When Edmund Spenser arrived as a boy in 1561, the school's first headmaster, Richard Mulcaster, was already pioneering a revolutionary notion: that education should embrace music, exercise, and drama alongside Latin and Greek. Four and a half centuries later, that vision endures. Merchant Taylors' School occupies a 285-acre estate at Sandy Lodge near Northwood, Hertfordshire, where Art Deco masterpieces sit beside modern facilities including five lakes, sprawling playing fields, and Britain's newest cricket centre. The school ranks 53rd in England for GCSE performance and 46th for A-levels, placing it in the elite tier (FindMySchool ranking). In 2024, 88% of GCSE grades were 9-7 (A*-A), and 93% of A-level grades were A*-B. Ten students secured places at Oxbridge. This is a deeply ambitious school where boys are expected to thrive equally in the classroom, on the rugby pitch, and in the music rehearsal room.
The Art Deco buildings designed by W.G. Newton in 1933 convey purposefulness without grandeur. Red-brick facades face the Metropolitan Line; behind them, the landscape opens into what feels like countryside. Boys stream across the Main Quad during break, engaged in animated conversation. Staff know each student by name. The House system, comprising Hilles, Raphael (renamed in 2021 to honour an alumnus with ties to the British Raj), Mulcaster, Newton, Spenser, Linacre, and Porter, anchors pastoral care. Each House Head oversees the wellbeing of roughly 140 boys, supported by form tutors who stay with pupils from Year 7 through to Sixth Form. This continuity shapes the school's character: relationships run deep.
Simon Everson has been Head Master since 2013, arriving from a seven-year headship at Skinners' School in Kent. He brought experience from comprehensives, grammar schools, and international education. His philosophy centres on what he calls "the complete human", someone who is academically rigorous, musically literate, athletically engaged, and morally thoughtful. Parents and pupils describe an atmosphere that is "driven but relaxed" and "calm, not hectic." The school has resisted becoming a pressure cooker despite its stellar results.
The school's genuine commitment to breadth is evident in its pushback against what Head Master Everson terms "the purely academic school." Co-curricular involvement is not optional; it is woven into the school's DNA. Boys are expected to participate in sport, music, drama, or service. This creates a culture where the brightest mathematician might also be the lead saxophone player, or the outstanding rugby player might lead the Debating Society.
In 2024, GCSE results were exceptional. 88% of grades achieved 9-7 (A*-A), well above the England average of 54%. The school ranks 53rd in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the elite tier, the top 1% of schools (FindMySchool ranking). Locally, Merchant Taylors' achieves 1st place among Northwood schools.
These headline figures mask the depth of provision. The school achieves across a traditional and rigorous curriculum. Latin is compulsory from Year 7; Greek is added in Year 9 for those pursuing Classics. French, German, and Spanish are all taught to GCSE and A-level. Sciences are taught separately. English Literature and History remain cornerstone subjects. The GCSE entry profile reveals healthy uptake in Design and Technology, Art, Drama, and Music, subjects that could easily take a back seat in a results-obsessed institution.
At A-level, the picture is equally strong. 93% of grades achieved A*-B, placing Merchant Taylors' in the elite tier again. The school ranks 46th for A-level results, the top 2% in England (FindMySchool ranking), and 1st locally. 35% of all A-level grades are A*, and 36% are A. This consistency across 26 subjects offered indicates breadth without compromise.
Subject-specific strength is notable in sciences, mathematics, classics, and languages. However, art, music, and drama also attract serious numbers of A-level candidates, suggesting the school has cultivated genuine, not token, engagement with the arts.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
92.54%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
87.69%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum is deliberately traditional. It prizes depth over breadth, depth over novelty. Boys study literature, not creative writing. They learn Latin grammar, not conversational Italian. They write essays, not present PowerPoint slides. This is an intentional pedagogical choice, not anti-technology, but sceptical of the assumption that modernity always improves learning.
Teaching is characterised by subject expertise. The school invests in ongoing professional development and maintains low turnover among senior staff. Classes are typically 15-20 in size; A-level sets drop to single digits for less popular subjects, permitting genuinely individualised attention. Teachers write detailed reports, not tick-box comments. The Head Master's twice-yearly assembly addresses the entire school on intellectual and moral questions, setting a cultural expectation that education is about more than grades.
The Design and Technology department has earned particular recognition. Facility investment in recent years has created a centre where CAD, laser cutting, 3D printing, and welding coexist. Work produced regularly wins national Designer of the Year awards. The Arkwright Scholars programme supports future engineers. This department balances cutting-edge technology with disciplined making, preparing boys both for engineering universities and for the mindfulness that comes from building something real.
Learning support is available and used without stigma. The school identifies pupils who require additional help and provides structured intervention. The philosophy is that able boys sometimes have dyslexia, processing difficulties, or organisational challenges. Identifying and addressing these is part of excellent education.
In 2024, 92% of leavers progressed to university. Ten students secured places at Oxbridge, 6 to Cambridge and 4 to Oxford. This pipeline is underpinned by consistent academic rigour and strong pastoral support for navigating the competitive Oxbridge application process. The school does not rely solely on exam grades; it cultivates intellectual curiosity and articulate communication, skills that shine in interviews.
Beyond Oxbridge, Russell Group universities receive strong representation. Popular destinations include Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, and Imperial College. Twenty-four students secured places in medicine in 2024, reflecting strength in sciences alongside the rigorous academic culture.
The school maintains a dedicated Careers and University Guidance programme. The head of sixth form works closely with pupils from Year 12 onwards, helping them identify realistic and ambitious targets. The library and careers office are well-resourced. Alumni are brought in to speak to pupils about university life and career pathways.
Total Offers
10
Offer Success Rate: 25%
Cambridge
6
Offers
Oxford
4
Offers
With over 150 clubs and societies meeting during "The Hour" (afternoon break), every boy is encouraged to pursue passions beyond the curriculum. This is the school's defining feature, the commitment to excellence outside the classroom with the same seriousness applied inside.
Music is central to school life. Over a third of boys learn an instrument or take singing lessons, an exceptionally high proportion. The music department runs twenty-one ensembles: three orchestras (including a Sinfonia and Symphony Orchestra), four choirs (Chamber Choir, Boys' Voices, Full Choir, and a Tenors & Basses group), three jazz bands (Big Band, Dixieland, and a specialist jazz group), plus Wind Band, Concert Band, Brass Band, Percussion Ensemble, and multiple chamber groups (String Quartet, Guitar Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Wind Quintet, Recorder Consort). Every ensemble is led by accomplished directors and features boys of genuine musical ability.
Concert life is vibrant. The school hosts a major concert at Merchant Taylors' Hall in the City of London each year. Chamber concerts run throughout the term in the Recital Hall. House Music competitions drive friendly rivalry. Music tuition is available at £320 per term (ten 40-minute lessons). Instruments can be hired for £30 per term. There is an annual Aural Training Club and Theory Club for those pursuing music at A-level and beyond. This level of resourcing and engagement means music is not an add-on; it is intrinsic to what the school is.
Drama has a long tradition at Merchant Taylors'. Two major productions run annually. The school performs a large-scale musical or play each summer (recent productions include West Side Story, Les Misérables, Enron, and Macbeth). A junior production runs for Years 8-9 in the Studio Theatre. Additionally, a joint production is mounted each year in collaboration with St Helen's School, Northwood, the girls' school nearby. This partnership elevates both the ambition and the sophistication, boy-girl casts create authentic relationships onstage. The school also runs a Technical Theatre Club for boys interested in lighting, sound, set design, and stage management.
Drama is curriculum-integrated as well. Theatre Studies is offered as an A-level with healthy uptake. Drama workshops and visits to West End theatres run throughout the year. The Margaret Mann Dance & Drama Studio, a 174-square-metre purpose-built space with sprung flooring and professional sound, supports daily work. Notable alumni in this space include actor Riz Ahmed, whose work has drawn explicitly on his time at the school.
The three major sports, rugby, hockey, and cricket, dominate the Saturday fixture list. The rugby 1st XV competes at a high level. The U18 cricket team reached the National T20 Finals; the hockey team reached the National Finals of the English Schools' Cup Plate. These achievements reflect serious investment in coaching and facilities.
Yet the model is not elitist. Games are compulsory on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for all. Boys choose a winter sport (rugby, hockey, or other option) and a summer sport (cricket, athletics, tennis, or another choice). Over twenty sports are available, including fencing, judo, basketball, squash, climbing, and sailing. The water sports programme utilises the school lakes: windsurfing, dinghy sailing, kayaking, and canoeing all run across three terms. The athletics track, two all-weather hockey pitches (with a third coming), indoor swimming pool, strength and conditioning facilities, and sprawling grass pitches mean the infrastructure supports both competitive and recreational engagement.
The school is a national leader in VEX Robotics competition. Teams of boys design and build mechanical robots competing in challenges requiring engineering, programming, and teamwork. The school regularly places highly at national and international competitions. This reflects investment in the Design and Technology department and recognition that STEM is not just classroom science.
Specialist clubs support specific interests. The Dissection Club, Physics Forum, Junior and Senior Chemistry Clubs, Maths Clinic, and Code Club all run regularly. The Arkwright Scholars programme supports future engineers with mentoring and field experience. This breadth encourages boys to see science not as isolated subjects but as tools for solving real problems.
The Debating Society is well-established and active. Boys compete in national debating competitions. The Classics Clinic and Senior Classics Lecture Group support pupils studying classical languages. The Alfred Marshall Politics and Economics Society attracts sixth-formers interested in current affairs. The Philosophy Discussion Society (PhilSoc) explores big questions. The Carnegie Club engages younger boys with literature and critical thinking.
The school newspaper, The Dependent, publishes termly and serves as training ground for budding journalists. Model United Nations (MUN) takes delegations to conferences. The Herrick, an English Literature Society, facilitates close reading and discussion of canonical texts.
The pupil-run Charity Drive coordinates the school's charitable activities. Young Enterprise participants develop business ideas and compete in competitions. The Phab Club (Years 12-13) organises an annual activity week for disabled children in partnership with St Helen's School, a genuine community service that develops empathy and organisational skills.
Duke of Edinburgh Award runs to Gold level. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF), one of the UK's oldest and largest, offers Army, Navy, and RAF sections. This 100+-year-old institution teaches discipline, leadership, and civic responsibility.
The school actively encourages minority interests and identity clubs. The Asian Society, Jewish Society, LGBTQ+ Meetup, Vegetarian Society, Law Society, and Model United Nations all operate. The Russian Language and Culture Club, Trignite (Christian Society), and Politics Society (formerly Hansard Society) offer space for specific interests. This institutional commitment to inclusion, alongside the traditional academic rigour, sends a powerful message: you belong here, however you identify, and your interests matter.
Merchant Taylors' School sits on Sandy Lodge near Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2HT. The site is approximately 10-15 minutes' walk from Moor Park Underground Station (Metropolitan Line). Coach routes serve areas from south London (Wimbledon) to north-west (Rickmansworth) and beyond. Many boys use the Metropolitan Line, reducing reliance on cars. Car parking is available for those driving. The surrounding area is suburban with excellent transport links to central London.
School runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm (approximately). Lunch is 12:00pm-1:00pm. Co-curricular activities occupy the hour from 3:20pm-4:20pm (The Hour), with sessions typically concluding by 4:30pm or 5:00pm depending on activity.
Fees data coming soon.
Entry is at 11+ (Year 7) and 16+ (Sixth Form). From March 2025, the school transitioned to 11+ entry only, closing its 13+ entry route. This decision aligns admissions with many other independent schools and reflects changing parental preferences.
Approximately 400 boys apply for roughly 150 places (a 2.7:1 ratio). Candidates register by October, pay a £180 registration fee (non-refundable), and sit entrance exams in December. The exams comprise three one-hour papers: English, Mathematics, and a General Paper testing reasoning and general knowledge. Successful candidates (around 220) proceed to interviews in late January or early February, conducted by staff members and lasting approximately 25 minutes each. Interviews assess communication, intellectual curiosity, and readiness to engage with the school's breadth of opportunity.
Offers are made on the basis of exam performance plus interview. Academic Scholarships (up to 50% of fees) and smaller Exhibitions (up to 10% of fees) are available for outstanding academic performance. All-Rounder Scholarships recognize high academic ability combined with demonstrated contribution to school life. Art, Design, Drama, and Music scholarships are awarded following specialist assessment days in November of the year preceding entry. Sport scholarships exist for boys demonstrating elite potential in rugby, hockey, or cricket.
Candidates must have achieved strong GCSE results (typically A/A* across core subjects) and demonstrate readiness for the rigorous A-level programme. Entry is competitive but slightly less so than at 11+, as the school is known and assessed. Interview, teacher references, and GCSE performance all inform offers.
Tuition fees in 2025-26 are £8,595 per term plus VAT (£1,719), totalling £10,649 termly or £31,947 annually. School lunches are compulsory at £335 per term. A registration fee of £180 is payable upon registration (non-refundable). An acceptance deposit of £1,200 is due upon offer; £720 is set against first term fees, £480 against final account.
Additional costs include coach travel (£2,352 per annum for those using school transport), music tuition (£320 per term for instrumental lessons), school uniform, and departmental trips. Most co-curricular activities incur no additional cost.
The school is committed to widening access. Bursaries are available to pupils of all abilities and can cover up to 100% of fees based on financial need. Further support for uniform and other necessities is available. Bursary awards are means-tested and require a home visit as part of the application process. This genuine commitment to accessibility, offering full bursary support to families of limited means, distinguishes the school. Approximately fifteen to 20% of pupils receive some form of means-tested support.
Scholarships combine prestige (a designation on school records) with financial benefit (typically 10-50% of fees). Scholarship holders benefit from an enrichment programme tailored to their area of achievement.
The House system is the beating heart of pastoral care. Each House has 135-140 boys across all year groups, creating vertical integration. House Heads know their cohort intimately. Form tutors remain with pupils for years, providing continuity. This is not a passing acquaintance; it is sustained pastoral oversight.
Counselling is available. The school employs a trained counsellor who visits weekly and works with pupils on emotional wellbeing, grief, anxiety, and other challenges. The Staff-to-Pupil ratio is approximately 1:11, permitting genuine individual attention.
Behaviour is excellent. The discipline system is clear and fair. Consequences follow logically from actions. Physical punishment is not used. The school emphasizes responsibility and reflection. Boys quickly understand that rules exist to enable freedom, not restrict it. The tone is respectful but firm.
Safeguarding is taken seriously. The school has designated safeguarding leads, robust reporting procedures, and regular training. The ISI inspection of 2022 rated the school Outstanding for quality of education and Excellent in all areas.
Selective Entry is Highly Competitive. With a 2.7:1 admissions ratio at 11+, entry is challenging. Boys sitting the entrance exam must demonstrate strong foundations in English, mathematics, and reasoning. Interview preparation is important. The exam assesses both knowledge and thinking speed. Consider whether your son thrives under timed exam conditions and is ready for a selective school's pace.
Breadth Expectation is Genuine. This is not a school for boys who want to do only mathematics or only sport. The school actively resists "purely academic" culture and expects engagement across music, drama, sport, and service. Boys who struggle with breadth, or who are highly specialist in their talents, may find the expectation of widespread participation challenging.
Boarding Ended Decades Ago. The school is day-only; no residential provision exists. Families from beyond an hour's commute may find daily travel demanding. This is a local London school, not a national boarding institution.
Entrance Exam Tuition is Common Practice. Whilst the school does not mandate tutoring and publishes practice papers on its website, approximately 60-70% of candidates attend tuition. This reflects the competitive market, not school preference. Families should budget for professional support if desired.
All-Boys Environment Continues. The school remains boys-only through A-level. In sixth form, girls are involved in joint drama, music, and CCF activities with St Helen's. Some families seek co-education; this is not available here.
Merchant Taylors' School is a school of genuine accomplishment. Academic results are consistently exceptional, placing it in the elite tier in England. The breadth of provision, from symphonic music to advanced robotics to classical languages to competitive sport, is remarkably sustained. The pastoral care through the House system is attentive and continuous. Leadership is intellectually serious and committed to educating "the complete human," not just the grade-obsessed.
What distinguishes this school is not that it achieves excellent results (many selective schools do), but how it achieves them without sacrificing breadth or humanity. The atmosphere is driven but not anxious. Boys are happy. Teaching is rigorous without being punitive. Excellence is expected; stress is managed.
This is a school suited to boys of genuine academic ability who are also willing to engage widely, boys who might be outstanding mathematicians and also play in the chamber orchestra, or brilliant rugby players with genuine intellectual curiosity. It serves families within reach of north-west London commuting distance who value education grounded in tradition but alive to modernity.
The main challenge is securing entry. Competition is real. For those who gain places, however, Merchant Taylors' delivers an education that is rare: academically ambitious, institutionally generous, and genuinely rewarding.
Yes. The school ranks 53rd in England for GCSE results and 46th for A-levels, placing it in the elite tier (FindMySchool rankings). In 2024, 88% of GCSE grades were 9-7 (A*-A), and 93% of A-level grades were A*-B. Ten students secured places at Oxbridge. The ISI inspection of 2022 rated the school Excellent in all areas. The school balances academic rigour with exceptional breadth in music, drama, sport, and service.
Tuition is £8,595 per term (plus £1,719 VAT), totalling £10,649 per term or approximately £31,947 per annum. School lunches are compulsory at £335 per term. A registration fee of £180 is payable upon registration (non-refundable). An acceptance deposit of £1,200 is due upon offer. Additional costs include coaching (optional), music tuition (£320 per term), uniform, and school trips.
Entry is highly competitive. Approximately 400 boys apply for roughly 150 places at 11+ (a 2.7:1 ratio). Candidates sit entrance exams in English, Mathematics, and General Reasoning in December, followed by interviews in late January/early February. Strong performance in both exams and interviews is required. Many candidates engage in entrance exam tuition to prepare.
The school occupies a 285-acre estate with playing fields, five lakes, and modern facilities including an indoor swimming pool, sports hall, all-weather hockey pitches, athletics track, squash courts, climbing wall, fencing salle, and an equestrian centre. Academic facilities include a Design and Technology block with laser cutters and 3D printers, science laboratories, art studios, music department with practice rooms, and the Margaret Mann Dance & Drama Studio. A new Julian Hill Cricket Centre hosts Middlesex County Cricket matches.
Music is exceptionally strong. Over a third of boys learn an instrument or take singing lessons. The school runs twenty-one ensembles including orchestras, choirs, jazz bands, wind bands, and chamber groups. The music department offers tuition at £320 per term. Annual concerts are held at Merchant Taylors' Hall in the City. Chamber performances and house music competitions run regularly. Music scholarships are available.
Drama is actively pursued. The school stages two major productions annually: a joint senior musical/play with St Helen's School and a junior production for Years 8-9. Recent productions include West Side Story, Les Misérables, Enron, and Macbeth. A Technical Theatre Club supports boys interested in lighting, sound, and set design. Theatre Studies is offered as an A-level. Drama scholarships are available.
In 2024, 92% of leavers progressed to university, with 10 securing Oxbridge places (6 Cambridge, 4 Oxford). Popular destinations include Russell Group universities such as Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, and Imperial College. Twenty-four students secured places in medicine. The school provides dedicated university guidance and careers support from Year 12 onwards.
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