Merchant Taylors School

Analysis

Merchant Taylors School is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Northwood. It was registered in July 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03411540). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Merchant Taylors School reported income of £31.8m and spending of £30.1m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £26.0m to £31.8m (+22%), an average of +5.1% a year. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Merchant Taylors School sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The King's School, Ely (£31.7m), The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham (£32.2m) and Oakham School (£31.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95%, donations and legacies 2.3% and investments 2.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £25k. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 1.2%. Reserves of £48.3m would cover about 19 months of spending at that rate. It employed 398 people.