51³Ô¹Ï

This summer the School is undertaking a substantial and long overdue refurbishment programme of some of our indoor sports facilities. When complete this will enable the pupils to enjoy an expanded gym and fitness suite with the latest equipment. A significant part of this work will involve gutting and refurbishing the changing rooms, improving the experience for all pupils.

Unfortunately due to the scale of these works there will be some disruption to arrangements for games in the first half of next term, and this is why I am writing to you now. Until the project is complete there will be no access to the existing changing room areas. This will necessitate a change in the weekly routines for all pupils on games days (Mondays and Wednesdays). Please read the following carefully to understand how this will affect your son:

• On Mondays and Wednesdays only all pupils should come into School already changed into their games kit as required by their particular games option that term. Over this they must wear their black 51³Ô¹Ï Trainalayer Bottoms and either their black 51³Ô¹Ï All Conditions Training Top or their black 51³Ô¹Ï Midlayer Sports Top (for the School sports kit list please see here: 51³Ô¹Ï Sport - Merchant Taylors' School (mtsn.org.uk)). They should wear trainers, and any other sports equipment (such as rugby boots, shin pads, mouth guard, goggles etc.) should be in their school bag or stored in the book locker. As for all personal property, all items should be clearly named. This ‘uniform’ applies to all pupils, whether on or off-games, whether they have games practice on a Monday or a Wednesday or not. We hope this way to ensure a uniformity of appearance and maintain high standards of personal presentation amongst the pupils on these days.
• On all other days pupils should attend School in the usual School uniform. If they have PE, CCF or another activity that requires a change of clothes they should bring in their kit either in their usual school bag or a separate sports bag. This can be kept in their book locker until needed. Those pupils needing to change on these days for these activities will have access to the limited changing facilities in the OMT Clubhouse or the Julian Hill Cricket Centre and will be instructed accordingly by the member of staff in charge of the activity.
• These procedures will take effect from the first full day of term, Wednesday 4^th September. On this day all pupils should attend in sports kit as detailed above. New pupils attending their New Boys Induction Day on Monday 2^nd September should attend in normal School uniform.

We regret the inevitable disruption this change to School routines will cause. However, we hope by having a repeatable pattern of expectation such disruption will be minimised.

The above arrangements will remain in place until the refurbished changing rooms are handed over to the School by the contractor. We hope this will be as soon as possible, but are confident that the improved facilities that your sons will then enjoy will have proven worth it.

Thank you in anticipation of your understanding.

Warmest regards,

Michael Husbands