Bury Grammar School, Berry Middle School, Berry Gymnasium

• Location: Bury, Greater Manchester, England,
• Year of foundation: 1570,
• Number of students: approximately 1150,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: Primary and Sixth Form — coeducational, Senior — boys and girls separately.

Bury Grammar School (BGS) — an independent school providing secondary education at all stages: from nursery to Sixth Form. Bury Grammar adheres to a special format: in primary and sixth form, all children study together, while in middle school – separately.

The progenitor of BGS was the grammar school at the parish church of Beri, founded in 1570. Thanks to the local community and charitable foundations, the school grew steadily and effectively, providing quality education to children in the region. Over several centuries, it underwent reorganization, a merger with a girls' gymnasium, and several large-scale renovations, which led to its current status as one of the most sought-after schools in the county. BGS aims for high academic results and the all-round development of students – excellent conditions have been created for this purpose: from a balanced and rich curriculum to various extracurricular activities. Qualified teachers not only know each student and provide them with all the necessary tools to realize their potential, but also actively communicate with families in order to adjust an individualized approach.

The educational process at BGS — is a balanced curriculum that provides time not only for core subjects but also for numerous clubs, sections and societies. Qualified staff and teachers help students to distribute their attention effectively. A specialized career department operates for high school students, providing individual consultations on building further academic paths and preparing for admission to a specific university.

To expand academic experience, the Super Curriculum program is implemented, under which students attend additional classes in subjects, studying topics using modern technologies, interactive materials, and project work. For those interested in sports achievements, the Bury Elite Athlete Programme — it is available to students from 7th grade. Under this program, students undergo specialized training, including individual sessions in their chosen sport with professional coaches, regular medical examinations, and participation in large-scale competitions.

Education is provided at all stages in Bury Grammar:

• Pre-School — from 3 to 4 years old,
• Primary — from 4 to 11 years old,
• Senior — from 11 to 16 years old,
• Sixth Form — from 16 to 18 years old.

The school does not provide accommodation and operates only during the day.

A professional team of specialists responsible for healthy, balanced nutrition operates at Bury Grammar. Several dining halls are equipped on the campus for students of different ages, each offering dishes made from fresh ingredients: from soups, main courses and salads to healthy snacks and sweets. The menu includes vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal options.

At BGS, not only high-quality academic preparation is important, but also the comprehensive development of students, support for their strengths and talents. To this end, more than 130 clubs, sports sections and art circles operate on campus, as well as events under the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a variety of excursions and thematic events.

Art holds an important place in the schedule of most students — they attend art and music classes, sing in the choir, are part of the orchestra or dance group. Hardly any event takes place without their participation, allowing students to showcase their talents to a wider audience. Artistic areas are included in the list of more than 130 thematic communities alongside such as:

• Origami,
• Books, literature,
• Italian language, culture,
• Robotics,
• Debates,
• Ecology,
• Cinema,
• STEM,
• Creative writing,
• Board games.

Physical education is included in the curriculum of all classes, and additional training sessions are organized after lessons for interested students. Thanks to attention to physical skills development, students can participate in interschool and regional competitions and earn scholarships. The campus has a variety of indoor and outdoor facilities where classes are held in sports such as:

• Athletics,
• Badminton,
• Basketball,
• Cricket,
• Cross-country running,
• Football,
• Gymnastics,
• Hockey,
• Rugby,
• Tennis and others.

In addition to sports sections, a program of the Combined Cadet Forces (CCF) is being implemented, involving participation in special military training sessions and thematic events.

All talents that students discover in themselves during their studies can be combined into the Duke of Edinburgh's Award — a program that takes into account physical, academic and creative abilities. The awards will serve as an excellent addition to a resume and will be credited when applying to college or university.

Student extracurricular life includes regular excursions of varying lengths. In recent years, students have visited France, Germany, Italy, and Iceland, staying there from 3 to 28 days: the trips helped students learn about other cultures and customs, enjoy natural beauty, and participate in sports and social events. 

• BGS has been recognised as a school with high results and low tuition fees — The Telegraph,
• High rating from ISI,
• Small study groups of 12 to 20 students. Class size depends on the level of education: the closer to exams, the fewer students in a group,
• Excellent GCSE and A-Level results: most students achieve grades of 9-8 and A*-B,
• A wide range of extracurricular activities for development, including sports, art, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

The BGS educational territory has belonged to the school since 1903. The campus is located on 45 acres of green land in Berry and features several large buildings, each designed for teaching children of a certain age. Based on the academic plan and the needs of students, the premises are equipped with diverse facilities: interactive whiteboards, computers, play areas, individual sets for visual arts and crafts, conducting experiments, and project work. From lecture classrooms and science laboratories to computer rooms, music studios, libraries, and sports facilities — all premises are regularly modernized in line with modern educational standards.

Bury Grammar can boast a well-maintained and safe Forest School where outdoor lessons are held. There are also several sports facilities on the grounds:

• All-weather full-scale playing field,
• Sprint and jump tracks,
• Sports hall with team sports zones,
• Cricket and athletics field,
• Hockey and athletics field,
• Tennis courts,
• Netball courts,
• Swimming pool,
• Fitness and dance studio.

The school academic calendar consists of three trimesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-March,
• Summer: April-July.

Classes are held on weekdays, and recreation is organized on national and international holidays, weekends, and during seasonal vacations. Extracurricular activities are scheduled immediately after the main lessons.

The list of additional expenses will include:

• Registration and administrative fees,
• Meals,
• School transportation,
• Individual classes in core subjects, extracurricular clubs and sections,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Personal learning materials, including books and school uniform,
• Medical insurance,
• Childcare before and after main classes,
• Personal expenses.

The admission process consists of several stages:

• Visiting the campus to meet teachers and the educational area (if possible),
• Submitting an application, required documents, and paying the registration fee,
• Taking tests in core subjects or attending an open day (this stage depends on the candidate's age),
• Receiving an invitation to enroll,
• Making a deposit,
• Arriving on campus at the beginning of the semester.

Admission of applicants is based on test results and informal assessment by teachers during the trial day.

Every year, BGS high school students demonstrate excellent results in GCSE and A-Level exams, which allows them to enter leading universities in the UK and other countries, for example:

• University of Liverpool,
• Durham University,
• University of Leeds,
• Newcastle University,
• University of Plymouth,
• University of St Andrews.

Admission criteria for different stages of education will vary, but the following will be common:

• Personal documents, including a foreign passport, health insurance and certificates, visa or residence permit,
• Academic transcripts and certificates for the last academic years,
• Letters of recommendation, individual achievements if available.

Education at BGS is conducted in English, therefore the older the student, the higher their level should be.

Each year, the school awards a number of scholarships based on students' academic achievements and their specific financial needs. Scholarships may cover up to 100% of tuition fees and will be renewed if high performance is maintained or if there are no changes in the family’s financial situation.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision