Applicant FAQs
We have put together answers to some of the most common questions that applicants ask us. We hope that these help you. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
What financial assistance is available?
Merchant Taylors’ School is able to provide financial assistance with fees for pupils whose parents/guardians could not otherwise afford a place at the Senior School. The provision of means-tested bursaries is a central part of the purpose of the School's aim to assist academically able boys and girls, whatever their financial circumstances and to broaden access to our School.
We do not receive any Government funding for our bursary programme; instead it is funded through the generosity of donors and though the School's investments. Our donors come from many walks of life and from all over the world, yet they all have a Merchant Taylors’ connection in common.
The number of bursary places available each year depends entirely on the generosity of our donors, and any amount given, large or small, contributes to creating opportunities for our pupils.
Bursaries are awarded up to 100% of fees, depending on the family’s financial circumstances. There are bursaries available for entry into our Senior Schools at Year 7 and into the Sixth Form at Year 12.
All bursaries are means-tested and are underpinned by a rigorous review process. The School utilise an external company to conduct an independent financial review of successful applications. This will involve each family (subject to Assessment outcome) having a compulsory home visit to review financial circumstances and will result in a confidential report to the School with a recommendation on the level of award.
A bursary application will only be successful if both of these criteria are met:
1. The child has strong academic ability/potential, as demonstrated by their performance in the Year 7 Entrance Assessment/interview process for entry into our Senior Schools or for Sixth Form entry (Year 12) based on their GSCE grades and interview process; and
2. The School is satisfied that the family meets the criteria for financial assistance.
Given the value of bursary awards, all awards are subject to annual review to ensure continued eligibility. However, the School does have a number of awards which are offered for the duration of the child’s education whether that be at Year 7 or Year 12 entry. This will be explicit within the offer made.
How and when do we apply for bursaries?
Register your son/daughter for a place at Merchant Taylors’ School.
The Closing date for applications for a Year 7 place for September 2021 is 26th October 2020.
The Closing date for the submission of bursary application forms and data to Bursary Administration Associates is 26th November 2020.
Complete the confidential means-testing Bursary application form we send you. To be considered for assistance, gross income from all sources must be £60,000 or less per year
Following the Year 7 Entrance Assessment and interview process, or Sixth Form interview, you will be notified if your application for financial assistance has been successful. The next stage of the process is a home visit and independent financial review which will then result in a recommendation to the School on whether you meet the financial criteria for award and the level of Bursary which should be offered.
The final stage of the process involves the review of each recommendation/report by a sub-committee of the School’s Board called the ‘Fees and Agreements Group’ and applicants for bursary awards will be notified within their child's offer letter.
What information will I be asked to provide?
The Bursary Application Form asks for information about the following:
Income (Salary, Pension, Benefits etc.)
Outgoings (Tax, NI, Pension contributions, Mortgage repayments etc.)
Capital Assets (Savings, ISAs etc.)
Capital Liabilities (Mortgage etc.)
Net Assets
You will also be asked to provide:
3 months’ payslips
Mortgage statement
Most recent P60
Latest audited accounts (if appropriate)
Do you offer Scholarships?
The School awards a small number of scholarships based on merit, irrespective of means. Scholarships signify excellent performance and outstanding potential. These vary in value and type across the School. They are available at Year 7 entry into the Senior School and Academic Scholarships are available on entry into Sixth Form.
Scholarships are awarded up to the equivalent of a 10% discount on tuition fees. They are awarded for the duration of the pupil’s time at school (ie Year 7 to Upper Sixth), subject to good conduct and good progress. There is no means testing of Scholarship awards.
Are there any discounts for siblings?
The School offers a sibling discount for children with a brother and/or sister already in the School. The discount applies to the tuition fee only and may be varied by the School at any time. The current sibling discount is 10% on a second and third child with the same parents and a 20% discount on a fourth child and subsequent children with the same parents. Sibling discount does not apply to overseas students. If any pupil(s) within the family is in receipt of any other form of financial assistance (excluding Harrison Scholarships) then that pupil(s) will not be included within the scope of the Sibling Discount. For pupils in receipt of Academic or Sports Scholarships, who also qualify for a Sibling Discount; such discount will be awarded at the Head’s absolute discretion.
Do you offer care out of hours?
Out of hours care is available to all Infants and Juniors. Details of our costs and booking places are available on our website: www.merchanttaylors.com
Unless otherwise requested, fees are billed termly (in arrears) and will be included on your School fee invoice.
What are the charges for lunch?
Senior Schools lunch fees are £208 per term (5 day week)/£624 per year.
Junior Boys and Girls lunch fees are £208 per term (5 day week)/£624 per year.
Infants lunch fees are £182 per term (5 day week)/£546 per year.
Sixth Form students are permitted to leave the School premises during the course of the day providing they meet their commitments with respect to attendance, punctuality and set work, and also sign in and out at reception. As a result, a large number of Sixth Form students prefer to make their own arrangements for lunch rather than using the School dining room. For pupils entering Sixth Form in September who wish to make their own lunch arrangements, this will be agreed with the respective Head of Sixth Form once the timetables have been agreed.
A charge for half a term’s lunch fees will be available to those pupils in Year 11 and Upper Sixth forms, sitting external examinations in the Summer term.
Is there a deposit to accept our place?
When a place is accepted, a deposit of £300 is payable.
The acceptance deposit will be held on account by the School and returned by way of a credit against fees for the final term of the relevant year, provided that fees have been cleared in full and any outstanding School property has been returned to the School. Until credited the acceptance deposit will form part of the general funds of the School.
Where do we get our uniform?
The School Shop is situated at:
138 College Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 3DP
Telephone number: 0151 924 0975
You can also order from our online shop at Monkhouse.
General opening hours are:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 12.30pm
These are subject to change during school holidays.
Current uniform prices can be obtained by calling the School Shop.
What School buses are available?
The School runs a comprehensive series of buses and coaches each morning and afternoon from a wide catchment area ranging from Wigan, Warrington, Widnes and South Liverpool up to Parbold, Ormskirk, Formby and Southport.
Please click the links below to access the details on our website:
https://www.merchanttaylors.com/bus-timetables/
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How do I create a new online account to submit an application form?
Go to https://internationalschooldemo.heiapply.com/application/register and complete the form, keeping note of the email address and password that you used.
How do I log in to my account?
Go to https://internationalschooldemo.heiapply.com/application/login and enter the email address and password with which you registered your account..
What if I forget my password?
Use the forgotten password feature https://internationalschooldemo.heiapply.com/application/forgot. We will identify you and send the password securely to your registered email address, or give you access to reset your password.
Can I take my time to complete the application form?
Yes. You can save each section and come back to it at a later date. If you forget your password, follow the forgotten password steps above. Please note the page will 'time-out' if inactive for a period of time. Keep saving your application to ensure no data is lost.
Can I edit after submitting my application form?
No. Once you have submitted your form we review the information that you have provided. We may ask you for more information, but you can't edit your application.
Can I track my application after submitting?
Yes, just log in and your application status will be on the right.
I have submitted my application. What happens next?
You will receive an acknowledgement email once we receive it and your application will be assigned to a member of our Admissions Team who will carefully consider your application. Depending on the number of applications submitted, it may be a short time before you hear back from us, but we will try to get back to you as quickly as possible. Please bear with us - we want to ensure that each application is reviewed carefully.
Can I contact someone about my application?
Yes, if you have any questions during the admissions process please get in touch with us via the Communication Inbox that you see once you login.
