Address Merchant Taylors' School, Sandy Lodge, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2HT
Region London - Outer (within M25)
Pupils 890, Upper sixth 141
Enquiries the Admissions Officer
Description 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, 55 acres of 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.
School Head Headmaster: Head Master: Simon Everson, in post from 2013. Educated at Solihull and the universities of Cambridge and Nottingham (English literature and philosophy). Previously Headmaster of Skinners School and has taught at Nottingham High School, Arnold Schools and in grammar and comprehensive schools in Coventry, Peterborough and Westcliffe-on-Sea and at a school in Japan. Former Chairman of the Grammar School Heads Association. Teaching staff: 83 full time, 7 part time.
Results GCSE: 158 pupils in fifth form, 100% gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects (average 9.6 subjects). A-levels: 141 in upper sixth, all passing in 3+ subjects, with an average final point score of 491.
Furtherhigher All sixth form leavers go on to a degree course, approximately 12% to Oxbridge; pupils go on to a broad range of academic subjects at top universities, some abroad.
Arts Music: Over 35% of pupils learn a musical instrument In school (many more outside school); free tuition for 1 year for selected boys wishing to take up an orchestral instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups, including choirs, orchestras, bands, chamber groups, give frequent concerts. Regular Oxbridge organ awards. 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 PE is compulsory and all pupils learn to swim. Some 20+ sports available including soccer, golf, fives, climbing, sailing. BAGA and RLSS personal survival exams may be taken. Plenty of athletes and sportsmen win representative honours at a high level (including national); including in fencing, basketball, judo, karate and handball. All Years 10 and 11 have choice of community service, Duke of Edinburgh's Award (bronze, silver and gold) or CCF (army, navy and RAF sections, including girls from St Helen's, Northwood). Rifle shooting team competes annually at Bisley; support for good causes and charity work, including Phab (week-long residential holiday for handicapped children organised by sixth-form boys together with girls of St Helen's); school also has a charitable partnership with two schools in India. Over 30 additional clubs, including chess, Scrabble, bridge, astronomy, philosophy, film, modern languages, railway, debating, computers, war gaming, science, clay-pigeon shooting, computer programming.
Alumni The Old Merchant Taylors' Society is run by the school (has its own clubhouse in the school grounds).
Formerpupils Major-General Robert Clive (East India Company); Edmund Spenser (poet); John Webster (playwright); John Walter (founder of The Times); Reginald Maudling (politician); Michael Peschardt (journalist and broadcaster); John Timpson (radio presenter); E H Carr (historian); Professor Sir John Sulston (biologist and Nobel Laureate); Thomas Kyd (playwright); 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); Donald Coggan (former Archbishop of Canterbury).
