Chetham's School of Music
Manchester, North West · M3 1SB
Music is the organising principle at Chetham's, a specialist independent school in Manchester where every pupil is a young musician first. With just 334 children aged 8 to 18, including a substantial sixth form of 141, it is a small and intensely focused community that takes day pupils and boarders alike. The Independent Schools Inspectorate judged the school excellent in its most recent inspection, with personal development rated excellent and compliance requirements met. Around 18 per cent of pupils receive SEN support, and Miss Nicola Smith leads the school as Head.
334
Pupils
excellent
ISI
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Open in Google Maps ↗Overview & data
- Gender
- Mixed
- Type
- independent (fee-paying) school
- Age range
- 8-18
- Pupils
- 334
- Location
- Manchester, North West
- Website
- www.chethamsschoolofmusic.com
- Telephone
- 01618 349644
Entrance & admissions
- Entry age
- 11
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Headteacher
Head Miss Nicola Smith
Latest results
Attainment 8
42.5
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
0%
National average 47%
Teaching & academics
Academic results here need to be read in light of the school's purpose: with so much of the timetable given to musical training, the headline Attainment 8 score of 42.5 sits a little below the national average of 46.9, and the figure for grade 5 and above in English and Maths reflects the specialist cohort rather than a conventional comparison. GCSE choices cluster around Music, Mathematics, German, French and Art & Design, and the school offers both GCSE and A-level. At sixth form, Music and Music Technology dominate, supported by subjects such as Mathematics, History, the sciences, English Literature and modern languages. Families considering Chetham's should weigh academic data against the school's distinctive conservatoire-style focus.
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 141
Popular A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Learning support & SEN
- SEN support
- 17.66%
- EHC plans
- 1.2%
Arts & extracurricular
Languages
Popular GCSE subjects
Beyond the classroom
For a school built around music, performance and ensemble work are woven into daily life rather than confined to an after-school slot. German and French are both taught, broadening horizons for pupils who often travel and perform.
Ethos & heritage
- Boarding
- Yes
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 23 April 2024
The last word
A genuinely specialist school for the seriously musical child, where talent is nurtured from as young as eight. Best understood as a vocation rather than a conventional academic route.
The Passmate verdict
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Chetham's School of Music 11+: frequently asked questions
Where is Chetham's School of Music located?
Chetham's School of Music is located at Long Millgate, Manchester, M3 1SB.
What type of school is Chetham's School of Music?
Chetham's School of Music is an independent (fee-paying) school in North West.
How many pupils attend Chetham's School of Music?
Chetham's School of Music has approximately 334 pupils on roll.
What is Chetham's School of Music's inspection rating?
Chetham's School of Music is inspected by the ISI and was judged "excellent" at its inspection on 23 April 2024.
Compiled from public data. Last checked June 2026.