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Chair of Governors Retires After 4 Years

Current Chair, and Old Girl, Beverley Bell will retire from the post on 12 July, with Old Crosbeian Philip Marshall taking over.

Beverley has written the below letter to all members of the Merchant Taylors’ community:

Dear Colleagues, Parents, Alumni,

I hope you all enjoyed the half term break and had some time to relax and enjoy the glorious weather.

I am writing to inform you the time is now right for me to retire as a Governor and Chair of Governors at Merchant Taylors’ School.

Balancing the complex demands of my professional life with the demanding requirements of being Chair of Governors has become increasingly challenging. Having celebrated my 60th birthday at the end of last year and just completed a four-year term as Chair of Governors, it is the right time to pass the baton to the new Chair. Good Boards always refresh their Chair and members regularly and Merchant Taylors’ is no exception to this.

I am delighted to inform you the new Chair of Governors will be Philip Marshall QC and he will be assisted by the new Vice-Chair, Anna Gervasoni. Philip and Anna are not only current members of the Board but, by happy coincidence, are also both past Presidents and now our governor representatives from the Old Boys’ Association and Old Girls’ Association respectively.

Philip attended the Boys’ School between 1978 and 1985 before going on to study law at Liverpool University. He became a barrister in 1989. For the past thirty years he has lived and worked in central London, where he is joint head of his chambers, having been appointed as Queens Counsel in 2012. He was President of the Old Boys’ Association in 2016/2017, and became a governor in September 2019.

Anna attended the Girls’ School between 1986 and 1993. After practising as an Occupational Therapist specialising in severe and enduring mental health, Anna took over the family business, completing an MBA. Now specialising in management training and operations, Anna has re-launched a number of flagship venues within hospitality and has recently been persuaded to move to the coast to continue that work with Bourne Leisure. Anna was President of the Old Girls’ Association from 2017 to 2019 and became a governor in 2016.

My tenure will come to an end on 12 July 2020, coinciding with the four-year anniversary of my appointment as Chair and the end of the academic year. I move on in the knowledge the school is in safe hands with a very competent Board of Governors and very talented Executive team at the helm.

When I walked into MTGS with my knees knocking together on my first school day in September 1971 wearing the compulsory hat and an oversized blazer, never did I think in my wildest dreams that one day I would have the personal and professional privilege of leading the governance of the Merchant Taylors’ family of schools 45 years later. Quite simply, I have been honoured to undertake this role and I want to express my thanks to our Heads and Director of Finance and Operations and their respective teams for their unstinting support for me.

It has been wonderful to see and hear about the development of so many gifted children and watch our pupils blossom into highly able, balanced young women and men contributing so much to society in so many ways as a result of their Merchant Taylors’ education.

To my colleagues across the school, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation for your exceptional work in making our school so special. In particular, I am in awe of your dedication and commitment beyond the classroom, where you always go the extra mile to provide a broad and holistic range of co-curricular opportunities to children at Merchant Taylors’, whether it is through the arts, music, sport, CCF or any other manner of inspiring pursuits. These aspects truly set our school apart from our competitors and none of it would be possible without your dedication and skill. So please may I thank each and every one of you for all you have done – and all you will still do.

Our children are the lifeblood of our school; our very reason to exist and prosper for 400 years. To our parents, I know you are not only our education partners or our customers, you are also invariably our friends and kin within the Merchant Taylors’ family. Thank you for entrusting the incredible staff at Merchant Taylors’ with the development and wellbeing of your loved ones. Joining Merchant Taylors’ brings a lifelong connection; the future of the school is extremely bright and I hope your family will remain a part of Merchant Taylors’ for decades to come.

Last but by no means least, I would like to thank Merchant Taylors’ alumni, friends and all other supporters of the school for your invaluable support throughout my tenure. I know you will all continue to support the Chair and Board of Governors working in conjunction with the Heads, in the coming months and years. Joining Merchant Taylors’ brings a lifelong connection and you are all living proof of how powerful and special that is. I look forward to seeing many of you in the future as the alumni network continues to go from strength to strength.

I will continue to follow the school’s fortunes through the many relationships I have built during my time here and I wish each of you every great success in the future.

With my very best wishes,
Beverley Bell, CBE

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Yesterday we were proud to open Mulberry House, ou Yesterday we were proud to open Mulberry House, our new Welfare and Wellbeing Centre at Merchant Taylors’.

Thanks to a generous grant from the @merchant_taylors Company, the refurbished building now brings together our pastoral leaders, nursing and healthcare, learning support, and counselling teams under one roof - creating a dedicated hub of support for every pupil. 💙

We were delighted to be joined by Brigadier Christopher Coles, Clerk of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, and Rebecca Pirt, the Company’s Education, Grants and Relationships Manager, alongside our Headmaster Mr Dearden. We also welcomed governors Charles Cowling, Philip Marshall KC and Gareth Mawdsley to mark this important milestone.

Mulberry House will be at the heart of pupil welfare at MTS, ensuring that care, guidance and wellbeing remain central to school life. 🌿✨
🌟 Sixth Form Open Evening 2025 🌟 Thinking a 🌟 Sixth Form Open Evening 2025 🌟

Thinking about your next step after GCSEs? Come and see what makes Merchant Taylors’ Sixth Form such a special place to learn, grow and thrive.

📅 Tuesday 14th October 2025
🕠 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Join us to:
✨ Explore our wide range of A Level subjects
✨ Meet our inspiring teachers
✨ Hear from current Sixth Formers about their experiences
✨ Discover the outstanding support and opportunities that prepare pupils for top universities and careers

Book your place today via the link in our bio 🔗
This morning, our Reception pupils enjoyed their u This morning, our Reception pupils enjoyed their usual morning snack - but this time in a very special setting!

They visited Headmaster Mr Dearden in his office at the Senior School, where each child received a commemorative badge to mark the beginning of co-education from ages 4–18 at Merchant Taylors’.

The children asked Mr Dearden lots of questions, before tucking into toast, fruit and drinks, finishing their visit with a round of high fives! 👏

It was a memorable morning that helped our youngest pupils feel part of the wider school community and this exciting new chapter.
To mark the first week of co-education at Merchant To mark the first week of co-education at Merchant Taylors’ Senior School, we were pleased to welcome Mr Matthew King, one of our governors, into school on Thursday to see daily life in action.

Across the day, Matthew visited a variety of lessons, including Geography, Computer Science, Biology, Maths and History. He also joined pupils for lunch and enjoyed the buzz of the Dance Auditions in Williams Hall.

Reflecting on his visit, Matthew said:

“It's been a very encouraging day. I have shadowed a Year 9 class in their lessons and I've been able to observe their learning with a variety of hats on: as a governor; as a teacher myself, and also as an Old Crosbeian.

"It was an absolute privilege to spend time alongside pupils and staff in this landmark week for the school. The enthusiasm, focus and energy I witnessed were inspiring, and it was wonderful to see how quickly and confidently our pupils are embracing co-education.

"I was sat there today thinking about what 15-year-old Matthew King would have thought of this and I think today marks the start of a very positive, new chapter in Merchant Taylors' history.”

We are grateful to Matthew for his ongoing commitment as a governor and for supporting our vision to create the very best environment for every pupil to flourish.
A royal treat for Year 6! 👑🚁 After Her Roya A royal treat for Year 6! 👑🚁

After Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal arrived by helicopter on our Senior School field yesterday, our Year 6 pupils were given the rare chance to step up close to the impressive Leonardo AW139.

The pilots kindly took the time to chat with them, answering their many questions and making it an experience they’ll never forget. 💫
We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Merchant Taylors’ this afternoon.

Princess Anne arrived by helicopter on our Senior School field as she travelled to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, where she attended the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce’s 175th Anniversary celebrations.

It was a privilege for our school community to host her arrival.
Lost luggage. Cancelled flights. Endless delays ✈️

That was just the beginning of Headmaster Mr Dearden’s holiday nightmare, which he shared at our very first co-educational assembly this morning. Thankfully, the trip turned out wonderfully in the end, and from it came an important reminder for our pupils.

Just like at school, the journey won’t always go to plan. But if you’re prepared and organised, accept help when it’s offered, and have the courage to be adventurous and take a risk, you’ll always get where you’re meant to be.

A brilliant message as we begin this exciting new chapter together. 💫
On Friday, Merchant Taylors’ marked the beginnin On Friday, Merchant Taylors’ marked the beginning of a new chapter as we welcomed our very first co-educational Senior School pupils.

From roll call on the Parade Ground, where our new Headmaster Mr Phil Dearden and Chair of Governors Mr Philip Marshall KC addressed pupils from Prep and Seniors, to the presentation of commemorative badges, it was a morning filled with pride and anticipation for the future.

The day ended with pupils gathering on the school field to spell out MTS – a striking start to this exciting new chapter in our history.

Here’s to a future shaped by ambition, character and excellence.
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