Merchant Taylors' Prep School, Rickmansworth
Merchant Taylors' Prep School is an independent school for boys aged 3 to 11 in Rickmansworth. It has a Christian religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in May 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Merchant Taylors' Prep School in detail
Merchant Taylors' Prep School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Merchant Taylors’ Prep School. Our school aims to provide a well-balanced education, combining a strong academic tradition with an extensive range of extra-curricular and sporting activities."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 6:00pm.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Merchant Taylors' Prep School are Merchant Taylors' School (0.6 miles, selective); St Martin's School (1.2 miles, selective); St Helen's School (1.5 miles, selective); and Northwood College for Girls GDST (1.7 miles, selective).
Merchant Taylors' SchoolSt Martin's SchoolSt Helen's SchoolNorthwood College for Girls GDST
Who goes there
In 2026, 38 pupils (11.5%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Moor Park Underground Station, about 550 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Merchant Taylors' Prep School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 35 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hertfordshire (138).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
14 May 2024
Regulatory Compliance
6 November 2019
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
11 October 2016
Focused Compliance Inspection
11 October 2016
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Merchant Taylors' Prep School
Settling in at the Manor
29 Sep 2026
U11 Larkin Shield Football Tournament
29 Sep 2026
Spanish Taster Lessons for the European Day of Languages 2026
29 Sep 2026
Merchant Taylors’ Prep Leads the Field at Moor Park 10 & More!
29 Sep 2026
Max Porter Visits with his New Book ‘Dogs and Bears’
23 Sep 2026
KS2 Celebration Assembly - Friday 18 September
21 Sep 2026
From Merchant Taylors' Prep School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Merchant Taylors' Prep School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
330 pupils
370 places
40 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Rickmansworth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rickmansworth
Across Hertfordshire council
Places available
15,222
Applications
13,456
Got 1st preference
77.5%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Hertfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
38
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
11.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
330
Total Pupils
330
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Merchant Taylors' Prep School
Questions parents ask about Merchant Taylors' Prep School
When was Merchant Taylors' Prep School last inspected?
Merchant Taylors' Prep School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in May 2024.
How many pupils go to Merchant Taylors' Prep School?
Merchant Taylors' Prep School has around 330 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Merchant Taylors' Prep School?
Merchant Taylors' Prep School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Merchant Taylors' Prep School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hertfordshire is 9 (the median across 590 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Merchant Taylors' Prep School?
Merchant Taylors' Prep School is at Moor Farm, Sandy Lodge Road, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 1LW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)