Merchant Taylors' School is an international school in Northwood, United Kingdom. Founded in 1927. It serves 959 students for students aged 11–18.
Location & getting here
Postcode
HA6 2HT
Setting
Suburban
Nearest station
Moor Park800 m away
Nearest town
Watford3 km
Leafy Hertfordshire suburban area, ~25 minutes by train from London and ~30 minutes from Heathrow — ideal for international families based in the capital or with regular airport access.
Nearest airports
Framed for international families — drive times are from the school, not the city centre.
| Airport | Distance | Drive from school | International note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | 18 km | ~33 min | LHR — gateway for Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai |
| Luton | 27 km | ~45 min | LTN — European and budget carriers |
| London City | 36 km | ~57 min | — |
NanaSays Scorecard
Est. 1927
Year Founded
959
Students Enrolled
Boarding Available
Scholarships Available
Types Available
✓Academic Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+, and Sixth Form entry, awarded based on entrance exam performance and interview, provides reduction in school fees
✓Art Scholarship — available at Year 7 (11+), recognises outstanding artistic ability, includes materials pack and exclusive outings
✓Drama Scholarship — available at Year 7 (11+), for those with strong interest in drama and performing arts, includes West End theatre trips and workshop support
✓Design, Engineering & Technology Scholarship — available at Year 7 (11+), for those with exceptional aptitude in DET, includes after-school clubs and VEX Robotics opportunities
✓Music Scholarship — available at 11+ and 16+, two types offered (Music Scholar and Music Exhibitioner), includes chamber music coaching and termly performance trips to London venues
✓Sport Scholarship — available at Year 7 onwards, for those excelling in Cricket, Hockey, Rugby or other significant sports, includes individual development plans and strength & conditioning
Bursaries (means-tested): Means-tested bursaries available to pupils who pass the entrance assessment; awards can cover up to 100% of fees plus additional costs such as uniform and coaches for families who qualify. 8% of pupils currently receive bursary support. Bursaries and scholarships are evaluated separately and both can be awarded to the same pupil.
💡 Scholarship amounts and bursary likelihood analysis are in the Full Deep Report.
Merit-based Scholarships
Key facts
Founded
1927
Ages
11–18 (Boys)
Pupils on roll
959
Fees
$ 31,947+ / year
Inspectorate
ISI
Fees & the true cost of attendance
Published fees
| Phase | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| All pupils | £10,649 | £31,947 |
Compulsory extras (on top of tuition)
| Item | Frequency | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| School lunch | Per year | £1,005 |
Budget beyond the sticker price. Assume the real annual spend is 5–15% higher than the headline fee. Hidden costs typically include: registration fee, acceptance deposit (usually one term's fees, refundable at the end of schooling), uniform + sports kit, trips and expeditions, individual music tuition, exam entry fees, travel to/from home.
Ask the Bursar for a sample "all-in" first-year invoice before committing.
Scholarships & financial assistance
Merit-based scholarships (6 types)
Academic Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+, and Sixth Form entry, awarded based on entrance exam performance and interview, provides reduction in school fees
Art Scholarship — available at Year 7 (11+), recognises outstanding artistic ability, includes materials pack and exclusive outings
Drama Scholarship — available at Year 7 (11+), for those with strong interest in drama and performing arts, includes West End theatre trips and workshop support
Design, Engineering & Technology Scholarship — available at Year 7 (11+), for those with exceptional aptitude in DET, includes after-school clubs and VEX Robotics opportunities
Music Scholarship — available at 11+ and 16+, two types offered (Music Scholar and Music Exhibitioner), includes chamber music coaching and termly performance trips to London venues
Sport Scholarship — available at Year 7 onwards, for those excelling in Cricket, Hockey, Rugby or other significant sports, includes individual development plans and strength & conditioning
ℹ️ This school has not published the exact % fee remission for each award. Ask the admissions team directly — typical independent school scholarships range from 5% to 50% of fees.
Means-tested bursaries — the school looks at your family income and can offer a much larger discount than any scholarship. Means-tested bursaries available to pupils who pass the entrance assessment; awards can cover up to 100% of fees plus additional costs such as uniform and coaches for families who qualify. 8% of pupils currently receive bursary support. Bursaries and scholarships are evaluated separately and both can be awarded to the same pupil. Ask the Bursar directly — these are rarely advertised prominently.
What Makes This School Different
Tablet programme (Fourth Form+)
Microsoft Surface with stylus and Office 365 integration, enabling digital annotation, collaboration, and hybrid learning while maintaining handwriting skills for exams
Academic Scholarship programme
group seminars on non-syllabus topics, Scholar's Journal, major annual projects, and mandatory participation in societies and external competitions
Organists expeditions
overseas musical tours (Hamburg/Lübeck, Netherlands) with masterclasses, recitals, and direct engagement with historic organs and professional musicians
Design Centre (opened 2016)
high-tech facility for Design, Technology, and Engineering with VEX Robotics team that has won the national championship
Music Scholars Chamber Music programme
weekly professional coaching and termly trips to Wigmore Hall, Barbican, Royal Festival Hall
Clubs & Activities
Organists (touring ensemble)Art Café (weekly)Drama (productions, competitions, societies)Debating (international competition participation)RowingRugby (core sport)Cricket (core sport)Hockey (core sport)GolfBasketball (U18 league)+6 more
Expeditions include: Organists expeditions to Hamburg and Lübeck (masterclasses with professional organists, recitals at historic churches), Organists trip to the Netherlands (prior year to Hamburg trip), Drama Scholars West End theatre trips (recent: Newsies at Wembley Park, Macbeth at The Globe, Guys and Dolls at Bridge Theatre), National Theatre and Globe behind-the-scenes tours, Music Scholars termly trips to professional concerts (Wigmore Hall, Barbican, Royal Festival Hall) and 3 more.
Academic Results
A-Level A*
33%
70.6% A*/A
GCSE Grade 9
45.4%
89.5% grade 7+
Oxbridge 2025
9
University Destinations 2025
Oxford1CambridgeImperial College London2Newcastle University1University College LondonLSE
Admissions
| Entry point | Assessment | Assessment date | Registration deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ (Year 7/Third Form) | Own papers: Maths, English, General Reasoning (school-specific, new each year) + interview. Boys from Merchant Taylors' Prep assessed on Years 5–6 performance instead. | January | Not explicitly stated; Practical Scholarships deadline is 31 October of year preceding entry |
| 16+ (Sixth Form) | Exams in four A-Level subjects; offers conditional on GCSE results | Summer (implied) | Not explicitly stated |
How to apply
- Register online via school website
- Sit entrance examinations (11+) or A-Level exams (16+)
- High-performing candidates invited to interview and/or scholarship assessment day
- Offers made (conditional at 16+)
- Secure place and engage with Open Mornings or private tours
What you'll need to submit
- Online registration form
Open events
- Open Mornings — two held each year (next: Saturday, 9 May 2026)
- Private tours — bookable any time during term, led by Sixth Form pupils
Scholarships: Academic Scholarships at 11+ and 16+ (merit-based on exams and interview); Practical Scholarships (Art, Drama, Design/Engineering/Technology, Music, Sports) at 11+ only; 100% means-tested Bursaries available; 8% of pupils receive bursary support.
Admissions contact: Admissions Office: 01923 845514, [email protected]; School Office: 01923 820644, [email protected]
Comprehensive admissions content; school discontinued 13+ entry from September 2025, now 140 places at 11+ only. Specific documents required at registration not listed on crawled pages. General registration deadlines not explicitly stated.
Why Families Choose
- Sport
- Academic
Student Demographics
School Type
boys
Age Range
11 – 18
Sports Programme
Comprehensive multi-sport programme with cricket, hockey and rugby union as signature sports.
Signature Sports
crickethockeyrugby union
Teams by Sport
cricket
25
teams
hockey
30
teams
rugby union
23
teams
football
5
teams
rugby sevens
4
teams
tennis
5
teams
basketball
1
teams
cross country
1
teams
hockey indoor
3
teams
hockey sixes
1
teams
golf
1
teams
squash
1
teams
chess
1
teams
croquet
1
teams
debating
7
teams
Also Offered
competitive activities
Facilities
12 grass cricket squares10 artificial cricket nets16 grass cricket netsindoor cricket centre (5 nets, 4 surfaces)Julian Hill Cricket Centre3 multi-sport astroturf pitchestennis courts (hard surface and astroturf)outdoor cricket netsathletics tracksports hall
Director of Sport: Gareth Roots
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact the admissions office at Merchant Taylors' School directly for current fee information.