INTRODUCTION:

Merchant Taylors' School (MTS) is an independent boys' school that was founded in 1561 and is located in Northwood, Hertfordshire. In 2015, the school merged with Northwood Prep, and the 285-acre campus became an all-through school catering to students aged 3 to 18. With a history of over 450 years, MTS places great emphasis on a flexible and broad curriculum that promotes intellectual growth, self-discipline, and ingenuity. In addition to offering a wide range of extracurricular activities, including the Afro-Caribbean Society, chorus, rowing, Astrophysics Club, chess, and debating, the school is also committed to outdoor education programs. Moreover, MTS demonstrates its commitment to a thorough PSHCE and well-being curriculum by publishing magazines like GeoMag and Concordia centered on kids' mental health and emotional agility.

MTS is committed to promoting the overall development of its students. The school provides a variety of resources, such as websites, apps, publications, and support groups, to help students overcome obstacles with confidence. MTS gives high importance to students' well-being, especially during their transition into adulthood, and works in partnership with parents to ensure that. Instead of imposing predetermined standards, the school's approach is to monitor and encourage each student's progress, enabling them to grow at their own pace and utilize their unique abilities to the fullest. This personalized and nurturing environment fosters a sense of social responsibility and awareness, motivating students to face challenges and exceed their potential.

ADMISSION GUIDELINES:

It is recommended that prospective parents bring their son to the school before enrolling for admission. September and May open mornings usually include meetings with key staff members and guided tours of the facilities. You can schedule a personal tour with the admissions department.

Oversubscription Criteria:

There are no oversubscription criteria for the school.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

For your son to be considered for a spot at Taylor's school, he needs to be enrolled first. You can enroll him by filling out the online registration form available on the school's website. The deadline for registration is in late October of the year before admission. You will need to upload a digital copy of your son's passport and birth certificate, along with a non-refundable registration fee of £100, with the online form.

To be admitted to Merchant Taylors' School at the age of 11 or above, a report must be provided by the student's current school. In addition, the student's performance on admission exams and an individual interview are also considered. Only candidates who achieve the necessary exam standards are invited to attend the interview, which takes place between late January and early February. During the interview, staff members gain further insight into the candidate's aptitudes, interests, and character traits. Please note that a deposit of £1,050 is required to secure a spot if one is offered.

CATCHMENT AREA:

There is no defined catchment area.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES:

The institution offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to support students from diverse backgrounds and with different skill sets. The Academic Scholarships and Exhibitions are granted to students based on their performance during the evaluation procedure at the 11+ level. Academic Exhibitions can be valued up to the same amount as Academic Scholarships, which are worth at least 10% of the school fees. The institution also provides scholarships for all-around ability, sports, drama, design technology (DT), music, and the arts. Sports scholarships are awarded based on practical evaluations, such as fitness, rugby, hockey, and cricket tests. Music scholarships require a minimum Grade 5 on the first instrument, an audition, or an interview, and offer free tuition for two instruments or an instrument and voice. Drama scholarships require a monologue and a discussion of the selected work, while scholarships for art and DT are awarded based on portfolios and indications of interest in the relevant subjects.

The school offers scholarships to students who have passed admission exams and interviews but are unable to pay their school fees, either partially or in full, due to financial difficulties. The bursary committee assesses the assets and income of the applicants to determine the extent of their financial need. The evaluation of bursary awards, which can range from 10% to 100% of the fees, is conducted annually, with most awards ranging between 75% and 100%. It is important to note that the means-tested support provided may also cover the cost of field trips and other extracurricular activities, demonstrating the school's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity among its student body.

EXAM FORMAT:

Candidates wishing to enroll in Year 7 (11+) at MTS must pass an admission exam that includes the following:

· English Exam (1 Hour)

· Mathematics Exam (1 Hour)

· MTS General Exam (1 Hour)

The English exam focuses on assessing writing abilities such as inference, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar, as well as comprehension. To earn points, it is important to use excellent form, innovation, organization, coherence, and sentence structure.

In the Mathematics exam, your child's arithmetic and problem-solving skills will be evaluated. The test will include questions on geometry, algebra, statistics, numbers, and measuring.

The General exam aims to assess language, logic, and ethics.

PREPARATION AND TARGET TEST SCORES:

Using practice papers is one of the finest strategies to get ready for competitive admission exams. These provide rapid and effective acquainting of pupils with the structure and categories of questions they will face on the real test. They also give pupils a great chance to practice working under time constraints.

Students who regularly achieve 80%+ on the 11+ practice exams should be prepared to pass the 11+ exam at Merchant Taylors' School. This has traditionally been a pretty good indication that your child ought to do well on the MTS 11+ exam, however, there are no promises.