About us
The King’s School in Macclesfield is one of the largest HMC day schools in the country. We educate over 1330 pupils aged 3 to 18 and we are fully co-educational. In 2020, we moved to our state-of-the-art campus in 80 acres of Cheshire countryside just outside Macclesfield.
Our school is organised into three Divisions: Infant and Junior Division, Senior Division and Sixth Form Division, each with its own facilities and its own Principal who reports directly to the Head of Foundation. King’s is one of the North West’s top 10 schools for academic performance and aims to be the strongest school in the north, combining ever strengthening academic excellence with a rich pastoral and co-curricular offer.
Inspired to Learn
Supported to Shine
Nurture and Grow
Our history
We were founded in 1502 by Sir John Percyvale and re-founded in 1552 by King Edward VI. We have provided high quality, imaginative education for local children for over 500 years.
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King’s is the oldest school with links to the Merchant Taylors’ Company, our founder having been Master of the Company before becoming Lord Mayor of London. In 2002, our Quincentenary was marked by a visit from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Until 1978 King’s served as a boys’ county grammar school, accepting the majority of children through the Direct Grant Scheme.
We are now completely independent, but we retain the tradition of a local school serving our community and providing bursaries to support those whose financial circumstances would otherwise prevent their admission, and we want to expand this significantly in the next decade. After 400 years of boys’ only education, we originally admitted girls to the Sixth Form and then opened our Senior Girls’ Division in 1993 on the site of the former Macclesfield Girls’ High School, which also housed the Infant and Junior Division.
King’s operated from these two sites, with a third sporting facility at Derby Fields until 2020 when we moved to our purpose-built campus on the outskirts of Prestbury.
Our performance
In 2025, 57% of our A level grades were 9/8 and 83% of grades were 9-7. At GCSE in 2025, 60% of all grades were 9/8, and 80% of grades were 9-7. Our pupils benefit from a broad and innovative curriculum within a supportive and stimulating learning environment that fosters an atmosphere of intellectual challenge.
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Pastorally, we offer a unique 3-18 wellbeing programme and a caring environment, blended with opportunities for pupils in a way that is right for them. Our form tutor and mentoring programmes, regular assemblies, opportunities to contribute as pupil leaders and a range of pupil voice and volunteering opportunities enable all pupils
While academic achievements are important, they represent only one element of the King’s educational philosophy of a holistic approach. Provision of extra-curricular opportunities is rich and varied, ranging from Chess and Lacrosse to Murder Mystery gaming and yoga.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to thrive at King’s. 116 pupils took up the Bronze Award last year, 65 pupils started their Silver and 31 have completed their Gold expeditions (five of them canoeing).
Drama thrives as a taught subject and extra-curricular activity. The Spring term saw Senior pupils take to the stage to deliver a performance of ‘School of Rock’ and Junior pupils put on ‘Annie’ the musical. Termly concerts include performances from all of our ensembles and choirs. Additional Chamber Concerts are small scale, intimate performances .
King’s continues to build a reputation for excellence in Chess regionally and nationally and to be a top UK school for sport. Last year, King’s pupils were National Champions in Equestrian sports (Eventing), trampolining, in no fewer than six different categories, and County Champions netball, quarter-finalists in the National Netball Plate Competition, County Champions in girls hockey and the National Schools’ Plate semi-finalists. In rugby, our U15 team were national quarter-finalists having previously been National Champions. 15 pupils were part of the Cheer team that came second in the world at the World Championships in Florida last year.
Ethos & Aims
Our Ethos : Learning and personal development are at the heart of our community. We seek to equip young people with the character and skills necessary to meet the challenges of an ever changing world.
We believe that education is about what happens in the classroom and more. We seek to produce courageous and responsible citizens who contribute to society through leadership and service.
Our Values : The values of love, compassion and mutual respect underpin all our activities and relationships.
Our Aims :
- to challenge our pupils to aspire, work hard and achieve
- to develop lively and enquiring minds
- to foster a friendly, polite and caring community
- to support parents in raising ambitious and well-rounded individuals
