On Tuesday 23 March, Stanfield pupils wore something yellow to school to show their support for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal 2021.
The Great Daffodil Appeal helps fund Marie Curie Nurses who are providing vital care for dying people and their loved ones. Thanks to parent’s and pupil’s generosity we managed to raise £270.63 for this worthy cause.
Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School is to become the first in the UK to offer free professional-standard N-Pro rugby headguards to all Year 7 pupils.
The pioneering project, in conjunction with Performance Teq, aims to protect younger players from concussion or other serious head injuries and will see all boys who join the senior school from September 2021 receive a headguard manufactured by world-leading sports equipment firm N-Pro.
Image: N-Pro
N-Pro’s Defentex technology reduces the energy transferred to a player’s head during a tackle by up to 75% and has been approved by the sport’s global governing body, World Rugby, for use in matches at all levels of rugby around the world.
All boys play rugby in Year 7 at Merchant Taylors’ and the new headguards will be used during training and in matches.
David Wickes, Headmaster at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, said: “Merchant Taylors’ has a long and distinguished history on the rugby field, with many players, including Ben Kay and Richard Greenwood, having begun their professional journeys at our school. Indeed, a recent leaver, James Harper, made his debut for Sale Sharks only this weekend in the Premiership.
“As the sport continues to develop and adjust, our commitment to it remains the same. It is therefore a real pleasure to become a partner school with N-Pro and to be working alongside Performance Teq in the coming years.
“We are always looking for ways to innovate across our sports provision and to keep the boys as safe as possible while they play the sports they love. We want to ensure we are doing everything we can to maximise safety and reassure parents that our pupils’ wellbeing is our absolute priority. Our new partnership with N-Pro is an important part of this process.”
Stuart Lock, Head of Education at Performance Teq, said: “Performance teq is thrilled that MTBS have made the pioneering decision to commit to the increased safety of their newest pupils as they embark on their own rugby journeys.
“We pride ourselves in sharing the N-Pro story and helping schools incorporate the ground-breaking headguards into their rugby programmes
“Our determination to introduce the very best modern sporting technology into the innovative, pupil-centered environment that is being created at MTBS makes this a partnership that we hope to cultivate further over the coming months and years.”
Congratulations to Old Crosbeian, James Harper, who made his Premiership Rugby debut for Sale Sharks on Sunday 21 March 2021.
James first started to play rugby when he joined Merchant Taylors’ in Year 7 and stated his love for the game began at school. Having developed a passion for the sport, he climbed up through the school teams, eventually finding himself in the 1st XV Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School.
James came on as replacement during Sale Shark’s 41-13 victory over London Irish to mark his first ever appearance in the Gallagher Premiership.
We look forward to seeing many more appearances from James in the future.
(Image: Sale Sharks)
Gary Yates, former academy director at Lancashire County Cricket Club, has agreed to become Head of Cricket Coaching at Merchant Taylors’ School.
Gary spent 30 years at the club, including a fifteen-year spell as a high-quality spin bowler, before moving on to become an ECB level 4 coach for the first and second teams and ultimately leading its academy from 2015.
During this time, he played a key role in the Lancashire Boys’ Emerging Player Programme and oversaw the development of an impressive number of talented young cricketers, many of whom have gone on to pursue successful careers at county and international level.
He joins Merchant Taylors’ for the forthcoming cricket season, replacing Simon Sutcliffe, another former first-class cricketer, who retired from his role as Head of Cricket last summer after 26 highly successful years at the school.
Gary Yates
He will work alongside Mr Stiff, Head of Cricket at the Boys’ School, and Mrs Hollyoak from the Girls’ School to further promote and expand participation in cricket among our boys and girls. This will be the first time our girls have received specialised coaching in cricket.
A renaissance sportsman, Gary is an avid runner who has completed the Manchester marathon, taken part in more than 250 park runs, regularly plays five-a-side football and enjoys discovering new walking trails with his pet dog.
David Wickes, headmaster at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, said: “Cricket is a major part of our school and we have invested over many years to produce high-quality teams and plenty of promising young talent, a number of whom have played for county sides at different age levels and also professionally. We hope to create even wider opportunities for pupils to play, enjoy and excel at this wonderful game.
“Gary brings with him a detailed and forensic knowledge of what it takes for those young cricketers who display a flair for cricket to reach the very top of the sport. He embodies our values of ambition, character and excellence and we are confident he will help to further develop and nurture those qualities in our pupils this year.”
Claire Tao, headmistress at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School, said: “Women’s cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and we are excited to give our girls an opportunity to learn the game from a highly experienced coach.
“Playing cricket will allow girls to adapt and broaden the various sporting skills they already learn in school and apply them to a new and stimulating discipline.”
Speaking of his appointment, Gary said: “I am delighted to be joining the School’s cricket department for this season. Merchant Taylors’, with its excellent cricketing reputation, allows me to continue my passion for developing young cricketers. This will be an opportunity to support, guide and coach young players to reach their potential and I look forward to a busy and successful summer.”
It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School chef, Carlyle De Salis.
Our Catering Manager, Steve Shepherd, said “Carlyle began with us at Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School in October 2019, it did not take long until he became a valued member of the team. Carl’s (as he like to be called) experience encompassed a wide range of culinary and front of house skills which he loved to share with us, however his favourite cooking was without doubt his wife’s Anu. We were always jealous of Carl’s reflections of last night’s home dinner.
“Arriving in Liverpool from Sri Lanka, Carl and his family became lovers of the city and Liverpool Football Club. He quickly integrated into his local community and regularly contributed to local charities by providing hot meals to Liverpool’s homeless. Our catering team reflects on Carlyle with much love, we all have stories of how his wonderful nature touched us all, we will always remember working with him and are thoughts are with his wife Anu and his children.”
Headmaster, David Wickes, said: “There is an old saying that an army marches on its stomach. The same could also be said of a Boys’ School. Carlyle was someone who understood that, but who also took pride in producing quality sustenance for the boys; all delivered with warmth and kindness. He will be sorely missed by our school community.”
Our thoughts are with Carl’s family and friends at this difficult time.
This term, Year 9 girls have been investigating Women Composers, undertaking independent research projects that examined primary and secondary sources as well as critical reception. Composers from as early as Francesca Caccini (1587-c.1641) to Zoe Keating (1972-) have formed the subjects of lively debates and superb presentations as we explore how being female has shaped these composers’ personal lives and musical careers. Please see below two fantastic articles written by some of the girls.
Well done to everyone who participated in the Teenage Cancer Trust 2800 Squat Challenge throughout February. Teenage Cancer Trust create world class cancer services for young people in the UK, providing life-changing care and support so young people don’t have to face cancer alone.
To raise funds pupils and staff from MTGS took part in the 2800 Squat Challenge, which was simply to do 2800 squats throughout February, 100 for each day of the month. A total of £460.00 was raised for this fantastic cause, well done everyone!
For the first time in the school’s 400 year history, we took part in a ‘virtual’ sports fixture against Rossall School. The competition was to see which school could amass the furthest distance by either walking or running during the February half-term.
With a total distance of 1206km covered, Merchant Taylors’ claimed victory. Well done to everyone who took part from both schools for getting active despite lockdown and getting plenty of fresh air. We look forward to competing in real life fixtures once again once it is safe to do so.
Well done to Year 11 Captain, Andrew Storch, who clocked this impressive 10k time.
Year 7 have been studying poetry this term and Friday’s lesson was dedicated to Captain Sir Tom Moore. Below is a lovely poem written by Mya, Ellie, Charlotte and Sophia.
Gracefully, Sir Captain Tom entered the gates to heaven,
He found the end of the rainbow
Walking his last lap, proud and confident,
He was an idol for many-but no more.
Dedicated, the hero walked for the world,
Walking on, through the storm of 2020, hopeful.
He kept going through the storm, willful.
A warrior on the battle field of 2020 was he,
Heroic, selfless, a fighter,
And he never walked alone.
We love seeing all your new classrooms and how you are learning at home. We’ve created a gallery below to share all the wonderful photos you have sent to us. Tag us in yours on social media with the hashtag #MerchantsAtHome or direct message us.
