Founded in 1561 by the Merchant Taylors' Company, the school moved to its present premises at Sandy Lodge in 1933, where it occupies a lovely 250-acre estate with gardens, playing fields and lakes. The handsome, well-equipped listed buildings are a classic of Art Deco design, finding its pinnacle in the Great Hall. Facilities are very good, and recent additions include a new library, art and design and sixth-form centres, as well as digital language laboratories. The staff:pupil ratio is 1:11 and each boy is appointed an individual tutor to support him throughout his school life, supervising his welfare and providing a single point of contact for parents. Examination results are consistently excellent and a high proportion of leavers goes on to Oxbridge and other top universities. There is not only breadth in the emphasis on music, drama, art, games and sport, but also an insistence on achievement and high standards. There are over 70 activities to choose from, including a large CCF, a community service programme and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Parental involvement and support is strong.
Pupils: Age range 11-18; 850 day boys. Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam at all ages; for sixth-form entry, GCSE grade A* expected in sixth-form subjects. Excellence in all fields is welcomed. No religious requirements, although the school is Anglican in tradition. Pupils at 11 come from a cross-section of local, independent and state schools; at 13 from prep schools in London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex.
Approx 20+ pa scholarships, value 10%-30% fees: 16+ pa academic (at 11, 13, and 16) and 4 for music at different ages. Financial assistance available for boys who are likely to contribute to the school and to benefit from it. Fees include lunch and text books.
Headmaster: Stephen Wright, appointed 2004. Educated at Cambridge University (history). Previously Headmaster of Borden Grammar School, Kent, Deputy Head at the Judd School and Head of History at Framlingham. Teaching staff: 83 full time, 7 part time. Annual turnover, 4%. Average age 35.
GCSE: 152 pupils in fifth form, 100% gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects (average 9.6 subjects). A-levels: 139 in upper sixth, 27% passing in 4+ subjects, 73% in 3 subjects - with an average final point score of 491.
All sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (25% after a gap year), approximately 16% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 20% in science and engineering, 10% in law, 41% in humanities and social sciences (including economics), 5% in art, design or music, 9% in joint courses.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 25 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: All take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3-4 at A-level; AS/A-level general studies an additional option. Work experience: Work experience available, in some cases abroad; school scheme provides links with business and industry. Special provision: Academically suitable children with special educational needs are considered (medical advice sought as appropriate). Languages: French (from age 11), German and Spanish (from age 13), all offered to GCSE and A-level; also Mandarin, Japanese, Russian. Regular exchanges (France, Spain, Germany and Italy). ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 400 computers for pupil use (8 hours a day) in 17 dedicated labs and 3 digital language labs.
Music: Over 35% of pupils learn a musical instrument In school (many more outside school); instrumental exams can be taken. Some 14 musical groups including 3 orchestras, symphonic wind bands, jazz bands, choirs, choral society and chamber ensembles. 2 recent Oxford choral awards and pupils accepted to conservatoires; member of National Youth Orchestra. Drama: A-level theatre studies may be taken (drama is strong). Large numbers involved in school and other productions. Art and design: On average, 50 take GCSE, 15 A-level. Design, art appreciation, printing, graphic techniques, photography, digital image processing and compositing also offered. Regular success in national Designer of the Year awards.
Sport: Rugby, cricket, hockey are main sports. Optional: squash, fives, football, golf, cross-country, shooting, tennis, badminton, fencing, judo, karate, sailing, athletics, windsurfing, climbing, multi-gym, swimming, plus croquet in sixth form only. BAGA and RLSS personal survival exams may be taken. Plenty of athletes and sportsmen win representative honours at a high level (including national). Activities: Choice of Duke of Edinburgh's Award (good number of sixth formers complete gold DofE each year); also CCF (Army scholarships regularly awarded); community service. Over 30 additional clubs, including chess, Scrabble, bridge, astronomy, philosophy, film, modern languages, railway, debating, computers, war gaming, science, clay-pigeon shooting, computer programming.
Uniform: School uniform worn; own suits with school ties in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Monitors, prompters, head boy, heads of house and house prefects are selected by the Headmaster, heads of house and by sixth form as a whole, following consultation. Religion: Multi-faith school with a Church of England tradition. Assembly most days of the week. Social: Choral works, concerts, debates, drama, field work, ski trips, careers conventions, industrial conferences and academic lectures with local schools; particularly CCF, musicals etc with St Helen's School. Organised exchanges to France, Germany and Spain; German orchestral exchange visit and work experience; many sports tours; global programme of expeditions eg to USA, China, South Africa, Latin America. Pupils allowed to bring own vehicle/bicycle to school. Health aware, high quality meals; self-service and price included in fees.
School rules are kept as simple and consistent as possible: boys are informed of the school's expectations, and are required to have high expectations of themselves in showing kindness, common sense and respect in their day-to-day behaviour. Strong emphasis is placed on the need for good manners and courtesy.
is run by Tony Wright, Chairman OMT Society, c/o the school (OMT Society has its own clubhouse and grounds nearby, at Croxley Green, Rickmansworth).
Clive of India (established the East India Company); Edmund Spenser (poet); John Webster (playwright); Reginald Maudling (politician); Michael Peschardt (journalist and broadcaster); John Timpson (radio presenter); E H Carr (historian); Professor Sir John Sulston (biologist and Nobel Laureate); Alan Duncan MP; Thomas Kyd (playwrights); Conn Iggulden and James Twining (authors); Boris Karloff and Riz Ahmed (actors); Sir Jock Stirrup (Chief of Defence Staff); Michael McIntyre (comedian); Iorwerth Edwards (Egyptologist).
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