Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Updates

Update 16th June 2020

We are delighted to have begun welcoming some of our children back to school.

Girls and boys in Reception and Year 6 have now returned to school and they will shortly be followed by children in Year 10 and Year 12 (in smaller groups on separate days) as well as Year 1 in the coming days.

The reopening is taking place in a phased sequence as part of a careful and considered process to ensure a safe learning and working environment.

The safety and wellbeing of children, staff and parents is paramount in our plans and we have been working diligently across school departments for many weeks to ensure that every practical precaution has been taken.

We are hoping that later this term we might be able to have other year groups back in school too, albeit not quite yet in a normal way, and we are awaiting changes in the Government guidance before we are able to do so.

In the meantime, our remote learning will continue without interruption and we are extremely grateful for all of the positive feedback our wonderful staff have received in recent weeks as children have enjoyed online classes, one-to-one tutorials, counselling sessions and examinations.

Merchant Taylors’ is well-prepared to support the needs of our pupils in any environment and we will continue to find ways to ensure this remains the case.

18th March 2020 – An update following the government announcement of school closures

We are sure that many of you will have heard the latest update from the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Education earlier today in which they announced the next steps for schools in England. In accordance with the latest advice, it is clear that Merchant Taylors’ School will close to the majority of children at the end of the school day on Friday until further notice. We will continue to be open for children of key workers.

We are expecting to receive further information this evening from the Department of Education, including the precise definition of key workers. Accordingly we will be sending out a further communication tomorrow, in which we will also explain in more detail how we intend to operate during the closure, particularly with regard to academic lessons and pastoral care. We will also be asking key workers to let us know whether or not they wish us to look after their children or whether they would prefer them to remain at home.

We are sure that many of you will also have taken note of the announcement regarding public examinations not taking place in May and June. OFQUAL has tonight said the following: “We welcome the certainty that the Secretary of State’s decision not to hold exams this summer provides in these challenging circumstances. We will now work urgently with the Department for Education to work through the detail of this decision and to provide more information as soon as possible.”

We will continue to engage with OFQUAL and will share further information with you once we receive it.

These remain uncertain times, but we are committed to working with you to continue to support your children in the best way we can.

For clarity’s sake, we can confirm that we will remain open to all pupils until the end of the week. Thank you for your continued support.

School latest:

Update – 28/02/2020
Update – 12/03/2020
Update – 16/03/2020
MTBS Event Cancellations
MTGS Event Cancellations
Cleaning Procedures

Please click HERE for the latest government advice and information.

The Department for Education has launched a Coronavirus helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education.

Staff, parents and students can contact the helpline in the following ways between 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: [email protected]

For further information please contact:

MTGS – Mrs J Baccino: [email protected]
MTBS – Mrs D Carr: [email protected]
MTJBS – Mrs A Hodson: [email protected]
MTPS – Mrs M Langham: [email protected]