Concordia Magazine 2025

were allowed to have a favourite, it might be the Medicine and Dentistry Society. Led by two inspirational Upper Sixth Formers, it provides a programme of activities that I am sure would be beyond what many schools’ professional careers services could provide. They have a large and dedicated following and are inspiring the next generation of doctors and dentists. It will also have done wonders for the boys leading the activities, who have undertaken huge amounts of work to plan such advanced and engaging sessions. Without the support of the Clubs and Societies Fund, that would not be possible. The Development Team has seen two new members this year: Susan Alexander joined as Development Administrator in May and Tilly Scott joined as Development Manager (Fundraising and Stewardship) in December. We begin 2026 with the team at full strength and look forward to a busy year ahead.

We are so grateful to everyone who has made gifts specifically to support bursaries this year. The unsurprising impact of VAT on school fees was that applications for bursaries — both at the point of entry and from families already in the School — have increased. With your support, augmenting income from the Cricket Centre, our endowment fund and fee income, we were able to make an offer to everyone who applied for an entrance bursary and who qualified for entry in 2025. This is a wonderful position to be in and it reflects our founders’ intentions in 1561. Thank you for your generosity, which we hope may continue in 2026, opening our doors to outstanding pupils who can thrive here. Do look out for a video from the Head Master who talks about the bursary scheme and the impact he has witnessed in his time at Merchant Taylors’. Of course, you have supported many other projects too. There is a round-up of some of the Clubs and Societies who received funding this year on page 46. However, if I

Almost two years on from the completion of the campaign for the Julian Hill Cricket Centre, to which so many of you gave so generously, we are seeing tangible benefits of the building. On the cricketing front, our under-15 side won their national title — the School’s second ever — in a competition that runs over two years, in which the team prepared in the Cricket Centre. The under-14 team began the same competition this summer and have successfully made it through to the latter stages, which will take place in 2026. Fingers crossed they will repeat the feat of this year’s team. This success cannot be coincidental and certainly augurs well for the future. As many supporters of the campaign know, as well as its impact on cricket, the Centre is generating a significant income that is flowing into our bursary programme. In its first six months, it was enough to provide a 100% bursary; in its second year, a further two 100% awards were made. Projections suggest that this income will increase and have an even greater impact on the bursary provision we can make each year.

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