Appleton Academy Competitors

Shrewsbury School was founded by Edward VI by Royal Charter in 1552, and it was identified as one of the ‘Great’ public schools by the Clarendon Commission 1868. 2024 was a remarkable year for Shrewsbury pupils, with 87% progressing to their first-choice universities and 19 pupils accepted into North American universities, including two at Harvard. In the past five years, Salopians have secured over 50 Oxbridge offers. Our pupils received a further 10 offers in 2024 and Shrewsbury was named among the top 80 UK institutions for Oxford and Cambridge progression by The Spectator. In typical Salopian style, our best-known alumni are famous for their independence of mind and spirit: Charles Darwin; Sir Philip Sidney; Sir Michael Palin; Lord Martin Rees (Astronomer Royal); Lord Heseltine; the founders of Private Eye magazine, Richard Ingrams, Willie Rushton and Paul Foot; mountaineer Sandy Irvine. The School sits on a stunning 110-acre campus perched above the banks of the River Severn, overlooking the historic market town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Our school library contains the oldest copy of the rules of football, dating from 1856, when Salopians played a central role in codifying the game. The RSSH (Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt) has the distinction of being the oldest cross-country club in the world and is officially recognised as a World Athletics Heritage site. 11 professional cricketers in 11 years have progressed from the school, including James Taylor, Joe Leach, Ed Barnard and Issy Wong. The Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club (RSSBC) was founded in 1866 and the School is nationally recognised as one of the leading rowing schools in the country and boasts an impressive 14 Henley Royal Regatta wins to its name. If you are interested in an education at Shrewsbury for your child, please contact the Admissions Office - admissions@shrewsbury.org.uk

The Manchester Grammar School is one of the nation’s truly great schools. Academically, we stand amongst the very best schools in the country. What makes us remarkable is that our pupils achieve outstanding academic results alongside tremendous success – nationally and internationally – in sport, music, drama and many other areas. Founded in 1515, the School proceeded to build a reputation as one of the country’s leading educational establishments, a position we still hold today as an independent day school. The School was founded in 1515, and during the last 500 years, the School has adapted and evolved to remain one of the country's most outstanding schools. However, our core mission to educate the brightest young men in the North of England, regardless of their social, cultural, religious and financial backgrounds, has not. We treat each boy as a unique individual, and aim to teach boys to think for themselves and to develop a life-long love of learning. Lessons are taught by academic specialists with a passion for their subject, and teaching goes well beyond the narrow confines of examination syllabuses, offering our students the best preparation for the very top universities, both in this country and abroad. Almost all our leavers go on to university, and there is a strong tradition of boys progressing to Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities. Our Junior School opened in September 2008 in award-winning accommodation, admitting boys from age 7, and there is a strong focus in our Junior School curriculum on creativity, academic enrichment and skills-based learning. There is, however, much more to an MGS education than what happens in the classroom. What makes this School truly special are the outstanding achievements of our pupils in areas such as sport, music and drama.

Heathfield School is a leading boarding and day school, currently for girls aged 11 to 18, set within 36 acres of beautiful grounds in Ascot. Ideally located with easy access to London, major airports, the M3 and M4 motorways and the surrounding countryside, Heathfield offers both convenience and an exceptional learning environment. Founded in 1899, Heathfield is a school where every student is truly known and valued. Educational research consistently highlights the importance of strong relationships in enabling academic success, and this is reflected in the school’s renowned pastoral care. Alongside this supportive environment, students are encouraged to pursue ambitious and diverse aspirations. Recent leavers have secured places at leading institutions including Oxford (Medicine), Central Saint Martins (Art), University College London (Mathematics), and a range of Russell Group universities such as Durham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Warwick. Looking ahead, Heathfield is entering an exciting new chapter. The school will become co-educational in the Sixth Form from September 2026, followed by the introduction of co-education in Year 7 from September 2027, broadening opportunities while maintaining the school’s distinctive ethos and strong sense of community. Our state-of-the-art STEM facility, opened by Sir Robert Winston, inspires the next generation of innovators. Students benefit from outstanding facilities, including a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, 25m heated indoor swimming pool, performing arts theatre, digital recording studio, extensive sports grounds with lacrosse pitches and tennis/netball courts, a cross-country track, sports hall, dance studio and fitness suite. Heathfield provides a vibrant and supportive environment where students develop confidence, build lasting friendships and create memories that stay with them for life.