Uniquely St Paul’s

Seniors

13+ PROSPECTUS
A unique setting on the banks of the Thames.
LEADING THE WAY ACADEMICALLY FOR OVER 500 YEARS

St Paul’s occupies 45 acres of its own green, open

space on the banks of the Thames, giving our pupils
the opportunity to play any number of sports all year
round. Our campus is unique amongst London schools
for the on-site facilities it offers – from impressive new
teaching facilities to science laboratories, boat club
to state-of-the art theatre, art gallery to cricket pitch,
concert hall to engineering workshop.

We encourage parents to book a tour of the school

to see the range and quality of activities and facilities
we offer.

stpaulsschool.org.uk
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS

From the High Master

I cannot tell you how fortunate I feel to be part of a truly exceptional

community here at St Paul’s. I’ve worked in independent education for
over a quarter of a century and I can see that there is something unique
here, that goes beyond simply getting the top grades. The pupils and the
teachers at St Paul’s contribute to a genuinely scholarly environment,
where research and excellence are valued in their own right. This is a
place where links between subjects are explored, original ideas nurtured,
and respectful debate is ubiquitous. I cannot imagine a better place for
an intellectually curious young person to flourish.

And yet a Pauline education does not stop there. We are a London school
with fantastic grounds and first-rate facilities in performing and visual
arts and sport. This is not just about exceptional sportsmen and artists,
although they will find all they need here. It’s also about having a go,
getting a break from academic work and simply giving boys the time and
space to run around. And this holistic approach to education is further
supported by an emphasis on pupil welfare, volunteering, and our
Character Curriculum.

At St Paul’s we know that with the privilege of this exceptional education,

come responsibility. We are a school with over 500 years of history and
a strong sense of our founder’s vision. And yet we have our faces turned
firmly to the future and an ambition to guide our pupils to successful
and purposeful lives beyond their time here. We are experts in educating
young men and in discussing the challenges they will face in the twenty
first century.

I hope that this prospectus will provide you with a taste of life at St Paul’s
and that you will choose to come and visit us in person. I look forward
to welcoming with you and sharing with you my heartfelt enthusiasm for
life at St Paul’s.

Sally-Anne Huang High Master

ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
About St Paul’s School
St Paul’s School has a long and
illustrious history. It was founded in
1509 by John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s
Cathedral, who inherited substantial
wealth from his father and used his
whole fortune to endow the School,
making it then the largest school
in England.
Colet intended his school to provide
a Christian and humanist education.
He was helped and advised by
Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam,
the most famous scholar of the day.
Under Colet’s statutes, there were
to be 153 scholars (a reference to the
miraculous draught of fishes, John
XXI, 11) “of all countres and nacions
indifferently”.
The first building, sited by St Paul’s
Cathedral, was destroyed in the Great
Fire of London in 1666, and the school
has also survived the Plague and the
Civil War. In 1870 it was one of only
two day schools included by the
Clarendon Commission as one of the
‘nine great public schools’ of England.
The school has moved four times,
initially due to the Great Fire and
then growing demand, before finally
settling at the present 45 acre
riverside site in 1968.
Today, St Paul’s School is one of the nurturing tutor system and excellent
leading boys’ schools in the country. pastoral care, all pupils are given the
It attracts the very brightest pupils care, time and space to develop their
who are able to achieve stellar true character, to excel in their chosen
examination results year after year. fields, and to have the confidence and
That is just the start. Academically, skills necessary to succeed in adult
our exceptional teaching staff life, wherever they find themselves.
encourage our pupils to look beyond
the curriculum, to question and
challenge, to develop a genuine love
of scholarship and be fascinated by
the process of discovery.
The brightest children can come from
all walks of life. We remain true to
Colet’s founding ambition by ensuring
that pupils are able to come to St
Paul’s on merit, regardless of their
financial means. Currently over 130
pupils receive a means-tested bursary
and the parents of any successful
applicant can apply for a number of
free and subsidised places available
every year.
Beyond the classroom, we offer an
enviable range of co-curricular
activities across sport, the arts and a
vast selection of clubs and societies.
Pupils are able to experience the
range of opportunities normally only
found in boarding schools within a
day school environment. With our
Apposition – the St Paul’s
‘Speech Day’ – dates back to
the school’s foundation in
1509 and was a means by
which the Mercers’ Company
could assess the academic
health of the school and
remove the High Master if
deemed necessary. The last
High Master to be removed in
this way was back in 1748.

Uniquely St Paul’s

The School has survived the Plague, the Great

Fire of London and the Civil War, and in 1870
was one of only two day schools included by the
Clarendon Commission as one of the ‘nine
great public schools’ of England.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Meet Nile.
Winger, globe trotter and
psychologist.

“I’ve loved the vast array of school

trips that you can participate
in. I’ve had the opportunity to travel
to both Japan and New York.”

1st XV rugby player Nile enjoys

the warm and welcoming
atmosphere at St Paul’s as well
as the highly rewarding nature
of the academic challenge.
Talented in History, English,
Mathematics and Economics,
he has also represented the ISFA
England National Football Team
and trained with Harlequins DPP
for rugby. A good listener, he
has learnt to balance a heavy
workload, sports commitments
and socialising alongside
volunteering at local primary
schools. He is looking forward to
studying psychology at a top
university after inter-railing with
his friends during the summer
break.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Academic Life
Academic study is at the heart of life
at St Paul’s. Scholarship, perseverance
and hard work are promoted in all
subjects. But learning here is also
well-supported, enjoyable and
inspiring.
Whilst examination success is
important, for gifted pupils we feel
it is a by-product of their broader
intellectual development. We
encourage pupils to develop their
own passion for learning, to foster
a spirit of enquiry and to become
increasingly self-directed in their
study. Their tutors assist them in
learning how to balance their
academic interests with their other
commitments.
Pupils follow a curriculum to IGCSE/
GCSE and then to A Level. With the
help and guidance of specialist
teachers, they are encouraged to
explore beyond the curriculum and
push the boundaries of academia.
Pupils are able to access and work
in the extremely well-resourced and
modern Kayton Library, opened in
2017, with a temperature-controlled
rare books room and views across to
the River Thames.
St Paul’s was the first
English school to teach
Ancient Greek.
Uniquely St Paul’s
CORE SUBJECTS AT GCSE
All pupils take these subjects to
GCSE: Biology, Chemistry, Physics,
English Language, English Literature,
Mathematics.
OPTIONS FOR GCSE
Pupils also choose an additional five
GCSE subjects: one creative subject
chosen from Art & Design, Drama,
Engineering (Electronics, Product
Design, Systems & Control), Music
and four further subjects, including
at least one modern foreign language,
chosen from Ancient History,
Computing, French, Geography,
German, Greek, History, Italian, Latin,
Spanish, and Theology and Philosophy.
OPTIONS FOR A LEVEL
All courses are two-year linear
courses, leading straight to an
A Level in Year 13. The following
subjects are available: Ancient
History, Art & Design, Biology,
Chemistry, Computing, Economics,
English Literature, French, Further
Mathematics, Geography, German,
Greek, History, Italian, Latin,
Mathematics, Music, Philosophy,
Physics, Politics, Spanish and
Theatre Studies.
In addition, a range of Extended
Projects is offered in Year 12, including
Engineering.
We are proud of our outstanding academic tradition, which
fosters a culture of scholarship, creativity and leadership, but
the real academic strength of St Paul’s is that discussion in the
classroom is not constrained by the examined curriculum.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
We strongly believe that children who
feel safe, happy and respected are
best placed to learn and to develop
into strong and confident adults.
Nurturing pastoral care is at the heart
of St Paul’s life. The safeguarding of
our pupils is paramount and underpins
everything we do.
Every pupil at St Paul’s is assigned a
tutor who is tasked with ensuring that
their tutees are happy and progressing
well. Pupils meet their tutors every
day, including an extended tutor
period on a Friday afternoon, and are
on hand to help pupils navigate school
life: For example, a pupil might turn to
their tutor for help managing their
workload, for guidance on co-
curricular commitments or to decide
on academic choices. The tutor also
acts as bridge to further, specialised
pastoral support. Tutors come to
know the character and talents of
their tutees and would expect to form
strong, supportive relationships with
their parents. Tutor groups are small,
with no group having more than 12
pupils, which ensures that each tutor
is able to respond to each member of
their group as an individual.
As the first port of call for many
pastoral issues, all tutors are offered
training in Youth Mental Health First
Aid. This two-day externally accredited
course is delivered by senior members
of the pastoral team and ensures all
tutors are cognisant of the pressures
of modern teenage life and are well
placed to support their pupils.
Tutors and pupils are in turn
supported by a skilled and
experienced pastoral and wellbeing
team. A pupil’s Undermaster (Head
of Year) would normally manage
any more serious pastoral concerns,
supported by the school’s
safeguarding leads and the Deputy
Head (Mental Health and Wellbeing)
and Deputy Head (Pastoral). Pupils
The Junior Scholars at St Paul’s
still receive a silver fish which
comes from John Colet’s
founding ambition to provide
for 153 pupils of ‘all nacions
and countres indifferently’
and refers to the miraculous
draft of the fishes recorded in
St John’s Gospel.
Uniquely St Paul’s
are also able to seek guidance from
the school’s nurses in our medical
centre and make appointments
to see the school doctor. Two clinical
psychologists are also available
to provide counselling at their
request. The learning support
department is an important part of
the wider pastoral team, and two
specialist teachers are available to
work with pupils.
All pupils receive PSHE lessons taught
by volunteer teachers with specialist
training. From initial lessons on
settling in and wellbeing, to discussions
around healthy relationships and
e-safety; the course equips pupils with
the skills they need to navigate
adolescence happily and successfully.
Taught PSHE lessons are supplemented
by a range of co-curricular activities
including Human Rights Day, a post
GCSE Entrepreneurship course and
numerous talks from external
speakers on topics such as drugs and
The friendship that alcohol, positive sexual relationships
and gambling. In addition, our Year 12
pupils and their families programme offers drama, music and
develop with their tutor other talks and opportunities with
St Paul’s Girls’ School.
lasts throughout their
time at St Paul’s School The school’s five values; Character,
Charity, Faith, Humility and Scholarship
and often beyond. underpin our approach to ensuring all
pupils develop the social skills and
moral outlook necessary to thrive at
school and beyond. The school believes
that pupils’ personal development
goes hand in hand with and supports
their academic progression and
co-curricular participation. A newly
appointed Head of Character
Education will ensure that this aspect
of a pupil’s journey through St Paul’s
continues to be prioritised.
The school has an active Equality
Working Group made up of current
staff and pupils, alongside interested
Old Paulines (alumni). The Fourth
and Fifth Form Moral Philosophy
Courses consider issues of social
justice and there are a number of
pupil societies that celebrate the
diversity of our community: REACH
(Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage)
Soc, Feminism Soc and Pride Soc all
organise lunchtime talks and other
events, as well as supporting whole
school celebrations of occasions
like Black History Month and LGBT
History Month.
St Paul’s aims to be a beacon for
pupil safety and wellbeing practices
throughout the independent sector.
We were amongst the first schools
to sign the ‘Time to Change’ pledge;
a campaign to change the way we
think and act about mental health.
Our expertise is such that St Paul’s
staff regularly provide popular and
high-quality pastoral training on
safeguarding and wellbeing to other
schools across London.
 ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS

Meet Charlie.
Theatre technician, volunteer
and creative writer.
“I’ve had some of the most fun working with
those younger than me – from being one of the
chiefs of theatre FX, to helping out as a young
leader at the local beaver scout group, to
gaining my dinghy instructor qualification
and teaching kids to sail.”
Creating worlds and stories is
one of the things that Charlie
most enjoys spending his time
doing, so for his EPQ Charlie
wrote excerpts from a novel in
the style of Sir Terry Pratchett.
Taking that creativity to the
stage, Charlie has an undeniable
passion for technical theatre,
something he hopes to pursue as
a career. As a backstage member
of the National Youth Theatre,
he’s also enjoyed teaching skills
learnt there to the younger boys
as a chief of Theatre FX, and as a
volunteer at a local community
theatre group. Charlie has
explored everything from sailing
and fencing to singing and
Warhammer; so it’s a wonder
he has any time to continue his
knitting at the end of the day,
a skill which he learnt in a
lunchtime activity.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Sporting Life
Sport is one of the key components
of life at St Paul’s and we aim to give
all pupils the chance to benefit from
learning through sport by playing and
being taught the sport of their choice.
We provide a wealth of sports from
which pupils of all abilities are free to
choose after their first term at 13+
entry and all pupils are encouraged to
adopt and maintain an active, healthy
lifestyle. The safety and welfare of the
pupils is our top priority at all times.
The programme is designed and
resourced to be fully inclusive,
catering for the needs and enjoyment
of all pupils, from the interested
novice to the elite performer. All
pupils are encouraged to maximise
the realisation of their potential for
growth physically, mentally, socially
and emotionally, to develop character
in a broad sense.
St Paul’s has a strong reputation for
sport, and there is a very demanding
fixture list in the majority of school
sports. Pupils participating in sport
are expected to commit to playing for
the school, with fixtures taking place
regularly on Saturdays but also on
weekdays (depending on the sport) in
all three terms. Many pupils are able
to represent the school in inter-school
fixtures, while a number of individuals
and teams regularly progress in
regional, national and international
competitions.
 St Paul’s was a founding member of the
Rugby Football Union – established on
26 January 1871 at a meeting attended by
representatives from 21 clubs and held at
the Pall Mall Restaurant, Regent Street.

Uniquely St Paul’s

The sports programme serves to reinforce many of the

traits and values we believe are important, including:
commitment, honesty, leadership, resilience, respect,
responsibility, self-discipline and teamwork.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
The school benefits from an
outstanding team of elite and expert
coaches and support staff, many of
whom can boast their own impressive
sporting achievements.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS

Meet Aidan.
Acrobatic gymnast, chemist
and mathematician.
“For me it’s all about getting the right
balance. I’ve been able to fulfil my
dream of representing Great Britain
in my true passion, acrobatic
gymnastics, whilst also achieving
top grades in my academic studies.
My teachers are all fantastic and
passionate about their subjects –
always on hand to lend support
when I need it.”

Aidan won gold in the World

Age Group Acrobatic Gymnastics
Championships in China in 2016
and three silver medals at the
European Championships a year
later. Multi-talented, he enjoys
playing the piano and hopes
to go on to university and study
either Chemistry or Maths, but
he also secretly harbours a notion
of running off to join the circus!
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS

The Arts

We place great value on creative

subjects; these complement and
enhance our academic curriculum.
Art, Drama and Music are taught to
all pupils in their first year and then
full GCSE and A Level courses are
offered. Pupils must choose Art,
Drama, Engineering or Music as one
of their GCSE subjects.
The school has a proud tradition in the Arts.
Old Paulines have been at the top of their fields
in this sector both historically and currently,
working in and for the top institutions in the
world. There have been outstanding OP actors,
lighting designers, comedians, producers and
film directors (Rory Kinnear, Neil Austin,
Nicholas Parsons and Oliver Parker),
conductors, instrumentalists and performers
(Robin Ticciati, Dennis Brain, Charlie Fink and
Winston Marshall) and artists, illustrators and
designers (Ernest Shepherd, Paul Nash and
André Fu).

Each department – Art, Drama and Music – has

its own dedicated building allowing for complete
immersion in these creative activities.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
MUSIC
Music encourages creativity, discipline,
collaboration and the capacity to
think differently. It plays an integral
role throughout the school and is
embraced by almost 50% of pupils,
who participate in a wide range of
musical activities at St Paul’s.
The opportunities are rich, from
symphony orchestras to string
groups, choirs (including a thriving
close harmony group) to saxophone
ensembles and jazz groups to
a host of small chamber groups
tackling anything from early to
contemporary music.
Comprehensive ensembles and
chamber music programmes ensure
that performance opportunities are
provided for as many pupils as
possible, including competing and
performing in external competitions,
workshops and events.
The clerihew, a whimsical
four-line biographical poem
was invented at St Paul’s by
Edmund Clerihew Bentley
(1875-1956). One of his best
known is:

Sir Christopher Wren

Said, “I am going to dine with
some men.
If anyone calls,
Say I am designing St Paul’s.

Uniquely St Paul’s

DRAMA
Drama fosters community and
facilitates communication: it is
a creative space in which young
people, through the challenges of
performance, can come to know
themselves better. It breeds both
self-analysis and self-discipline and
allows individuals to integrate more
fluently with the world around them.
The Drama Centre, which opened
in 2014, houses the state-of-the-art
Samuel Pepys Theatre as well as a
teaching wing overlooking the River
Thames. Coupled with the Milton
Studio, these theatres host around
20 productions each year, allowing
pupils to embrace a range of
performance styles and the technical
and design challenges therein.
ART
Art and Design tuition provides
opportunities for personal expression,
encouraging imagination, sensitivity,
conceptual thinking, powers of
observation and analytical ability in
practical contexts.
Through both theoretical studies
and the individual development of
practical skills, our teaching leads
to a fuller understanding of the
part played by Art and Design in the
history of human development;
widening cultural horizons, enriching
our pupils’ personal resources and
engendering self-awareness are
central to our ethos.

The possibilities for enthusiastic pupils

are vast: from in-house drama
competitions and pupil-directed plays,
via experimental studio pieces, to
large-scale musicals and plays from
the classical repertoire. There are also
regular opportunities for seniors to
perform at the Edinburgh Fringe and
the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS

There is no such thing as a

typical Pauline. All pupils write
their own stories as they discover
their talents, wherever they lie.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
 Meet James.
Actor, musician
and academic
scholar.
“It was a real honour to gain an academic
scholarship when I moved from St Paul’s
Juniors to the senior school and I love the way
we’re always encouraged to think outside the
box, expand our learning way beyond the
curriculum and try new things. I particularly
enjoy our group tutor sessions on a Friday
afternoon when we catch up on the week,
support and help each other out in a relaxed
and fun environment.”

Winner of an Olivier Award for

Outstanding Achievement in
Music for playing one of the lead
roles in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s
School of Rock, James loves
performing, whether on the
West End stage or on jazz piano
at the Bull’s Head in Barnes. He
also loves composing, singing
and acting, studying languages
and English, and a game of
‘ping-pong’ in his spare time.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Co-curricular
Beyond the curriculum, St Paul’s
provides over 80 societies, clubs and
activities, from chess, cookery and
film making to law, medicine and
space exploration. Pupils are
encouraged to join any that they are
interested in and to explore new
opportunities, regardless of previous
experience.
Our lunch break is long – one hundred
minutes long – thus providing ample
time to have a bite to eat and then
rehearse a scene from a play, practise
a movement of a String Quartet,
complete a training session on the
rugby pitch or river, debate the right
of prisoners to vote or listen to the
memories of a veteran pilot from
World War II. All these and many
more activities may take place during
a lunchtime at St Paul’s. Yet such
opportunities are not just restricted to
the middle of the day; boys may stay
late after school to rehearse, practise,
study or train.
On joining St Paul’s, all pupils are also
allocated to one of eight school
houses, called Clubs, which hold
inter-Club competitions in sports and
the arts throughout the year,
designed to accommodate pupils
of all interests and abilities.
 There’s a choice of over 80 societies, musical groups
and ensembles as well as sporting activities.

Our long lunch break allows

for a huge range of societies
and activities, from rugby
training and quartet
rehearsals to the Halley
Research Community
named after the Old Pauline
scientist, Edmond Halley,
of comet fame, which uses
the Scanning Electron
Microscope, the only school
in the country to have one.

Uniquely St Paul’s
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Bursaries and
Scholarships
BURSARIES – ASSISTANCE
WITH FEES
St Paul’s takes great pride in offering
an outstanding education to talented
pupils, irrespective of their family’s
financial circumstances. Each year
there are funds available for free and
subsidised places at all entry points,
with a focus on 11+ and 16+ to reflect
the natural state school entry points.
As with all other entrants, pupils
hoping to benefit from a bursary
must gain a place at the school
on academic merit. During the
assessment process, parents will
be asked to complete a financial
assessment form designed to
establish the level of financial
support available.
More details are available in the
Further Information booklet and on
the school website.
SCHOLARSHIPS AT 13+
St Paul’s School offers a number
of honorary academic scholarships.
Candidates who have successfully
completed the 13+ admission
process and accepted their offer
are welcome to sit the scholarship
examinations which are held annually
in May. About 35 scholarships are
awarded each year in total between
pupils from St Paul’s Juniors and
external candidates. They are retained
until the end of a pupil’s career at
St Paul’s, subject to good work and
conduct. Academic Scholarships are
honorary and worth £60.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND
EXHIBITIONS AT 13+
St Paul’s offers a number of honorary
music scholarships and exhibitions
which candidates may apply for
once their offer of a place has been
accepted. Music Scholarships are
honorary, worth £60, plus free
tuition on two instruments. Music
Exhibitions consist of free tuition on
one instrument. Awards at 13+ are
retained for three years and are
reviewed for the final two years of
school. Further Scholarships are
available at 16+.
More details are available in the
Further Information booklet and on
the school website.
John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral,
founded the school in 1509 with a clear
vision to educate able boys to serve
society regardless of their race, creed or
social background.
Uniquely St Paul’s
The broad integration of
bright minds from diverse
backgrounds provides
one of the key aspects of
an education at St Paul’s’
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Boarding at St Paul’s
Although most boys at St Paul’s
are day pupils, boarding plays an
important role for many. School
House is a small and welcoming
community of mainly senior boarders
on the banks of the Thames. It offers
a supportive environment which
helps boarders to concentrate on
their studies during the week, but
also grants them the independence
and freedom to explore their many
other interests. Besides structured
daily prep time, boarders can use all
the school’s many facilities: some
may use the gym, others the music
school, whilst others relax in the
House common room and play pool
or watch a movie together.
At weekends we organise various
trips including cooking classes
at Leith’s, meals out in London
St Paul’s School has Clubs rather than
Houses, named simply A-H. These
unfussy names have survived multiple
attempts to rename them over 150 years,
allowing the pupils the opportunity to
define for themselves what the spirit of
each Club is.
Uniquely St Paul’s
restaurants, tours around famous
landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral
and the Parliament, and high
adrenaline activities like go-karting,
indoor skydiving and paintballing.
The Housemaster, supported by
Matron and a team of House Tutors,
will work closely with pupils’
academic tutors to ensure that they
make the most of school life, but
most importantly that they settle in,
make friends and are happy.
In School House we offer full boarding
and weekly boarding. Year 9 boys are
welcome as weekly boarders but
must return to an approved guardian
or family member every weekend.
Boarding is not available for boys
below Year 9.
FLEXI-BOARDING
From September 2021, St Paul’s will
offer a number of flexi-boarding
places in the newly refurbished West
House for pupils who wish to board
for two or three nights a week.
Flexi-boarding is perfect for those
who have a very long commute, an
after-school or early morning activity
or for those whose parents are away
for a period of time. Flexi-boarders
will have their own rooms and a
common room overlooking the River
Thames in West House, but also have
access to all the facilities in School
House and the wider school.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
St Paul’s in the Community
PARTNERSHIPS AND CHARITY – PAULS4ALL
St Paul’s School has a long history of
developing links and partnerships with
its local community. Pupils at St Paul’s
embrace the rewards volunteering
has to offer, and every pupil moving
into Year 10 and Year 12 is given the
opportunity to volunteer with the
support of the Voluntary Service team
within the school timetable.
All pupils bring their unique thoughts,
ideas and values as to how and where
they would like to volunteer. The
placements on offer are often highly
sought after and the St Paul’s pupil is
a valuable resource to the schools,
hospitals and youth centres in our
local community.
An education at St Paul’s also includes
service and the widening of social
horizons. There is a genuine desire
among pupils and staff to engage in
partnership work, and a commitment
to share our expertise, energy and
facilities for the benefit of all within
the local and wider community.
Supporting the community outside
the school gates provides the
opportunity for pupils to gain valuable
real-life experiences, learn empathy
and understanding of the needs and
challenges of others, and helps
develop the skills necessary to
contribute to wider society. It has
a positive impact on our pupils’
wellbeing as well as a positive
impact within the wider community.
St Paul’s is a founder member of the
West London Partnership, an
independent-state secondary school
partnership. During the pandemic, we
have offered many activities virtually
from summer schools focused on
‘The Magic of Materials’ and Particle
Physics, to Latin GCSE classes for
local students, to a virtual
entrepreneurship course with five
partnership schools. Our Year 12
pupils have provided virtual maths
mentoring through Google Classroom
or via our very own Colet Mentoring
App, designed in partnership with
Ed-Tech company, EasyA. This peer
learning app provides students with
1:1 academic support and, since
the first lockdown, more than 2,000
sessions have been delivered.
Our student-led service and
charitable activities, known as
“Pauls4All”, play a significant part in
the life of all the pupils at St Paul’s.
Each year, the whole school is invited
to vote on one UK national charity.
Alongside this, various local charities
are supported through fundraising
and volunteering. At the international
level, St Paul’s has links with the
Senahasa Trust in Sri Lanka and
Beyond Ourselves in Zambia. As a
result of these, students have gone
on to visit our partner schools in
both countries, volunteering in the
local community and supporting
the teaching of children as well as
understanding the challenges that
charities face working in the
developing world.
As part of Pauls4All, the Thomas
Gresham Committee is a wholly
pupil-led appeal, led by Year 13 pupils,
who raise funds to provide a 100%
bursary for the highest performing
pupil at 11+ who is in need of financial
support. This committee, alongside
the volunteering and charity
committees, raise awareness for their
chosen causes and arrange a packed
calendar of events to raise funds,
from whole school events to individual
year challenges.
We share opportunities
with the local community
through our partnerships,
co-curricular clubs
and Voluntary Service
programme.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS
Choosing a University
Dedicated university advisers help
each pupil make an informed choice
from the breadth of courses and
universities in the UK and overseas.
Pupils are invited to careers fairs and
workshops to aid their decisions.
Almost 50% of Paulines attend the
top 10 universities within the *QS
World University Rankings®, with
almost one third of pupils gaining
places at Oxford and Cambridge
Universities each year. However, it is
vitally important that focus is given to
ensuring that the right university and
course is chosen based on each pupil’s
interests and ambitions. St Paul’s is
also a highly successful school for US
university applications. Students
receive significant support from a well
staffed and resourced US Universities
Department. In addition to the Head
of US Universities, the Department
consists of six counsellors, two essay
tutors and the Universities Officer for
transcripts and planning assistance.
A list of recent university offers is
published on the US University page *QS World University Rankings is an
on the St Paul’s School website each annual publication of university
rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds.
September and includes Ivy League It is viewed as one of the three
or equivalent, including Harvard, MIT, most-widely read and respected
Princeton, Stanford and Yale. university rankings in the world.
 The St Paul’s Community
The St Paul’s Community includes
20,000 alumni, parents (current and
former), supporters and staff who
share a lifelong connection to St
Paul’s. Through professional networks,
reunions, social gatherings and
academic lectures, our community
creates connections to support each
other, our pupils (and those of our
partner schools), the school and our
charitable initiatives.
Our active events programme,
delivered both virtually and in-person
to families and Old Paulines termly,
displays all of the interesting, creative
and thought provoking activities that
the school has to offer. Whether your
interest is our Topical Tuesdays talks,
attending the occasional wine tasting,
learning more about our heritage,
sharing your professional skills at a
networking event, joining one of our
Parents’ Groups for social events or
being entertained with inspiring music
and drama productions, there will be
something that appeals.
If you would like to learn more
about our programme, please visit:
stpaulsschool.org.uk/events
In 1944, King George VI and
Sir Winston Churchill
attended the final briefing of
the Allied Commanders, at the
West Kensington site of the
school, for the D-Day landings
by Old Pauline, General Sir
Bernard Montgomery.
Uniquely St Paul’s
OLD PAULINE CLUB
When pupils leave St Paul’s they
automatically become Old Paulines,
joining a 10,000-strong alumni
network that includes leaders from
every professional field. They will join
an illustrious register that includes
Professor Duncan Haldane (Nobel
Laureate), David Abulafia (Wolfson
History Prize Winner), George Osborne
(Former Chancellor of the Exchequer),
Dan Snow (Historian and Television
Presenter), Rory Kinnear (Actor),
Sir Mark Walport (Ex-chief Scientific
Advisor) and Jason Gissing (Ocado).
The Old Pauline Club aims to create
an inclusive and supportive alumni
community that will help nurture
lifetime friendships, help recent alumni
start out on their career path, provide
ongoing professional engagement
and channel support back to the
school. With our thriving social
networks now supporting and
connecting Old Paulines, there are
many ways in which OPs can enjoy
getting together and keeping in
touch, all around the globe. Old
Paulines also receive regular updates
from the school through newsletters
and the bi-annual magazine.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 13+ PROSPECTUS

How to Apply
Further details on arranging a visit, application
deadlines, or how to apply can be found within the
annual information brochure or on our website.

Our online application form can be found at:

stpaulsschool.org.uk/admissions

Contacts
Admission enquiries:
admissions@stpaulsschool.org.uk

General enquiries:
reception@stpaulsschool.org.uk

Postal address:
St Paul’s School, Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9JT

Telephone:
020 8748 9162

Website:
stpaulsschool.org.uk

This prospectus describes the ethos of St Paul’s School along

with some additional information on entry procedures. The
prospectus is not part of any agreement between the parents
and the school and it should be read in conjunction with the
Annual Information Booklet. Although believed to be accurate
on 1 August 2021 some content may be subject to change.

All our school policies, along with terms and conditions, can be
Designed by haime-butler.com

viewed or downloaded at
stpaulsschool.org.uk/about/policies

St Paul’s School is a charitable company, limited by guarantee,

registered in England.
Registered office at Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9JT.
Registered Company Number 6141973.
Registered Charity Number 1119619.

© St Paul’s School, 2021.

An education at St Paul’s isn’t an
ordinary education. When our pupils
leave, they leave with genuine choices
in life and access to the world’s
leading universities.

Our on-site facilities include:

World-class concert hall
State-of-the-art theatre complex
Art department spanning three floors
RIBA award-winning science block
Engineering and technology suite
Indoor swimming pool
Boathouse on the Thames
Six Rugby fives courts
Three squash courts
Rackets court
Six tennis courts
Five cricket pitches
Seven all weather cricket nets
Eleven rugby and football pitches
4G multi-use pitch
Two indoor sports halls
Dojo
Fencing salle

stpaulsschool.org.uk
Pupils excel in their academic and intellectual
development, and achieve exceptional
standards in public examinations, sport and
performing arts.
ISI Inspection 2017
stpaulsschool.org.uk