- Independent school for boys
Merchant Taylors' School: entry, tests, dates and fees
Merchant Taylors’ School, Sandy Lodge, Moor Park, Northwood, HA6 2HT
Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial TeamSchool website
Can we apply, and when?
For September 2027 entry
Registration closes, 11+ entry
Sat 31 Oct
Saturday 31 October 2026, for September 2027 entry
Checked, source: Merchant Taylors' School, checked- Not published
Places
Fees at 11+, day
£11,075a term
2026-27 school year, including VAT
Checked, source: Merchant Taylors' School, checked
Your next steps for 11+ entry
Next: Registration closes for 11+ entry
in 11 days
Coming up: Bursary applications close
in 11 days
Only if you are applying for help with fees
Coming up: Scholarship applications close
in 11 days
Only if you are applying for a scholarship
Merchant Taylors’ School sets its own tests and decides after them and the interviews. We have not found a published pass mark, so we do not show one.
How entry works
Ways in, and how children are assessed
Merchant Taylors’ School takes new pupils at 11+ and 16+. Each way in has its own tests and dates.
11+ entryjoins Third Form (Year 7)
How children are assessed: an English paper, a maths paper, a reasoning paper, an interview, a reference from the current school and other tasks set by the school.
Registration closes: Saturday 31 October 2026 (for September 2027 entry)
Other ways in: 16+Places, tests and registration for each
16+ entryjoins Sixth Form (Year 12)
How children are assessed: an interview, a group activity, a reference from the current school, GCSE grade requirements, own subject papers and taster day.
Registration closes: Saturday 31 October 2026 (for September 2027 entry)
Source: Merchant Taylors' School, checked
More about entry from our guide
This page is about Merchant Taylors' in Northwood. It is not the school with a similar name in Crosby, Merseyside. Younger boys apply to Merchant Taylors' Prep, which is a separate school with its own admissions, so it is not covered here.
The senior school has two ways in. Most boys arrive in the Third Form, the school's name for Year 7, after the 11+. A smaller group joins the Sixth Form at 16+. The 11+ comes in two stages: entrance exams at the school in the autumn of Year 6, then an interview in the new year for boys on the shortlist.
11+: Third Form (Year 7)Merchant Taylors’ School: JoinsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: We welcome boys into Third Form (Year 7) from a range of independent and state primary schools from London, Hertfordshire & Buckinghamshire.
View the official source
Boys come to the Third Form from both state and independent schools in London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The school does not publish how many places it offers. For September 2027 entryMerchant Taylors’ School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Key Dates for 2027 Entry
View the official source, the 11+ includes:
- the school's own English paperMerchant Taylors’ School: Own englishChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
The assessment consists of three written papers in English, Mathematics and the Merchant Taylors’ General Paper, each lasting 45 minutes, together with a short online test.
View the official source - the school's own maths paperMerchant Taylors’ School: Own mathsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
The assessment consists of three written papers in English, Mathematics and the Merchant Taylors’ General Paper, each lasting 45 minutes, together with a short online test.
View the official source - the Merchant Taylors' General Paper
- a short online test in maths and verbal reasoning
- an interviewMerchant Taylors’ School: InterviewChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Shortlisted candidates are invited to Taylors’ for an interview in January.
View the official source for shortlisted boys - a reference from the current schoolMerchant Taylors’ School: ReferenceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
A reference from the applicant’s current head teacher will be requested from the school.
View the official source
Stage one: the entrance exams. The main exam day is 28 November 2026Merchant Taylors’ School: Assessment date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Entrance Exams (Main Day) Saturday 28 November 2026
View the official source. Boys with access arrangements sit the exams on a separate day, which also acts as a reserve day. Each boy takes three written papers. Two are English and maths papers written by the school. The third is the General Paper, which only Merchant Taylors' sets. It is built to reward fresh ideas and flexible thinking. The school does not release past versions, so boys meet it new on the day.
The short online test sits alongside the written papers. It has a maths section and a verbal reasoning section. Verbal reasoning questions check how well a child works with words, for example by spotting links between them or cracking simple letter codes. The school offers a practice version online so boys can get used to the screen format first.
Stage two: the interview. Boys on the shortlist are invited back for a short interview. Interviews run from January 2027 to February 2027Merchant Taylors’ School: Interview date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Interviews January-February 2027
View the official source. It is a chance for staff to hear about a boy's interests and hobbies, and for him to find out more about the school.
The school also asks the head teacher at a boy's current school for a reference. Offers are emailed on 12 February 2027Merchant Taylors’ School: Offer date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Offers sent out by email Friday 12 February 2027
View the official source, and families have until 3 March 2027Merchant Taylors’ School: Acceptance deadline (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Acceptance deadline Wednesday 3 March 2027
View the official source to say yes.
Boys do not apply for an academic scholarship. Instead, the school looks at how each boy does in the exams and interview, and boys who do especially well are invited to academic scholarship assessment days in January.
16+: Sixth Form (Year 12)Merchant Taylors’ School: JoinsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: 16+ (Year 12/Sixth Form).
View the official source
Merchant Taylors' takes a small number of new students into the Sixth Form each year. Registration for September 2027 entryMerchant Taylors’ School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Key Dates for 2027 Entry
View the official source closes on 31 October 2026Merchant Taylors’ School: Registration deadline (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Registration, Bursary and Scholarship Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026
View the official source. The process includes:
- a taster dayMerchant Taylors’ School: Taster dayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Candidates will be invited to take part in our Sixth Form Assessment and Taster Day.
View the official source - a group activityMerchant Taylors’ School: Group activityChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
This includes a range of activities such as group tasks and interviews, as well as to meet with our current Sixth Formers.
View the official source - an interviewMerchant Taylors’ School: InterviewChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
This includes a range of activities such as group tasks and interviews, as well as to meet with our current Sixth Formers.
View the official source - subject papers set by the schoolMerchant Taylors’ School: Own subject papersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Written assessments in four subjects intended for study at A level, sat in November of Year 11.
View the official source - GCSE grade requirementsMerchant Taylors’ School: Gcse requirementsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
These offers set out the grades required for entry and are confirmed following receipt of final GCSE (or equivalent) results in August.
View the official source - a reference from the current schoolMerchant Taylors’ School: ReferenceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
We will request a reference directly from the applicant’s current school, using a Merchant Taylors’ reference form.
View the official source
Applicants spend the Sixth Form Assessment and Taster Day at the school on 16 November 2026Merchant Taylors’ School: Assessment date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Sixth Form Assessment and Taster Day Monday 16 November 2026
View the official source. The day mixes group tasks with interviews, and students also meet some of the current sixth formers. The school's admissions policy adds written tests in the four subjects a student plans to take at A level. The sixth-form web page does not mention these tests, so ask the admissions team what the day will include.
Offers go out by email in December 2026Merchant Taylors’ School: Offer date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Offers sent out by email December 2026
View the official source. Each one names the GCSE grades a student needs, and the place is confirmed once results arrive in August. The school does not publish a fixed minimum. Families accept by January 2027Merchant Taylors’ School: Acceptance deadline (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Acceptance deadline January 2027
View the official source.
Key dates
11+ dates for September 2027 entry
Merchant Taylors' School
Next: Registration closes for 11+ entry
in 11 days
Coming up: Bursary applications close
in 11 days
Only if you are applying for help with fees
Coming up: Scholarship applications close
in 11 days
Only if you are applying for a scholarship
Coming up: Entrance tests
Coming up: Scholarship assessments
Only if you are applying for a scholarship
Coming up: Offers sent
Coming up: Accept or decline an offer by
in about 19 weeks
Dates for the other ways in16+
16+ entry, September 2027
Next: Registration closes for 16+ entry
in 11 days
Coming up: Bursary applications close
in 11 days
Only if you are applying for help with fees
Coming up: Scholarship applications close
in 11 days
Only if you are applying for a scholarship
Coming up: Entrance tests
Coming up: Offers sent
Expected
Coming up: Accept or decline an offer by
Expected
A year younger? 11+ dates for September 2028 entrySome are not published yet; we show what the school has said.
Not published yet: Registration closes for 11+ entry
Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026
Not published yet: Entrance tests
Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026
Not published yet: Offers sent
Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026
At a glance
Merchant Taylors’ School in brief
tap a value for its source
- Ages
- 11 to 18AgesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Merchant Taylors' School is an independent day school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Northwood, Middlesex, set across 280 acres in Moor Park.
View the official source - The ages the school teaches, from youngest to oldest.
- Day or boarding
- day school
- Whether pupils go home each day or can live at the school.
- Ways in
- 11+, 16+
- The ages at which the school takes new pupils (4+, 11+ and so on).
- Scholarships
- 6 kinds
- Awards for a talent, such as academic work, music or sport.
- Help with fees
- Yes, up to 100%
- Bursaries reduce fees for families on lower incomes, after a check of income and savings.
- Registration fee
- £180including VAT
- Paid to the school when you register your child for its tests.
Fees
From £11,075 a term, including VAT
- 11+ entry, day
- £11,075 a term, including VAT
- 16+ entry, day
- £11,075 a term, including VAT
Fees for the 2026-27 school year, as the school publishes them. We never add or remove VAT.
fees shown with and without VAT
Registration fee: £180 (including VAT).
Deposit when you accept a day place: £3,000.
Source: Merchant Taylors' School, checked
| Joining at | Fee for 2026-27Merchant Taylors’ School: Academic yearChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: School Fees 2026-2027View the official source |
|---|---|
| 11+ | £11,075 per term, including VATMerchant Taylors’ School: DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: | £8,939 | £1,788 | £348 | £11,075 |View the official source |
| 16+ | £11,075 per term, including VATMerchant Taylors’ School: DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: | £8,939 | £1,788 | £348 | £11,075 |View the official source |
On the school's fee list you will find fees shown with and without VATMerchant Taylors’ School: Vat treatmentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: | Termly Tuition Fee | VAT | Lunch | Total Termly Fee |
View the official source. The table lists the tuition fee, the VAT on it and a compulsory lunch charge, then adds them up to a total for the term. The figure above is that total, so it already includes VAT and lunch. The same fee applies in every year group. These are the fees the school publishes for 2026-27Merchant Taylors’ School: Academic yearChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: School Fees 2026-2027
View the official source, and they change each year, so check the latest list before you plan.
Registering costs £180, including VATMerchant Taylors’ School: Registration feeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: A non-refundable fee payable on registration: £180 (inc. VAT)
View the official source, and this is not refunded. If you accept a place, the school asks for a deposit of £3,000Merchant Taylors’ School: Deposit dayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: A deposit of £3,000 (inc. VAT) is payable on the acceptance of a place.
View the official source, along with a small administration fee.
Bursaries and scholarships
Bursaries up to 100% of fees
- Bursaries (help with fees)
- Available, up to 100% of the fees. They depend on a check of household income and savings.
- Scholarships
- For academic, art, design and technology, drama, music and sport, at 11+ and 16+ entry, worth up to 50% of the fees.
Source: Merchant Taylors' School, checked
- Bursaries: means-tested bursaries availableMerchant Taylors’ School: AvailableChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Our Bursary Programme offers financial support up to 100% of the fees, and in some cases, it may also help towards additional costs such as uniform, coaches, and other expenses ensuring that pupils can fully engage in the wide range of activities available at Merchant Taylors’.
View the official source - Largest bursary: 100%Merchant Taylors’ School: Max percentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Our Bursary Programme offers financial support up to 100% of the fees, and in some cases, it may also help towards additional costs such as uniform, coaches, and other expenses ensuring that pupils can fully engage in the wide range of activities available at Merchant Taylors’.
View the official source of fees
A bursary is help with fees based on what a family can afford, not on exam marks. At Merchant Taylors', a bursary can cover the full fee and in some cases also help with extras such as uniform and school coaches. The school does not publish an income limit, so if you are unsure whether you would qualify, ask its bursary team. Our bursaries guide explains how means-testing usually works.
The school offers academic scholarshipsMerchant Taylors’ School: AcademicChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Academic Scholarships are open to all and are awarded based on a pupil’s performance in the entrance exams and interview.
View the official source, art scholarshipsMerchant Taylors’ School: ArtChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Art; Drama; Design, Engineering and Technology; Music and Sports scholarships are available to boys joining us in Year 7.
View the official source, design technology scholarshipsMerchant Taylors’ School: Design technologyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Art; Drama; Design, Engineering and Technology; Music and Sports scholarships are available to boys joining us in Year 7.
View the official source, drama scholarshipsMerchant Taylors’ School: DramaChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Art; Drama; Design, Engineering and Technology; Music and Sports scholarships are available to boys joining us in Year 7.
View the official source, music scholarshipsMerchant Taylors’ School: MusicChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Art; Drama; Design, Engineering and Technology; Music and Sports scholarships are available to boys joining us in Year 7.
View the official source and sport scholarshipsMerchant Taylors’ School: SportChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Art; Drama; Design, Engineering and Technology; Music and Sports scholarships are available to boys joining us in Year 7.
View the official source. There are scholarships at 11+Merchant Taylors’ School: 11 plusChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Art; Drama; Design, Engineering and Technology; Music and Sports scholarships are available to boys joining us in Year 7.
View the official source and scholarships at 16+Merchant Taylors’ School: 16 plusChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: Practical Scholarships in Art, DET, Music and Sports are available at Sixth Form.
View the official source.
- Academic scholarships are given at 11+ only, based on the entrance exams and interview. They can be worth up to 50%Merchant Taylors’ School: Max percentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Academic Scholarships up to the value of 50% of the tuition fee are awarded at 11+.
View the official source of the tuition fee. - Practical scholarships, in subjects such as art, drama, design and engineering, music and sport, need an application by the registration deadline. At 11+ the assessments are on 29 January 2027Merchant Taylors’ School: Scholarship assessment date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
Practical Scholarship Assessments Friday 29 January 2027
View the official source. - At 16+, scholarships are practical ones only.
Music scholarships come in several sizes. A scholarship and a bursary are separate things, so a family that needs help with fees should apply for a bursary too.
Open days
Next: Open Day, Sat 8 May 2027
Done: Sixth Form Discovery Evening (passed)
17:30-19:30
Coming up: Open Day
Source: Merchant Taylors' School, checked
Merchant Taylors' lists these upcoming events.
Both events need booking through the school's website. The May open day appears among the dates for the current round, but it falls after this round's offers, so it is most useful to families applying for a later year. The school's admissions policy says open mornings take place in September and May.
Results, as published by the school
A level grades A* to A: 75.6% (2026)
A level grades A* to A, 2026
75.6%A level grades A* to A, 2026Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
A*/A – 75.6%
View the official source70.6% in 2025
A level grades A* to B, 2026
94.2%A level grades A* to B, 2026Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
A*-B – 94.2%
View the official source89.5% in 2025
GCSE grades 9 to 7, 2026
90.2%GCSE grades 9 to 7, 2026Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
9-7 (A*-A) – 90.2%
View the official source89.5% in 2025
GCSE grades 9 to 8, 2026
72.9%GCSE grades 9 to 8, 2026Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says:
9-8 (A*) – 72.9%
View the official source73.4% in 2025
Results are the school's own figures. Schools count them in different ways, so compare with care.
The school reports these exam results. We show them exactly as it publishes them.
| Measure | Latest | Year before |
|---|---|---|
| A level grades A* or A | 75.6% (2026)Merchant Taylors’ School: A level astar apercent (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: A*/A – 75.6%View the official source | 70.6% (2025)Merchant Taylors’ School: A level astar apercent (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: | 33% | 70.6% | 89.5% |View the official source |
| A level grades A* to B | 94.2% (2026)Merchant Taylors’ School: A level astar bpercent (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: A*-B – 94.2%View the official source | 89.5% (2025)Merchant Taylors’ School: A level astar bpercent (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: | 33% | 70.6% | 89.5% |View the official source |
| GCSE grades 9 to 8 | 72.9% (2026)Merchant Taylors’ School: Gcse9to8 percent (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: 9-8 (A*) – 72.9%View the official source | 73.4% (2025)Merchant Taylors’ School: Gcse9to8 percent (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: | 73.4% | 89.5% | 97.2% |View the official source |
| GCSE grades 9 to 7 | 90.2% (2026)Merchant Taylors’ School: Gcse9to7 percent (2026)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: 9-7 (A*-A) – 90.2%View the official source | 89.5% (2025)Merchant Taylors’ School: Gcse9to7 percent (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Merchant Taylors' School.The source says: | 73.4% | 89.5% | 97.2% |View the official source |
Official documents and sources
10 sources, each kept as an archived copy
- Department for Education (Get Information about Schools)
Spreadsheet · copy archived by ExamKind on 11 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
PDF document · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
- Merchant Taylors' School
Web page · copy archived by ExamKind on 9 Oct 2026
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