Four pupils from Merchant Taylors’ School recently attended the annual Wellbeing Conference at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London. The event brought together pupils and staff from schools across the Merchant Taylors’ Company network. This year’s theme focused on safe spaces and belonging, with a strong emphasis on pupil voice and student wellbeing.

Inspiring Keynote Speakers

Delegates were treated to inspiring talks from award-winning poet and LGBT+ activist Dean Atta, and Seema Flower, founder of Blind Ambition. Seema is an international expert in disability and visual awareness. Both speakers encouraged attendees to think about how schools can create environments where people are accepted for who they are.

Merchant Taylors’ Pupils Present on the TENDO Programme

Claudia, David, Jude and Ruby gave a confident and engaging presentation on the School’s TENDO programme. They explained how it helps pupils feel part of the community and supports their wellbeing. Their talk was clear, thoughtful and well received by everyone in attendance.

Ruby, David, Claudia and Jude at the 2025 Wellbeing Conference, London.

Learning from Other Schools

The conference also featured workshops led by pupils from other Merchant Taylors’ Company schools. Wolverhampton Grammar School shared their work on Diversity Champions. Pupils from St Helen’s School discussed how they are exploring historical artefacts linked to colonialism and slavery to encourage inclusive discussion. Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood, presented on affinity theory and how our sense of connection with others shapes our behaviour.

Learning Together

A unique aspect of the day was the opportunity for pupils and staff to learn side by side. One delegate described the experience as “student voice, live in the moment,” highlighting the value of young people being part of professional learning conversations.

A Proud Moment for the School

Claudia, David, Jude and Ruby represented Merchant Taylors’ with maturity and insight. They demonstrated the values of respect, inclusivity and confidence. We are incredibly proud of their contribution and the example they set for others.

We are incredibly proud to share that nine of our Economics pupils have successfully passed the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI) examination, earning professional qualifications and official membership of the Institute.

The CISI qualification is a highly regarded benchmark in the financial services sector, providing pupils with a solid foundation in finance, ethics, and investment. Gaining this qualification at school-age is a significant achievement, reflecting both the ambition of our pupils and the strength of our Economics provision.

This year, 60% of our candidates passed the examination, well above the national average of 33%. This result is testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment shown by our pupils, and to the support and expertise provided by our teaching staff.

We would like to offer our congratulations to: Alex, Anisha, Anna, Anthony, Bradley, James, John, Penelope, and Will.

Their success places them among the youngest in the country to be recognised as members of the CISI, and we are delighted to celebrate this exceptional accomplishment.

Merchant Taylors’ is thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement by our RAF Cadets, who secured an impressive second place in the National Royal Air Squadron Trophy Finals recently. This outstanding accomplishment is a testament to their dedication, skill, and teamwork.

The team narrowly missed out on first place by just one point, standing out among 218 RAF sections nationwide. Competing against 12 other schools, our cadets showcased exceptional prowess and determination, earning them well-deserved recognition on a national stage.

This achievement highlights the excellence of our CCF programme and the hard work of our pupils. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Tobias, Neave, Kevin, Frankie, Thomas, Katie, David, Zach, Max, Heather, Lexi, Cooper, Beau, Will, and Luca for their outstanding performance.

On Friday 28 March, Merchant Taylors’ School proudly hosted its 2025 Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Inspection Day. The event showcased what is one of the largest CCF contingents in the North, which celebrated its centenary in 2015. With nearly 250 officers and cadets, the CCF at Merchant Taylors’ exemplifies a strong commitment to fostering leadership, discipline, and camaraderie.

This impressive contingent is set to grow even further, with an additional 100 cadets joining the ranks when they transition to Year 9 this September. As a result, Merchant Taylors’ continues to boast one of the largest voluntary CCF contingents nationwide.

Contingent Commander Lt Col Paul Ennis welcomed guests

Contingent Commander, Lt Col Paul Ennis began the event by warmly welcoming over 100 guests to the School. He provided an engaging overview of the CCF cadets’ activities over the past twelve months, highlighting their training weekends at Altcar, ship visits, and their impressive performances in various regional and national competitions, including finishing in second place in the National Royal Air Squadron Trophy recently.

Following the welcome, the Contingent undertook the first parade and the Inspection of the Guard was conducted by the Inspecting Officer, Colonel Justin Tancrel. Col Tancrel is SO1 Air Manoeuvre Sustainability, Army Futures, Army HW – (On loan from HQ 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team). He joined the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment in 1992, was with 2 PARA for nine years and in 2017, upon promotion, accepted the privilege to Command 4 LANCS on transfer to The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

After this, our cadets showcased their remarkable abilities through a series of engaging activities. Visitors were treated to impressive demonstrations at various stands, including the exhilarating gun run, the immersive flight simulator, and the precision of archery.

The day concluded with all the cadets marching onto the square, where Inspecting Officer Lieutenant Colonel Justin Tancrel addressed them. Col Tancrel expressed his admiration for the cadets, commending their efforts and achievements. He emphasised that they had every reason to be proud of their hard work and dedication.