Merchant Taylors' Prep School

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Merchant Taylors' Prep School

Merchant Taylors' Prep, formerly Northwood Prep. An independent school for boys.

09/09/2026

We’ve been delighted to welcome our pupils back today!

Without missing a beat, the boys have jumped straight back into lessons and spent their break times sharing stories about their summer adventures and reuniting with friends after the holiday.

Welcome back!

12/08/2026

Year 4 recently enjoyed a fantastic overnight residential visit to Woodrow High House in Amersham. On arrival, they were given a tour of the site before lunch and some free time. The boys were then split into three groups to complete Low Ropes, Crate Stacking and Team Exercise activities. These challenged them to work together, communicate effectively and support one another as well as develop teamwork, resilience and problem-solving skills.

After settling into their rooms and having varying degrees of success with making their beds, they enjoyed dinner together before ending the day with a campfire and hot chocolate. The evening was spent telling silly jokes, singing funny songs and sharing lots of laughter with friends before heading back to their rooms for a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, after an enjoyable breakfast the boys completed their final group activity before coming together for Wacky Races, their last challenge of the visit. This fun-filled activity involved a variety of amusing races and gave everyone the chance to cheer each other on and have a great time together.

The residential visit was an enjoyable and memorable experience that helped the Year 4 boys grow in confidence and independence while strengthening their teamwork skills. They returned with lots of happy memories and experiences that will be remembered for years to come.

05/08/2026

As a part of our Year 6 leavers events, we held a special recital to celebrate the amazing progress our boys have made in their music endeavours over their time at Merchant Taylors’ Prep. Our Year 6 musicians put on a wonderful programme for parents and staff in the sunny, spacious and acoustically brilliant setting of our Oliver Bangham building.

This event marked the culmination of many years of dedication, hard work and perseverance for these boys who played excellently. We are hugely proud of them and we wish them every success as they continue their musical journeys into senior school, and beyond!

29/07/2026

Our Year 8 boys enjoyed a memorable Leavers' Expedition to Cornwall, marking the end of their journey after 10 years with the school.

The adventure began in Newquay, where the boys took to the waves with a bodyboarding session on the famous Fistral Beach. They then travelled to Swanpool in Falmouth to experience a range of exciting water sports, including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and coasteering.

The group headed to Mawgan Porth Beach for a full day at surf school. Under expert instruction, the boys spent the day in the sea developing their surfing skills and making the most of the fantastic conditions. They returned to Fistral Beach for one final bodyboarding session before heading home.

The expedition was a fitting finale for a year group that has been part of the school community for a decade. The boys had a fantastic time, creating lasting memories together, and even found time to celebrate England's World Cup victory during the trip.

22/07/2026

As a part of the Year 8 leaving celebrations, the boys took on William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and their journey from page to stage was truly unforgettable. The boys actively dissected the script, reading how the characters changed from static figures on a page into deeply flawed, fiercely passionate individuals. Navigating the play's unique duality, balancing the hilarious sting of unrequited love with the darker undercurrents of Malvolio’s humiliation, shifted the boys' perspective from passive readers to active storytellers as they embodied the chaotic energy of Illyria.

When it was time to step into the spotlight, the weeks of meticulous preparation paid off instantly. Standing before the audience, the difficult language melted away, replaced by the sheer, electric energy of live theatre as the intricate web of mistaken identities came alive. Every comedic pause, exaggerated gesture, and absurd interaction landed perfectly, drawing genuine laughter and applause that fuelled the boys' energy on stage.

The shared glances of triumph backstage and the collective adrenaline rush of a well-delivered scene created an infectious sense of joy among the cast. It was a deeply rewarding experience that proved Shakespeare, when fully embraced, is wonderfully vibrant, relevant, and wildly entertaining!

A massive well done to the boys on a spectacular and successful presentation.

15/07/2026

From sprinting to shotput, and long jumps to long distance races, the Year 5-8 Sports Day was a resounding success. Staff, parents, Old Terryers and pupils cheered encouragement from the sidelines and the whole community came together in the spirit of competition at the Senior School's athletics track.

Throughout the day, the boys competed with great energy and sportsmanship in a wide range of track and field events. From the excitement of the 80m sprint to the technical challenges of the high jump, long jump and discus, every competitor had the opportunity to showcase their talents. The day concluded with the always popular 4x100m relay, providing a thrilling finale to the competition and two new school records!

For our Year 8 pupils, this Sports Day marked the final time they would compete at Merchant Taylors’ Prep. They have been wonderful role models throughout their time at the school, and we wish them every success as they move on to the next stage of their education.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and determination of all involved, we were able to complete the full programme of events and enjoy a memorable day of competition and camaraderie.

29/05/2026

Our Year 5's ventured up the road to the Senior School for the Merchant Taylors’ Discovery Day.

Taking part in Chemistry, Robotics, and Art, the boys got to work extracting DNA from strawberries, building football robots and creating clay models from animal portraits in an action packed day before taking to the pitches playing rugby, hockey and cricket.

Thank you to Merchant Taylors' School for hosting such a fun day and to the Old Terryers who shared lunch and their experiences of the School with the boys.

22/05/2026

Today we held our Sports Showcase for our Pre-Prep boys! With staff and parents cheering from the sidelines; and strawberries and cream in hand to match the beautiful weather, the morning was a delightful celebration of participation, effort, and team spirit.

Full of House pride and raring to go, the boys showed incredible focus and determination. A huge thank you to our Year 8 boys, who were on hand to lead by example, demonstrating each activity and cheering on their younger peers. Across the different activities, everyone gave 100% effort and had a great time, making for an unforgettable morning of fun physical exercise!

19/05/2026

Last week saw the eagerly awaited return of the Year 5 Mask Presentation Assembly.

The boys spent the Spring Term experimenting with the technical demands of mask technique, learning to act through full body movement and mannerisms. They then went on to stage their own scenes using the School's collection of masks produced by the Trestle Theatre Company.

The boys produced their own sketches, exploring emotional and physical expression. Bringing out a range of emotions across the audience, the Year 5's worked hard and created something unique and memorable.

30/04/2026

Year 4 took French outside the classroom in a creative, hands-on lesson exploring adjectives, colour and vocabulary around birds.

The boys explored the forest looking for some of our resident birds answering questions about them and describing their observations in French. After an adventurous morning of bird spotting, they sang the Alouette around a campfire and enjoyed delicious crêpes prepared over a wood fire.

The session was a fun way to reinforce French in a practical context and enjoy the fantastic weather outdoors.

Address

Merchant Taylors' Prep School, Moor Farm, Sandy Lodge Road
Rickmansworth
WD31LW

Telephone

+441923825648

Website

https://www.mtpn.org.uk/

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