The school's motto is that of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors: Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt (Small Things Grow in Harmony).

The first schoolmaster was the Revd John Kidde, who was also at the time the ‘Minister of Crosby’ and a farmer of 3 acres (12,000 m2) to support his family of eight children.

Kidde was apparently sacked from the post in 1651 on the grounds of mismanagement, although it is thought he was forced out by Roman Catholic sympathizers on account of his Puritan/Presbyterian ways.

The School also enters students for a range of other public examinations, including Extended Project Qualifications, which have been offered since 2011.

The rugby coaching staff includes former Scottish international Ian McKie, and included Mike Slemen, former England and British and Irish Lions international and England team selector until his death in 2020.

Facilities include a climbing wall, fitness suite, sports hall and dance studio.

[7] Other facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool on site (which has been emptied and eventually closed permanently in 2020 due to leaking and other maintenance issues so substantial that the cost of rectifying same remains prohibitive), a language laboratory, extensive playing fields, fully equipped science laboratories, an art and design suite, cricket nets, a self-contained music block and a share of Northern Club's facilities.