Reception: Mon–Thu 08:30–20:30 · Fri 08:30–18:00
Placement tests every weekBook a free level assessment
Enrol nowEstablished 1998 · Manchester
Professional English language courses for children, teenagers and adults, with expert preparation for Cambridge and IELTS examinations.
1998
Teaching since
8
Students per class, average
94%
Cambridge pass rate, 2025
40+
Nationalities each year
Our courses
Placement testing runs every week, so every student joins a group at the right level. Courses follow the academic year, with shorter intensive and exam courses running each term.
Ages 6–11 · Pre-A1 to A2
A structured, playful introduction to English built around stories, songs, games and short projects. Lessons develop confident speaking and early literacy, with termly reports for parents.
Format: Two 60-minute lessons per week, maximum 10 children
Course detailsAges 12–17 · A2 to C1
General and academic English for secondary school students, with clear links to school study and, in the upper groups, preparation for Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced.
Format: Two 90-minute lessons per week, maximum 12 students
Course details
Adults, 18+ · A1 to C1
Balanced work on speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary, with a strong emphasis on using English confidently in real situations.
Format: Morning, evening or intensive timetables, maximum 12 students
Course detailsWorking professionals · B1 to C1
Practical workplace communication: meetings, presentations, negotiation, professional email and report writing. Courses can be tailored to your sector.
Format: Evening groups or in-company sessions, maximum 8 students
Course details
Teenagers and adults · B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency
Focused preparation for the Cambridge English qualifications, combining exam technique with genuine language development and regular mock examinations.
Format: 10, 12 or 20-week courses, maximum 10 students
Course detailsUniversity applicants and professionals · Academic and General Training
Band-focused preparation covering all four papers, with detailed writing feedback, timed practice and individual target setting for the band you need.
Format: 8 or 12-week courses, maximum 10 students
Course details
About Northbridge
Northbridge English Academy has taught English in the centre of Manchester for more than twenty-five years. We began in 1998 with two classrooms above a bookshop and three teachers; today we teach around six hundred students a year across children's, teenage and adult programmes, and we still know every one of them by name.
Classes average eight students. That is a deliberate choice: it is the largest group in which every student can speak in every lesson and receive individual correction. Teachers stay with the same group for the full course, and every student has a termly one-to-one tutorial to review progress and agree targets.
We are an accredited examination preparation centre for Cambridge English and IELTS, and our teachers are trained in the marking criteria they prepare students for.
Why choose us
Six things our students and their parents tell us matter most.
Every teacher holds CELTA or an equivalent qualification, and most have taught with us for more than five years.
Classes average eight students, so everyone speaks in every lesson and nobody sits quietly at the back.
Dedicated Cambridge and IELTS programmes with regular mock examinations under timed conditions.
Termly one-to-one tutorials to review progress, set targets and agree what to work on next.
A student portal with writing practice, assignments and instant feedback between lessons.
Placement testing, mid-course reviews and end-of-course reports mapped to the CEFR.
Exam preparation
Exam preparation is at the heart of what we do. Courses run in the autumn, spring and summer terms, timed so that students sit the examination shortly after finishing.
Student portal
Every Northbridge student has a school account. It is where homework is set, written work is submitted and progress is recorded across the course.
Teacher portal
Teachers use the same system to set work, follow a class through the term and prepare individual feedback before the next lesson.
Student success
I came to Northbridge with a band 5.5 and left with the 7.0 I needed for my master's. The writing feedback between lessons made the difference.
My daughter has been in the teen classes for three years. She is now working towards C1 Advanced and genuinely enjoys her lessons.
The Business English group is small and practical. I use what we cover in meetings the following week.
Placement tests take about forty minutes and include a short conversation with a teacher. We will recommend the right course, timetable and start date, with no obligation to enrol. Reception is open Monday to Saturday — call +44 (0)161 496 0128 or send us a message.