (registration number 2597663). Find out more about our 11+ tuition support and tuition in Bury.

Step 1: Check if your family qualifies for a funded place (it takes about two minutes).

Step 2: Book a free assessment, so we can build the right plan for your child.

Nearby families may also like our guide to grammar school admissions near Bolton and our guide to Blackburn grammar school admissions helpful.

Bury grammar school admissions FAQs

Are there grammar schools in Bury?

There are no state grammar schools in Bury. Bury Grammar School is an independent, fee-paying school with its own entrance exam and means-tested bursaries. The closest free state grammar for most Bury families is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (BRGS) in Rossendale.

Is Bury Grammar School free?

No. Bury Grammar School is an independent school and charges fees. It offers means-tested bursaries for Year 7 entry, which can cover the full fees for families who qualify. See the school's bursaries page for details.

What is in the Bury Grammar School 11+ exam?

There are three papers: English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. The exam is sat in January of Year 6 and is followed by an interview day.

Can a child from Bury get into BRGS?

Yes, but it is competitive. BRGS gives priority to children at primary schools in its Area 1 and Area 2 lists, mainly in Rossendale. Most Bury children apply in the "all other children" group, ranked by test score. You must also name BRGS on your Bury Council application by 31 October.

Do I apply to Bury Grammar or MGS through the council?

No. You apply to independent schools such as Bury Grammar School and MGS directly. The Bury Council form is only for state schools, including BRGS.

Sources and useful links

• Bury Grammar School: Senior Admissions
• Bury Grammar School: Bursaries
• Bury Grammar School: Upcoming Events for Seniors
• Bury Grammar School: Timeline for Year 7 places, September 2027 (PDF)
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Admissions
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Allocation of Places 2026/27 (PDF)
• Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School: Determined Admission Arrangements 2027/28 (PDF)
• The Manchester Grammar School: Year 7 Entry
• The Manchester Grammar School: Fees and Assistance
• Bury Council: Secondary school admissions

Last updated: 20 October 2026