The Manchester Grammar School appoints School Captain for 2023/24

Congratulations to Daniel who has been named as the new school captain for 2023/24 at The Manchester Grammar School (MGS). This is a great opportunity for Daniel, who studies multiple languages at A-level and is hoping to pursue them bey ond the school.

Daniel said: “As I come into my final year at MGS and having been at this outstanding institution and widespread community for over six years, never before have I felt so lucky and privileged to be a part of it as I do now. To represent this school as its captain means being able to give back for all the opportunities that have been offered to me since the first time I walked through the gates at Old Hall Lane. From an endless abundance of clubs, including podcasting and linguistics, to participation in national competitions run by the very top universities – MGS has guided me every step of the way. A few weeks ago, the debating team headed down to London to take part in the ESU (English-Speaking Union) debating final, finishing in the top 12 teams nationally and last month, I won gold in the UK Linguistics Olympiad. It’s been a set of incredible, wonderful and diverse experiences!

“The quality of teachers that the school has can only be summarised as exceptional and the amount of effort and enthusiasm that they put into each lesson continues to amaze me and is the only reason that I’ve been able to get as far as I have academically. Only last lesson, was the whole history class enjoying a thrilling discussion over the US Civil War! Outside the classroom, MGS has never failed to support my sporting am bitions, with the football, swimming, water polo and now rowing coaches offering me every bit of help in achieving my goals as well as setting up competitions and matches to provide chances at representing the school.

“One thing that I could not forget to include in my MGS experience is the languages de partment. Having previously studied Latin, I am now learning Chinese, Russian and Spanish at A-level, thoroughly enjoying both the challenges and rewards that come from taking on any language. Despite Covid, the language department has managed to organise trips to authentic restaurants and fascinating galleries while also entering us in for a regional debate held a few months ago – in Spanish! As a result of all the experiences I’ve had learning languages, I am now in the position where I would love to go to study Chinese and potentially another language at university.”

Daniel concluded: “For anyone considering MGS as a potential school to come to, all I can say is there’s only one choice! Of course, you should go to the school that suits you best, but what I have noticed is that MGS manages to suit every kind of student: the pure academics, the sporting athletes, the talented programmers and everything in between. Either way, from my perspective, I couldn’t have been more fortunate to go to the school I go to and I owe MGS all the thanks in the world for that.”

Well done, Daniel!

Withington Girls’ School: celebrating inspirational alumnae

Withington Girls’ School (WGS) this year marked its Founders’ Day commemoration under the theme of Inspiring Futures, with members of its alumnae community honoured during the occasion as ‘inspirational role models’ and ‘exceptional public ambassadors’.

The event, held at Manchester’s iconic Bridgewater Hall, included the school’s alumnae Ad Lucem Awards, named after the school motto Ad Lucem meaning ‘To wards the Light’, whilst guest speaker for the afternoon was WGS Class of 2004 alumna Dr Louise Maynard-Atem.

After presenting this year’s leavers with their chosen books, a Founders’ Day tradition that she remembered well, Dr Louise May nard-Atem, now a WGS governor, spoke with passion of her ‘non-linear’ career which, she said, had been inspired by her time at the school.

Her journey had taken her from WGS to studying chemistry right through to post graduate doctoral research level, then to working in data and artificial intelligence and next, on to her current position as dep uty director of data and insights within central government. With responsibility for the Government’s digital output, the national emergency alert that went out on 23rd April to UK smartphones fell to one of her five teams to execute.

Sarah Burton OBE, a 1993 leaver, now creative director for fashion house Alexander McQueen, was voted by senior school pupils as the Ad Lucem Award recipient for 2023. Headmistress Mrs Haslam told how, following her education at WGS, Sarah studied fashion and print at Central Saint Martins School of Art in London. She joined Alexander McQueen in 1996 and was appointed head of design for womenswear in 2000. In May 2010, she became creative director of the brand, having worked alongside Lee Alex ander McQueen for more than 14 years.

Since taking the helm, Sarah has produced critically acclaimed collections with a focus on handcraft, establishing herself as a highly accomplished designer with both artisanal and technical expertise. Today, she supervises the creative direction and devel opment of all the brand’s collections: women’s and men’s ready-to-wear and ac cessories.

In April 2011, Sarah was revealed as the de signer of Catherine Middleton’s wedding dress for her marriage to Prince William of Wales. The design house was most recently named for its work on the dresses worn by the Princess of Wales and Princess Char lotte at the Coronation of King Charles III. In June 2012, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the British fashion industry.

Dr Louise Maynard-Atem presented Kea Bell with the Young Ad Lucem trophy. Former head girl and current bursary ambassador, Kea is passionate about voluntary and community work and believes strongly in giving back to her com munity. Her voluntary work led to her receiving a Young Citizen of the Year Award from the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester. She was also a young representative for the Greater Manchester Combined Youth Au thority.

The final presentation of the afternoon was the Rose Acton Award to Susanna Thornton, honoured for those qualities also displayed by 2010 former pupil Rose throughout her life and that are valued highly in the school community; qualities such as courage, cu riosity, kindness, humour, determination and a desire to improve things for others.

A keen cyclist, when Susanna relocated to the UK from Hong Kong, she decided to make the long journey on her own – by bike, raising enough funds during her trip to build a sports centre for street children in Cambodia. But Susanna has also faced adversity with serious illness, and her You Tube channel, documenting her cycling adventures, inspires others facing difficult times in their lives.

The Ad Lucem Awards is a whole-school endeavour. Members across the school community nominate alumnae and the shortlist is identified by the head girl team, then senior school pupils cast their vote. The trophies are designed by pupils and hand-crafted by the design technology department.

This year’s theme set the tone for an uplifting afternoon of captivating speeches, wonderful music and poignant readings. In her final speech as head girl, Georgia Campbell thanked the inspirational WGS teachers, staff and fellow pupils for their support.

“Whatever our futures have in store for us, whoever we are inspired by and inspire in return, there could be no better starting point than the foundation we have created here together."