Cheadle, United Kingdom Day only · Co-ed Age range 3–18 1,528 pupils Founded 1855Cheadle Hulme School
Cheadle Hulme School offers a vibrant educational environment that fosters a love for learning and personal growth. With a strong emphasis on academic exce...
About Cheadle Hulme School
Cheadle Hulme School (CHS) is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3-18 in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester. It was founded in 1855 as the Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks' Orphan Schools — a philanthropic institution intended to provide education for orphaned and impoverished children of the Manchester commercial classes. It first taught at Shaw Hall in Flixton, then moved to Park Place, Ardwick in 1861, and to its current 83-acre campus in Cheadle Hulme in 1869. The school converted to private status in 1976 when the Labour government abolished the direct grant. Alumni are still called Old Waconians, a vestige of "Warehousemen and Clerks."
Cheadle Hulme today is a member of the HMC and educates roughly 1,500 pupils through an integrated Junior School (ages 4-11) and Senior School (11-18). The school describes its educational philosophy as a balance of "Academic, Altruistic and Active"; recent ISI inspection commended it for an inclusive, values-driven culture.
The school's most significant alumnus in scientific history is the biochemist Alex Stokes, who worked in the King's College London laboratory alongside Rosalind Franklin and produced much of the X-ray diffraction data later used by Watson and Crick to derive the structure of DNA. Stokes appears as the "S" in the Wilkins–Stokes–Wilson 1953 Nature paper that ran immediately alongside the Watson–Crick paper.
In the arts, Cheadle Hulme has produced an unusually strong run of recent BAFTA-recognised actors: Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne Bridgerton in Bridgerton), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education, The White Lotus), Daniel Rigby (Eric, Ernie and Me, Black Mirror) and Sam Bloom. In broadcasting: the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson (now presenter of Today) and the Strictly Come Dancing and BBC Music presenter Katie Derham. In sport: the LPGA Tour golfer Bronte Law and Premier League footballers Duncan Watmore and Tyrese Campbell. In public life: Lord Dubs of Battersea, the Labour peer best known for the eponymous Dubs Amendment on Syrian refugee children.
The Head Master since 2024 is Lee Richardson, previously Director of Education at GEMS in the Middle East.
Programmes & strengths
University destinations
Memberships & accreditations
Pupil breakdown
- Boys
- 800 (52%)
- Girls
- 728 (48%)
- SEN support
- 272 (17.8%)
- SEN EHCP
- 5 (0.3%)
Notable alumni
Frequently asked questions
What type of school is Cheadle Hulme School?
Cheadle Hulme School is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 3 to 18, located near Cheadle in Cheshire. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Cheadle Hulme School?
Applications typically begin 1–2 years in advance and may include registration, assessments and interviews. Families can explore the UK private school admissions timeline to understand key dates and entry points. https://schoolscout.uk/posts/uk-private-school-admissions-timeline
What are the fees at Cheadle Hulme School?
Fees at Cheadle Hulme School are approximately £4,278–£6,070 per term, depending on the year group and whether pupils board. Families can learn more about UK private school fees and what is typically included. https://schoolscout.uk/posts/how-much-do-uk-private-schools-cost
Is Cheadle Hulme School a day or boarding school?
Cheadle Hulme School is a day school.
Is Cheadle Hulme School selective?
Entry to Cheadle Hulme School is based on overall fit and, where relevant, academic assessment.