Patrick selected in Ireland Rugby Squad

Patrick Jones, a Sixth Form student at Merchant Taylors’ School, has been selected to play rugby for Ireland U18s.

The 17-year-old, who is captain of the school rugby team and also plays at Waterloo RFC, will represent his country against Italy at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo in Treviso on Saturday 30 October.

He took part in a series of training camps with Irish Exiles during the summer, where he captained the side at number 6 in matches against Ulster and Hartpury. He is expected to play a similar role for Ireland, with the ability to cover at second row where required.

Patrick is also part of the Sale Sharks Academy and has a prefect role at Merchant Taylors’, where he is this year’s Sport Scholar.

David Wickes, Headmaster at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Patrick and thoroughly deserved. He is an excellent role model for younger boys in the school, combining humility and courtesy with a high level of sporting commitment at school, his club and now for his national side, alongside an impressive dedication to his academic studies.

“Playing for Merchant Taylors’, Waterloo and his national team, he is of course following in the footsteps of some incredibly talented players, including Richard Greenwood, Ben Kay and Charlie Beckett. We wish him the very best of luck versus Italy and hope this is the first of many international caps for Patrick.”

Patrick Jones has been selected to play for Ireland U18s

 

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Duke of Edinburgh trip to Western Lakes

A contingent of boys spent three wet but highly enjoyable days in the Lake District as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.

The expedition saw the boys hike and camp their way across the Western Lakes before reaching Muncaster Fell (pictured above) towards the end of their trip.

 

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Girls into Engineering Presentation

Both year 6 classes attended a Girls into Engineering presentation from Leah Jones, an Oxford University Undergraduate Engineer, on Wednesday 22nd and Tuesday 28th September.

The presentation encouraged the girls to consider Engineering as a future career and allowed them to then engage in a practical bridge building activity. All the girls thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and worked so well in teams to produce creative designs.

The winning design held an impressive 17Kg before it eventually buckled. Well done to all of the girls for their enthusiasm and creativity on the day.

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Old Boy Ben Aitchison recognised by Wisden

Old Crosbeian Ben Aitchison has been named in Wisden’s list of the best young County Championship players.

After making his first-class debut last year, Ben finished this season as Derbyshire’s leading wicket-taker in the County Championship, with figures of 34 wickets at 23.29. This included a career-best score of 6-28 versus Durham in May.

Wisden, the so-called ‘Bible of Cricket’, has created an XI of youngsters – all of whom were under the age of 24 when the season began on April 8, 2021 – who thrived in the red-ball arena this season.

Ben, who left Merchant Taylors’ in 2017, was named on this year’s list alongside England internationals Dom Bess, Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and James Bracey.

Well done Ben, we are all very proud of your achievements to date and we are excited for the bright future that lies ahead of you.

Photo: David Griffin

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British Council International School Award

The British Council has once again awarded the International School Award to Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School.
The award is given to schools around the world that can demonstrate a commitment to embedding international awareness and understanding within their school community.
This award reflects several international dimensions to our learning offering, including our international exchanges and trips; collaborative projects with schools around the globe to include Sierra Leone, Spain and Germany as well as our PSHE and Global Perspectives programmes, in which pupils explore global challenges like poverty, war and peace, and contrasting political systems.
A special thanks to Mrs Blagbrough for her assistance with the application.

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Sixth Form Boys Complete Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

A number of our Sixth Form boys have successfully completed the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge.

Aakash Dharmaraj and Alex Edey both achieved a Gold certificate, placing them in the top 9% of more than 7,000 entrants across the country. Congratulations also go to Ethan Horspool, who was awarded Silver certificate and to Rohan Suresh, Chris Moustaka and Temuulen Enkhee, who all achieved a Copper certificate.

The competition aims to stretch and challenge students interested in chemistry, providing an excellent experience for anyone considering taking their studies further.

Set by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists, it is accessible to Year 12 students but takes them significantly beyond the syllabus and encourages them to think about science in the way they would at university.

The boys attended TENDO sessions where many practice questions were tackled, following which they endured a challenging 90-minute written paper to achieve the award.

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Johnny Selected for Lancashire Development Squad

Congratulations to Johnny Browne who was last week selected to play for Lancashire Cricket Development U18s.

Johnny joined fellow Merchant Taylors’ pupil, Jack Carney, in the team to face Yorkshire and impressed, scoring 41 runs as well as catching the opposition out whilst fielding.

As well as this Johnny has made it into the Northern 1st XI, playing in the Regional T20 finals, National & Lancashire Cup Semi-Finals, and putting in a match winning performance vs. Ormskirk.

Congratulations, Johnny!

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Year 13 Visit Vibe Outdoors

Ahead of the beginning of their final year our current Year 13 pupils took part in an outdoor education day at Vibe Outdoors in Knowsley on Wednesday 1 September. Vibe run inspiring and inclusive activities and programmes that help young people to build positive relationships with themselves and others.

The aim of the day was relationship building, working as a team as well as having lots of fun as they participated in various activities. The girls faced their fears as they launched themselves through the air on the zip wire, summoned their inner Olympian as they tried their hand at Archery and worked as a team as they headed onto the water during Kayaking.

The pupils and staff involved in the day created lots of brilliant memories and were inspired to challenge their perceptions of one another. Overall lots of new teamwork skills were developed in a fun and challenging environment.

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GCSE success at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School

Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School is celebrating another year of excellent GCSE results despite disruption caused by Covid-19 restrictions.

A third of all grades across the school were at Grade 9, while more than half (52%) of all grades were at grade 8 or 9, the equivalent of an A*.

Eleven boys achieved straight Grade 9s, including Thomas Cunliffe, who scored 12 Grade 9s, Hemanth Bheemireddy, with 11 Grade 9s, and William Bannerman, Yash Hanchanale, George Johnston, David Ogundele and Ali Saeed, who each scored 10.

Hemanth Bheemireddy achieved 11 Grade 9s

Thomas Bruce and Methul Gamage both scored nine Grade 9s, while Alexander Raw and William Gillespie each achieved nine Grade 9s and a Grade 8.

Many of the boys are also involved with a range of extra-curricular activities which make a meaningful contribution to the school community, including the Eco-Club, Combined Cadet Force, sport and music.

This year, following the cancellation of examinations, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards. Throughout periods of enforced lockdown and isolation, Merchant Taylors’ delivered specialist online lessons, tutorials, assessments and support to boys and girls in all year groups, every day.

William Bannerman scored 10 grade 9s

David Wickes, headmaster at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, said: “Our boys have shown ambition and perseverance throughout a very difficult time for them and their families. The results today bear witness to their academic strength and their commitment to their studies and the efforts of our excellent teaching staff.

“With the support of their teachers and parents, the boys gave their all during periods of online education and it is especially pleasing to see that our remote learning provision has been able to support their progress so effectively in such a difficult year.

“The boys deserve huge credit for their passion and work ethic, both essential qualities as they head into their Sixth Form years with us at Merchant Taylors’, and we are excited to see what this talented group can achieve over the next two years and beyond in their academic careers.”

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Merchant Taylors’ girls make the grade at GCSE

Girls at Merchant Taylors’ School have achieved an excellent set of GCSE results despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Almost a third of all grades (30%) achieved by Year 11 students were at level 9, the equivalent of an A*, with more than 50% of all grades at 8 or 9, in line with an upward curve of results over recent years.

Harini Sethuraman achieved a remarkable 11 Grade 9s

Harini Sethuraman achieved a remarkable 11 Grade 9s, while Jessica Furlong, Maya Ravindran and Udita Singhal each scored 10 Grades 9s across a range of subjects including Physics, Biology, Maths, English, History and Modern Languages.

Sophie Ennis achieved eight grade 9s and two grade 8s

Smaya Katti, Philippa Rowlands, Lucinda Wat and Victoria Woodier all scored nine Grade 9s and an 8, while Ujjwala Singhal, Hermione Wakefield and Sophie Ennis all achieved eight Grade 9s and two Grade 8s and Priya Lal achieved eight Grade 9s and one 8.

The school also recorded a 100% pass rate across all subjects, with 86% of all results at Grade 9 to 6.

This year, following the cancellation of examinations, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards. Throughout periods of enforced lockdown and isolation, Merchant Taylors’ delivered specialist online lessons, tutorials, assessments and support to boys and girls in all year groups, every day.

Pupils jump for joy after receiving their GCSE results

This year, following the cancellation of examinations, grades were awarded through a process of teacher assessed grades, against a national standard and approved and awarded by the exam boards. Throughout periods of enforced lockdown and isolation, Merchant Taylors’ delivered specialist online lessons, tutorials, assessments and support to boys and girls in all year groups, every day.

Claire Tao, headmistress at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School, said: “The final grades attained by our Year 11 pupils are a real expression of how academically strong this cohort of girls is and of how much they strove to develop their intellectual curiosity with impeccable support from our staff and their parents.

Jessica Furlong, Maya Ravindran (pictured) and Udita Singhal each scored 10 Grades 9s across a range of subjects including Physics, Biology, Maths, English, History and Modern Languages.

“In difficult circumstances, they have given themselves the best foundation possible as they move on to their A Level studies and we look forward to seeing the girls again in September.”

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