("Small things grow in harmony" - Sallust) , established = , closed = , type =

Public School Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

Independent school An independent school is independent in its finances and governance. Also known as private schools, non-governmental, privately funded, or non-state schools, they are not administered by local, state or national governments. In British Eng ...

;

Day school A day school — as opposed to a boarding school — is an educational institution where children and adolescents are given instructions during the day, after which the students return to their homes. A day school has full-day programs when compar ...

, religion = , president = , head_label = Head Master , head = Mr Deiniol Williams , founder =

Merchant Taylors' Company ] The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors is one of the 110 Livery company, livery companies of the City of London. The Company, originally known as the ''Guild and Fraternity of St John the Baptist in the City of London'', was founded prio ...

, specialist = , address = 186 Liverpool Road , city =

Great Crosby Great Crosby is an area of the town of Crosby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England and is historically, part of Lancashire. Location In 1907, the Victoria County History described Great Crosby's location thus: 'The anci ...

, county =

Merseyside Merseyside ( ) is a metropolitan county, metropolitan and ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England, with a population of List of ceremonial counties of England, 1.38 million. It encompasses both banks of the Merse ...

, country =

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, postcode = L23 0QP , local_authority = Sefton , urn = 104973 , ofsted = , staff = ~80 (full-time) , enrolment = 737 , gender = Boys , lower_age = 7 , upper_age = 18 , houses = Armours, Harrisons, Stevens, Warings , colours = Black and Gold , publication = , free_label_1 = Former pupils , free_1 = Old Crosbeians , free_label_2 = School Song , free_2 = ''Crescat Crosbeia'' , website = http://www.merchanttaylors.com/ Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby is a British

independent school An independent school is independent in its finances and governance. Also known as private schools, non-governmental, privately funded, or non-state schools, they are not administered by local, state or national governments. In British Eng ...

for day pupils, located in

. The school's motto is that of the

Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors ] The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors is one of the 110 Livery company, livery companies of the City of London. The Company, originally known as the ''Guild and Fraternity of St John the Baptist in the City of London'', was founded prio ...

: ''Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt'' (Small Things Grow in Harmony).

History

The school was founded in 1620 under the instruction of the estate of John Harrison, a citizen and Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, Merchant Taylor of

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, who was born in

, and was run under the auspices of the Merchant Taylors' Company until 1910. In 1878, the school moved to its present site, some 1,000 yards from the previous, which now forms part of the

Merchant Taylors' Girls' School Merchant Taylors' Girls' School is a selective independent girls' school in Great Crosby, Merseyside, England. History Merchant Taylors' Girls' School was established in 1888, having inherited the buildings from the boys' school that had move ...

, with whom the school shares a Governing Board and

Bursar A bursar (derived from "bursa", Latin for '' purse'') is a professional administrator in a school or university often with a predominantly financial role. In the United States, bursars usually hold office only at the level of higher education (f ...

. The first Headmaster was the Revd John Kidde who was also at the time the ‘Minister of Crosby’ and a farmer of to support his family of eight children. Kidde was apparently sacked from the post in 1651 on the grounds of mismanagement although it is thought he was forced out by Roman Catholic Sympathizers on account of his Puritan/Presbyterian ways. Merchant Taylors' Boys' School Clock Tower

Merchant Taylors' Boys' School Clock Tower

Present day

Until the 1970s, Merchant Taylors' was also a

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exten ...

. It currently caters for over 700 day pupils between the ages of 11 and 18 (with an additional 120 in the Junior School). Lessons run Monday-Friday, 08:40-16:00 (A Saturday working day was abolished in 1981). As a result of these longer school days, holidays are frequently several weeks longer than

local education authority Local education authorities (LEAs) were local councils in England that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction. The term was used to identify which council (district or county) is locally responsible for education in a system wit ...

dates. The school is independently run, and, as such, charges tuition fees. Fees were partially subsidised by the Government under the

Assisted Places Scheme The Assisted Places Scheme was established in the UK by the Conservative government in 1980. Children who were eligible were provided with free or subsidised places to fee-charging independent schools - based on the child's results in the school ...

until the closure of that scheme in 2001. The Schools now run their own means tested Assisted Places Scheme under which about 20% of pupils benefit from free, or reduced-fee places. The schools offer around £1 million a year in bursaries. About 17 per cent of pupils at the two senior schools receive assistance, worth up to 100 per cent of the £11,394 annual fees. Academically, the School sees around 60% of grades awarded at A* and A at

GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...

and, consistently excellently at

A-Level The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

, where 80% and above of grades have been recorded at A*-B. 2012 saw record results at A Level, with the percentage of grades awarded at A* and A 62.3%. The School also enters students for a range of other public examinations, including

Extended Project Qualification An Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a qualification taken by some students in England and Wales, which is equivalent to 50% of an A level. They are part of level three of the National Qualifications Framework. It is currently graded A*-E. ...

s, which have been offered since 2011. In 2013, Merchant Taylors’ was Crosby’s best performing school with 98% of pupils at the boys’ school achieving five Cs or above in any subject at

Sports and extracurricular activities

The primary sports played by the school are

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

field hockey Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ci ...

and

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

, however

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

as well as

samoan cricket Kilikiti is one of several forms of the game of cricket. Originating in Samoa (English missionaries introduced their game of cricket in the early 19th century), it spread throughout Polynesia and can now be found around the world in areas with ...

have both recently been introduced as an 'official' school sport and looks set to challenge the more established sports over the coming years. The school also has a boat house which is currently on loan to Southport Dragon Boat Club, in the nearby town of Southport for its rowing team. The rowing team compete in national races with a number of boys competing at national level every year. The rugby coaching staff includes former Scottish international Ian McKie, and included

Mike Slemen Michael Anthony Charles Slemen (11 May 1951 – 20 July 2020) was an international rugby union player. He toured South Africa in 1980 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for Liverpool. Early life Mike Slemen wa ...

, former

and

British and Irish Lions The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...

international and England team selector until his death in 2020. The school also has a

Combined Cadet Force The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which operates in schools, and normally includes Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections. Its aim is to "provide a ...

, run in conjunction with Merchant Taylors' Girls' School, headed by Contingent Commander, Major (CCF) Helen Irwin. Her predecessors include Lieutenant Colonel (CCF),

, Squadron Leader Mark Stanley RAFAC (formerly

RAFVR(T) The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch), often abbreviated to RAFVR(T), was a Volunteer Reserve element of the Royal Air Force specifically appointed in a cadet training role within the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Members o ...

) and Lieutenant Colonel (CCF), Paul Irvine. The Army section of MTS CCF is badged as

Duke of Lancaster's Regiment The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) (LANCS) is an infantry regiment of the line within the British Army, part of the King's Division. Headquartered in Preston, it recruits throughout the North West of England. The Du ...

(

King's Regiment The King's Regiment, officially abbreviated as KINGS, was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the King's Division. It was formed on 1 September 1958 by the amalgamation of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) which had been raised in 1685 ...

until July 2006). In 2015, Merchant Taylors' CCF celebrated its centenary year. A new banner was presented in the nearb
St. Faith's Church
with

The Duke of York Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was D ...

in attendance. In December 2011, the £5.5m Ian Robinson Sports Centre was opened. Facilities include a climbing wall, fitness suite, sports hall and dance studio. The Sports Centre is named after ex Head of Rugby, Ian Robinson, who died on a school sports tour in Australia after a white water rafting accident in 2007. Other facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool on site (which is now no longer in use due to maintenance issues), a language laboratory, extensive playing fields, fully equipped science laboratories, an art and design suite, cricket nets, a self-contained music block and a share of Northern Club's facilities.

Notable pupils

''Alumni of MTS Crosby are known as "Old Crosbeians"'' * James Allen, (

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

commentator) *Professor

John E. Baldwin John Evan Baldwin Royal Society, FRS (6 December 1931 – 7 December 2010) was a British astronomer who worked at the Cavendish Astrophysics Group

, FRS, pioneering radio astronomer and fellow of Queens' College Cambridge *

Tony Barrow Anthony F. J. Barrow (11 May 1936 – 14 May 2016) was an English press officer who worked with the Beatles between 1962 and 1968. He coined the phrase "the Fab Four", first using it in an early press release. Life Early life In the late 1 ...

, the Beatles' press officer 1962–1968 * Matthew Baylis, novelist and screenwriter *

Alan Blackshaw Alan Blackshaw OBE (7 April 1933 – 4 August 2011) was an English mountaineer, skier and civil servant who was President of the Alpine Club from 2001 to 2004 and President of the Ski Club of Great Britain from 1997 to 2003. Early life Blacksh ...

, mountaineer *

James Burnie James Burnie MC (10 May 1882 – 15 May 1975) was an English businessman and Liberal Party politician. Family and education Burnie was born in Bootle, Lancashire, the son of Joseph Burnie, a local businessman. He was educated at St John's Schoo ...

, Liberal MP for Bootle *

John Culshaw John Royds Culshaw, OBE (28 May 192427 April 1980) was a pioneering English classical record producer for Decca Records. He produced a wide range of music, but is best known for masterminding the first studio recording of Wagner's ''Der Rin ...

, record producer and television executive *

George Kruger Gray George Edward Kruger Gray (25 December 1880 – 2 May 1943) was an English artist, best remembered for his designs of coinage and stained glass windows. Personal life Kruger was born in 1880 at 126 Kensington Park Road, London, the son of a Je ...

, designer *

Dick Greenwood John Richard Heaton Greenwood, (born 11 September 1940) is an English former rugby union player and coach. A flanker, he played for Waterloo, Cambridge University, Lancashire and . He later coached Preston Grasshoppers and England. Biograph ...

, rugby international and Captain of the England team *Professor Anthony Heath (1942–), sociologist, fellow of Nuffield College *Professor

Philip Ingham Philip William Ingham FRS, FMedSci, Hon. FRCP (born 19 March 1955 Liverpool) is a British geneticist, currently the Toh Kian Chui Distinguished Professor at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, a partnership between Nanyang Technological Uni ...

FRS, developmental geneticist, Toh Kian Chui Distinguished Professor, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore *

Simon Jack Simon Jack (born 10 May 1971) is an English business journalist and news correspondent. He is currently the Business Editor for BBC News, known for appearing on '' BBC Breakfast'' until September 2011 and on BBC Radio 4's ''Today''. He has also p ...

, BBC finance reporter *

Ben Kay Benedict James Kay MBE (born 14 December 1975) is a retired English international rugby union footballer who played Second row forward for Leicester Tigers and . Background Kay was born in Liverpool, the only son of Lord Justice of Appeal Si ...

, of the England Rugby World Cup winning side of 2003 *

Bruce Kenrick Rev Bruce Kenrick (18 January 1920 – 15 January 2007) was an English Activism, social activist and Minister (Christianity), Minister in the United Reformed Church and the Church of Scotland. He is best known for writing "Come out the Wilder ...

, founder,

Shelter Shelter is a small building giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger. Shelter may also refer to: Places * Port Shelter, Hong Kong * Shelter Bay (disambiguation), various locations * Shelter Cove (disambiguation), various locatio ...

housing charity *Prof Robert Legget, civil engineer * Spencer Leigh, journalist and popular music historian * Sir Hardman Lever, accountant *

Charles James Mathews Charles James Mathews (26 December 1803 – 24 June 1878) was a British actor. He was one of the few British actors to be successful in French-speaking roles in France. A son of the actor Charles Mathews, he achieved a greater reputation than ...

, actor *

Thomas Eric Peet Thomas Eric Peet (12 August 1882, Liverpool – 22 February 1934, Oxford) was an English Egyptologist. Biography Thomas Eric Peet (professionally he used the form T. Eric Peet) was the son of Thomas and Salome Peet. He was educated at Merchant ...

Egyptologist Egyptology (from ''Egypt'' and Greek , '' -logia''; ar, علم المصريات) is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious ...

Nigel Rees Nigel Rees (born 5 June 1944 near Liverpool) is an English writer and broadcaster, known for devising and hosting the Radio 4 panel game '' Quote... Unquote'' (1976–2021) and as the author of more than fifty books, mostly works of reference on ...

, broadcaster and author *

Samuel Roukin Samuel Roukin (ROO-kin; born 15 August 1980) is an English actor and DJ. He is best known for his role as John Graves Simcoe in the series, '' Turn: Washington's Spies'' and Simon "Ghost" Riley in ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.'' Early li ...

, actor *

Robert Runcie Robert Alexander Kennedy Runcie, Baron Runcie, (2 October 1921 – 11 July 2000) was an English Anglican bishop. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1980 to 1991, having previously been Bishop of St Albans. He travelled the world widely t ...

, Archbishop of Canterbury 1980–1991 * Phil Sayer broadcaster * William Snowden, cricketer * Sir John Walton, barrister and politician * Sir Charles Kingsley Webster, historian * Barrie Wells, insurance entrepreneur and sports philanthropist *

Donald J. West Donald James West (9 June 1924 – 31 January 2020) was a British psychiatrist, parapsychologist and author. Biography He was born in June 1924 in Liverpool, England, and studied medicine at Liverpool University. He did postgraduate work at Lon ...

, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Criminology, University of Cambridge *

Ronald White Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse ''Rögnvaldr'', Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234; Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald. or possibly from Old English '' Regenweald''. In some cases ''Ronald'' is an Anglicised form of ...

, amateur golfer *Bertie Wilson, Second Engineer on RMS ''Titanic'' *The Witty brothers:

Arthur Witty Arthur Whitty Cotton, also known as Don Arturo, was a footballer, club president and businessman. Whitty played for FC Barcelona in the first Copa del Rey final and later served as club president between 1903 and 1905. He was also a successful ...

and

Ernest Witty Ernest Witty Cotton was an Anglo-Spanish footballer, tennis player and businessman. In 1899 Witty, a Spanish national tennis champion, became a founding member of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona and in the early 1900s he played football for FC ...

, footballers

Headmasters

Notable teachers and staff

* Dame Jean Davies, Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service *

John Pugh John David Pugh (born 28 June 1948, Liverpool) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. He was the Member of Parliament for Southport from 2001 to 2017. He stood down at the 2017 snap election. In November 2017, he was elected t ...

Liberal Democrat Several political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties usually follow a liberal democratic ideology. Active parties Former parties See also *Liberal democracy *Lib ...

MP for

Southport Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England. Southport lies on the Irish ...

, former

and

international and England team selector

References

External links

School website

{{authority control Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors Educational institutions established in the 1620s Independent schools in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton 1620 establishments in England Crosby, Merseyside Boys' schools in Merseyside