16+ PROSPECTUS
Uniquely St Paul’s Eighth Form
From the High Master
ST
Sally-Anne Huang High Master PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
The last two years at secondary school are a wonderful time, during which you can specialise in areas that interest you and lay the foundations for a successful career after school. Moving at 16 can seem like a big step but has the advantage of your being able to pick an educational environment suited to the person you are now, rather than who you were at 11 or 13, and matched to your needs as you prepare for adult life. Here at St Paul’s, we offer an exceptional post-16 educational experience.
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 a wide range 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 house to state-of-the art theatre, art gallery to cricket pitches, 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.
LEADING THE WAY ACADEMICALLY FOR OVER 500 YEARS
Whether you know your academic passions now or want to explore where they may lie, a St Paul’s education gives you the benefit of small class sizes, highly qualified and inspiring teachers, and outstanding facilities. Our extensive higher education programme will also give you all the support you need to prepare for the next stage of your personal journey. Our recently restructured tutor and house system offers the stability of the same tutor and house undermaster for your two years at St Paul’s and provides the opportunity to meet pupils from different year groups. In addition, our Head of Eighth Form works closely with the Lower and Upper Eighth and has years of specialised experience in helping students to navigate the final two years of school. Finally, it’s crucial not to underestimate the importance of the other pupils; Paulines have a shared sense of the value of intellectual life and inspire each other to reach the highest standards.
Crucially, this is a warm and friendly environment where you will be made welcome and encouraged to have fun and relax as well as to fulfil your academic potential. I hope that this prospectus will be of help in supporting you in your choices and applications. But I also hope that you will be able to visit us in person and see first hand why St Paul’s is such a special place.
A unique setting on the banks of the Thames stpaulsschool.org.uk
You will also be able to get involved in our vibrant co-curricular programme, whether you want to continue with an interest or specialism you already have –perhaps as a sportsman or musician – or whether you just want to have a go and try out new things. You will have the chance to take part in inter-house activities or may represent the school either in competitions, or in collaboration with our partner schools. Though we place a high value on the single-sex education we provide at St Paul’s, there has been a long history of collaboration with our sister school, St Paul’s Girls’ School, and, each year, we are working to introduce new ways to work with them through joint off-timetable days, co-curricular opportunities, committees and our partnerships programme.
Joining St Paul’s School at 16+
Our admission process is thorough and demanding. At completion, we are confident that, if we offer you a place at the school, you will enjoy your two years with us, be nurtured and cared for, flourish academically and be ready to step into an appropriate global university of your choice. Two action-packed years here will fly by. But, before choosing to apply, please take time to read our prospectus, study the pages on our website, visit us on an open day and hear from our pupils and teachers as to why they chose St Paul’s. Find out about our courses. Of course we offer A Levels in Mathematics and English but do we offer the more unusual courses in which you may be interested, say Computing, Engineering, Italian or Politics? Can you choose any combination of A Levels from the menu? The answer is yes you can, we have no fixed blocking structure. Extended Project Qualifications (EPQ) are a popular option, but not for all. And no, we don’t offer the International Baccalaureate. Why not? Because A Levels provide our talented teachers with the flexibility to accelerate and broaden the horizons of those who have capacity to go further, whilst for others they provide the firm guiding banks to strengthen their mainstream learning. The breadth and depth of our extensive academic delivery beyond the curriculum is one of the key defining points of our school – as measures, A Level results
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
Transferring to a school like St Paul’s at 16+ is a bold decision but one that can offer exceptional, life-changing rewards. It may involve a switch from state to independent education provider; from day to boarding school; or even travelling halfway around the world. Whatever the change, it is likely to be significant and possibly daunting but, we hope, also exciting. and university destinations are mere layers within our academic pyramid and do not truly reflect the peak of our provision or success. Please take time to explore the vast array of academic opportunities provided outside the classroom: academic societies; writing for publications; research opportunities; and national competitions – you’ll find details of these on the subject pages of our website. Our school day includes a long lunchtime, where the majority of pupils, especially boys joining us at 16+, will engage in these further academic opportunities, sport or the arts. Many of those joining us do so with artistic talent and sporting enthusiasm. Our on-site facilities are excellent and the standard of sport, music and drama is exceptional but also broad – there is a team or part for all those who want to be involved. Again, please do explore our web pages to find out more. If you would like to join St Paul’s and St Paul’s is right for you, we are keen to have you here. For some, to help make this possible, we offer substantial bursaries (fee remission) to ensure access to our school is unhindered. We are proud of our school and I hope you enjoy discovering what makes us unique. We will welcome your application.
Dr Andy Mayfield Director of Admissions
Uniquely St Paul’s
The final two years of school are an exciting time where pupils, supported by their teachers, explore their academic interests in greater depth, often reaching beyond the examined curriculum, in pursuit of academic excellence and scholarship. This is a time to develop independence; students are able to complete their own independent research on topics of interest and engage with various super-curricular opportunities. This is further supported by the Extended Project Qualification, a popular choice for our A Level students to commit to an in-depth project independently, and to present their work at the end of the year.
Eighth Form Life (YEARS 12 AND 13)
About St Paul’s School ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
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 the largest school in England at the time. Colet intended that his school would 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”.
Naomi McLaughlin Head of Eighth Form
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.
The Eighth Form pupils wear ‘smart office dress’. This distinguishes them from the younger pupils, who wear the school uniform. The pupils have access to various study spaces for individual and group work and the Upper Eighth have their own common room. We run the Friday Afternoon Programme for the Lower Eighth pupils, providing them with opportunities to select general studies courses and pursue volunteering placements. At various points, these sessions run with pupils from St Paul’s Girls’ School, allowing pupils from both schools to work together. Those joining in the Eighth Form are integrated into the year group quickly. Once here, they are taught by true subject experts whose passion for their subjects make the classroom a stimulating environment. Paulines enjoy access to outstanding facilities and a huge range of societies, as well as opportunities to pursue the arts and sport. They are supported by a strong pastoral framework and benefit from tailored advice on their university applications and future careers. At St Paul’s we want all the pupils in our care to enjoy their school experience and to prepare them to have fulfilling, happy, and purposeful lives after school. I am proud of the holistic education that we provide and I hope that you will be able to visit the school soon to experience first-hand the purposeful, stimulating, and happy atmosphere of St Paul’s.
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 is one of the leading boys’ schools in the country. It attracts the very brightest pupils who are able to achieve stellar examination results year after year. That is just the start. Academically, our exceptional teaching staff encourage our pupils to look beyond the curriculum, to question and challenge, to develop a genuine love of scholarship and to 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, 147 pupils receive a means-tested bursary. The parents of any successful applicant can apply for one of the free or 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 majority day school environment. With our nurturing tutor system and excellent pastoral care, all pupils are given the care, time and space to develop their true character, to excel in their chosen fields, and to have the confidence and skills necessary to succeed in adult life, wherever they find themselves.
The school life of every Eighth Form pupil is different. Few pupils study the same group of subjects; those who do will almost certainly have different interests outside the classroom and belong to different societies. Hence, through the academic subjects, pupils will interact with a range of young people in their year group, through their co-curricular activities they will mix with pupils in both Eighth Form years, and through their houses and tutor groups, they will meet pupils across all year groups. This 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 16+ PROSPECTUS
Meet scientist,Manan:cricketer and academic all-rounder.
“ My favourite thing about the school is that you are encouraged to pursue your passion, whatever it may be – academic, sport, music and more. The range of facilities available across all departments really allows you to explore and develop a deep interest in the things you love to do.” Academic all-rounder Manan was delighted to win the John Colet Prize at the end of Year 11, awarded to pupils who have been nominated for multiple prizes across a range of disciplines, but his favourite subjects are Chemistry and Biology, which he hopes to continue by studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. He enjoys the long lunch breaks at school, during which he can take part in a plethora of activities, from Senior Historical Society to Pask Soc, the senior molecular biology club, to training for rugby or cricket where he was a captain of both B teams.
The academic subjects at St Paul’s, with the exception of Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs), consist of two-year, linearly-taught courses which are examined entirely at the end of the Upper Eighth Form (Year 13).
Uniquely St Paul’s
The Extended Project Qualification allows pupils to select and research a topic which interests them, supported by a mentor and taught lessons. Universities welcome the EPQ because it develops the skills of planning, research, critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation. It also gives pupils something substantial to talk about at interview and when writing university applications. An EPQ may complement three or four other subject choices and is completed in the Lower Eighth year (Year 12).
A LEVEL SUBJECTS Ancient History, Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Economics, English Literature, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, German, Greek, History, Italian, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Spanish and Theatre Studies.
Exam
The school offers a wide range of demanding subjects which follow the A Level syllabus. Pupils take four courses in their first year – 4 A Levels or 3 A Levels and an EPQ – and can reduce to three courses in their second year. Our flexible blocking structure allows for almost any combination of subjects. The academic standards of the school are high; most pupils will achieve top grades in the final examinations. Statistics relating to our most recent exam results and university destinations can be found by following the QR codes. Edmond Halley, namesake of the Halley Comet, was Captain of School in 1673, and even at school “was very perfect in caelestial Globes... if a star were misplaced in the Globe he would presently find it.”
Pupils are constantly challenged, encouraged to explore complex issues, and tackle difficult problems. Our students regularly compete in National and International Olympiads, internal and external essay competitions and other external academic competitions. In the summer between Years 12 and 13, pupils are encouraged to research, prepare and write an extended essay on a topic of their choosing. Often these will be related to their choice of subject for university.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
Class sizes are small: a typical class contains around ten pupils, thus stimulating intellectual discussion. Teachers will always look to promote knowledge and understanding that takes the class beyond the confines of the examination syllabus: beyond the A and A* grade.
Academic Life 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.
There is a brisk pace of learning at St Paul’s. Our pupils are expected to be ambitious, self-motivated and organised, and to take on increasing responsibility for their work. We have an exceptionally well-stocked library and a well-resourced school intranet, of which the pupils make full use. When they leave, they are ready for and relish the independent study required at university.
Academic study lies at the heart of life at St Paul’s. Scholarship, perseverance and hard work are promoted in all subjects. But learning here is also relaxed, enjoyable and inspiring.
*Those wishing to study Further Mathematics must also choose Mathematics. results
University destinations
COURSES AVAILABLE
GB junior economist.entrepreneurrower,and
Ben is no stranger to success in both his academic studies and on the river. Winner of the John Gritten Prize for International Relations and part of the Great Britain Junior Men’s 8+ team that won the Junior European Rowing Championship, Ben enjoys being around so many passionate, like-minded people. This young entrepreneur led his company of 12 to Company of the Year at the European Young Enterprise Finals and won an apprenticeship at the Guild of Mercers’ Scholars. He was also Highly Commended in the High Master’s Prize for his essay on social entrepreneurship, inspired by his link school trip to Zambia.
Meet Ben:
“ The worst thing for me is having to get up at 5.30am every Wednesday morning for a 7am session on the water, but it’s all worth it when we win races! Nothing beats the feeling of winning something for the school. You form a bond, not only with your mates, but also with your school, in both your academic and nonacademic endeavours and when you are successful, particularly with something you have spent a long time working on, there is no feeling quite like it.”
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
Sporting Life
All pupils in the Eighth Form take part in sport. This may simply be a game of badminton with friends or trying out a new sport such as climbing, rackets or ultimate frisbee. For others, a particular sport may be their passion and the activity in which they are completely engrossed. For these athletes and sportsmen, there will be the opportunity to train and compete. We field around five senior rugby and football teams and three cricketing XIs in a strong fixture list against many of the top sporting schools in the country. In fives, rackets and tennis, we regularly win national titles.
Pupils can be out on the pitch, square, court, track or on the river only minutes
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 after the lunch bell has rung. Many pupils will simply venture out on to the grass for informal games of football, touchrugby or volleyball with their friends. Further information about sport at St Paul’s can be found by scanning the QR code.
Our rowing teams consistently win medals at The Schools’ Head of the River, The National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. Each year a number of pupils, from a variety of sports, represent their country. Our facilities include eleven rugby and football pitches, 4G multi-use pitch, five cricket pitches, indoor swimming pool, boat house on the banks of the Thames, six Rugby fives courts, six tennis courts, a rackets court, two indoor sports halls, dojo and fencing salle.
No other London school is as blessed as we are with our spacious riverside location and playing fields on either side of the school buildings.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
“ We’re all encouraged to pursue our interests independently and with the plethora of activities on offer, it’s difficult not to find something you’ll enjoy. From winning a Gold Medal in the UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge, qualifying for the Olympiad, to representing the school on the rugby field, I’ve been able to compete at a high level, but I’ve also had great fun trying out new sports such as squash and fives and taking part in public speaking.”
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
Mack enjoys the scholarly atmosphere at St Paul’s, but focuses on self-improvement rather than comparison. With a love of Italian, he would like to spend a year abroad before studying History or Economics at a Russell Group university. He is not quite set on a particular career yet, just one that interests him and is enjoyable.
Meet mathematician,Mack: historian and public speaker.
DRAMA Drama thrives at all levels at St Paul’s. The school boasts two drama venues, including the impressive state-of-theart Samuel Pepys purpose-built theatre, with seating for up to 280, and the more intimate Milton Studio. There are around a dozen productions each year and a major production at the end of each term. There are opportunities not only for thespians, but writers, directors and technicians. Further information about the arts can be found by scanning the QR code.
Many Old Paulines have gone on to have notable careers as musicians and actors. Uniquely St Paul’s
The school has a proud tradition in the Arts. Old Paulines (OPs) 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).
ART Art and Design 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. Our facilities include two light, airy studios and the Milton Gallery, which hosts both school exhibitions and those by visiting artists. MUSIC The standard of music within the school is very high. Pupils have played and sung in the National Youth Orchestra and Choir, and won national composition competitions. The school has many ensemble groups, catering for a wide range of instruments and levels of ability. There are regular concerts throughout the year and major ones are held at the end of each term. There is a diverse repertoire of music, which is both exciting and challenging. Recently, pupils have made the finals of BBC Young Musician of the Year and ensembles have won prestigious competitions. A number of talented musicians normally join us every year at 16+. These pupils are able to compete for music scholarships. Our music facilities include a purpose-built music centre, featuring the Wathen Hall, a world-class concert hall. Arts
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS The
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
For those who wish to pursue activities outdoors, there are skiing, climbing and sailing trips. Pupils can also complete the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. There is a vibrant Christian Union, run predominantly by the senior students, as well as a regular Jewish assembly and groups for other faiths. Tutor groups are blocked into eight different houses, each led by their Undermaster. An inter-house competition is held throughout the year, with activities including sports, the arts, engineering and games, designed to accommodate pupils of all interests and abilities. The house system enables our pupils to enjoy healthy competition whilst forming lasting bonds with those in different year groups.
The European Youth Parliament and the Young Enterprise scheme are two very popular activities in the Eighth Form. Boys have debated for Great Britain and we have recently been very successful in a number of national Economics and entrepreneurial competitions. The pupils write and edit their own publications, including the pupil magazine, Black and White the scientific journal, Vector, and the modern languages magazine, Métro
CO-EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR SISTER SCHOOL Whilst we may be a single-sex school we believe our pupils benefit from working and learning alongside girls. Hence we provide many opportunities for all our pupils to join with those from our sister school across the river, St Paul’s Girls’ School. Such activities include year group joint workshops, musical concerts, drama productions, an entrepreneurship course and volunteering programmes.
There’s a choice of over 80 clubs, societies, sporting activities, musical groups and ensembles.
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; St Paul’s is the only school in the country to have one.
Co-curricular Beyond the curriculum, St Paul’s provides over 80 societies, clubs and activities, from chess and film making, to law, medicine and space exploration. Pupils are encouraged to join any in which they are interested and to explore new opportunities, regardless of previous experience.
St Paul’s also possesses a strong and diverse portfolio of clubs and societies which cater for a wide range of interests. High profile speakers are regularly invited to address the pupils.
Our lunch break is one hundred minutes’ long, 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 after school to rehearse, practise, study or train.
Uniquely St Paul’s
“ Performing Rachmaninoff’s incredible Piano Concerto No. 2 in my final concerto concert at the school was an exhilarating experience and a fantastic way to bid farewell to the music department to which I’ve devoted so much of my time. To have been able to focus on my music, alongside my academic studies, as well as being lucky enough to have three concerto opportunities has provided me with the best possible start to a career in music.”
Winner of the Duet Prize for the Best Young Instrumentalist by the Royal Philharmonic Society of Great Britain, Noah has his sights set on a career as a concert pianist following studies at the Royal Academy of Music. But, having enjoyed rugby, fencing and gymnastics, while also studying Chemistry, Maths and Music, he has had plenty of time to experiment with different subjects and opportunities in order to decide the area in which he really wants to specialise.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
Meet concertNoah:pianist, chemist and cellist.
important part of the wider pastoral team, and two specialist teachers are available to work with pupils.
The clerihew, a whimsical, four-line biographical poem was invented at St Paul’s by Edmund Clerihew Bentley OP (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
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
Our PSHE lessons, provided weekly to all pupils in every year of the school, help guide and prepare them for the challenges they will face. From initial lessons on 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 and numerous talks from external speakers on topics such as drugs and alcohol, positive sexual relationships and gambling. We also engage with parents and invite them to hear the same messages that are being delivered to their children.
The friendship that pupils and their families develop with their tutor lasts throughout their time at St Paul’s School and often beyond.
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
As young pupils grow, so too does their curiosity, understanding and interaction with an increasingly complex and demanding society.
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 life at St Paul’s. The safeguarding of our pupils is paramount and underpins everything we do. Every pupil at St Paul’s is assigned a Tutor who will guide them through their journey through the school, offering a continuity of support, and ensuring they are happy and progressing well. Pupils meet their tutors every day, including an extended tutor period on a Friday afternoon, and tutors 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 a 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 the tutor is able to respond to each member of their group as an individual. The vertical tutoring system is further supported by a Head of Middle School (Years 9-11) and a Head of Eighth Form for the final two years at Asschool.thefirst port of call for many pastoral issues, all tutors are offered training in Youth Mental Health First Aid. This externally-accredited course is delivered by qualified 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 House) or the Head of Eighth Form 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 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 available to provide counselling at their request. The learning support department is an school believes that pupils’ personal development goes hand-in-hand with and supports their academic progression and co-curricular participation. Our Head of Character Education and student-led Values Committee ensure that this aspect of a pupil’s journey through St Paul’s continues to be prioritised.
The school has an active trio of equality societies which meet to celebrate the diversity of our community and discuss current affairs affecting social justice: 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, International Women’s Day and LGBT+ History Month. In addition, the school has an Afro-Caribbean Society which launched in conjunction with St Paul’s Girls’ School last year. We also have an Inclusion Alliance made up of pupils and staff from all areas of the school and led by our Head of Inclusion.
The school’s values underpin our approach to ensuring all pupils develop the character traits, social skills and moral outlook necessary to thrive at school and beyond. The
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 Eighth Form 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 film together. In School House, we offer full and weekly boarding. At weekends, we organise various trips, including cooking classes at Leith’s, meals out in London restaurants, tours around famous landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral and Parliament, and high adrenaline activities like go-karting, indoor skydiving and paintballing.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
St Paul’s also offers 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 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.
The Housemaster, supported by the 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.
“ I’ve had some of the most fun auctioning teachers’ ‘unique skills’ so that parent teams would bid for them as part of the Thomas Gresham Quiz Night. We raised a phenomenal amount of money thanks to the generosity of parents. It was humbling to know I was part of further developing this pupil-led bursary fund for many future Paulines.”
Ariff hopes to read medicine at Oxford University next year, aware it will require a lifetime of learning, growth and curiosity, continuing the academic journey which he started at St Paul’s. He has fully immersed himself in school life from being elected School Captain and member of the Thomas Gresham Bursary Committee to taking an extra Pre-U in Italian in his Lower Eighth year so he can communicate better with his grandmother. He has appreciated the boundless enthusiasm and talent of his teachers and the way everyone challenges each other to develop further in their own fields of interest.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
Meet formerAriff:School Captain, Sales Director and Future Medic.
All pupils are given substantial individual guidance on suitable universities and courses, in both the UK and abroad, and are also provided with help in preparing for specific university entrance requirements.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXHIBITIONS AT 16+ Music Scholarships are available at 16+. They are honorary, worth £60, plus free tuition on two instruments. Exhibitions consist of free tuition on one instrument. Individual advice and assistance is offered to those making their application to British, American or other overseas universities. Typically around 50% of Paulines attend the top 10 universities within the *QS World Rankings® (which recently includes UCL and Imperial College London) with almost one quarter of all pupils gaining places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities each year. However, it is 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 well-resourced US Universities Department. The Head of US Universities is solely dedicated to the support and management of the US universities programme which includes Lower Eighth and gap year students interested in US colleges as well as Upper Eighth applicants. 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. To help them research and shortlist universities, pupils have free access to a platform that also contains an essay writing tool and links to official US test prep and information. Annual events include talks by US admissions directors, a specially organised Student Athlete Information Evening, a Major Scholarships Evening and a Boot Camp. A list of recent university offers is published on the US University page (scan the QR code on the right to access).
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS
The broad integration of bright minds from diverse backgrounds provides one of the key aspects of an education at St Paul’s.
BURSARIES – ASSISTANCE WITH FEES
All pupils hoping to apply for 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 required. More details are available in the Further Information booklet or by scanning the QR code.
Careers and University Admissions Bursaries and Scholarships
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ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AT 17+
Honorary Academic Scholarships worth £60 per annum are awarded in Year 13 on the basis of work throughout Year 12. All pupils are automatically considered for these awards. No new Academic Scholarships are awarded at 16+.
Princeton (Photo by Pete Spiro)
Uniquely St Paul’s
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.
US Universities page *QS World University Rankings® is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds. It is viewed as one of the three most-widely read and respected university rankings in the world.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS St Paul’s Partnerships and Charity Work
The St Paul’s Community
If you would like to learn more about our programme, please visit: stpaulsschool.org.uk/events or scan the QR code to the left.
We share opportunities with the programme.Voluntaryco-curricularourcommunitylocalthroughpartnerships,clubsandService
St Paul’s is a founding member of the West London Partnership (WLP), an independent and state secondary school partnership. As part of the partnership, we offer academic enrichment, ranging from Latin GCSE classes for local students, to a post-GCSE entrepreneurship course. Our academic partnership work extends outside the WLP too. Residential Physics summer schools run each year for gifted students from around the country; our Primary Professors programme engages local primary school children with Saturday sessions in a variety of subjects; and Year 12 pupils provide virtual mentoring to their peers around the world using our very own Colet Mentoring app, designed in partnership with Ed-Tech company, EasyA. 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. In addition, various local charities are supported through fundraising and volunteering. Pupils can apply to join one of the Pauls4All charity or volunteering committees, which exist at St Paul’s School and St Paul’s Juniors. These committees help to decide the shortlist of charities that the school votes to support each year, and to raise awareness and funds for the school’s nominated charities.
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.
The Thomas Gresham Committee, also part of Pauls4All, is a wholly pupil-led appeal, with a committee of students from Years 12 and 13 directing the programme each year.
The Thomas Gresham Committee, alongside the volunteering and charity committees, raises awareness for their chosen cause and arranges a packed calendar of events to raise funds, from whole school events to individual year challenges.
THE 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) and Sir Mark Walport (Ex-chief Scientific Advisor).
Old Paulines have made unparalleled contributions to the intellectual life of the nation. William Camden produced the first chorographic survey of Great Britain and Ireland during the reign of Elizabeth I; G.D.H. Cole reimagined the politics of the British left at the beginning of the 20th century; whilst Isaiah Berlin’s Two Concepts of Liberty set the agenda for mainstream liberalism in the English-speaking world after 1945.
The committee raises funds to provide a 100% bursary for the highest performing pupil at 11+ who is in need of financial support.
Uniquely St Paul’s St Paul’s School has a long history of developing links and partnerships with the local community. Pupils at St Paul’s embrace the rewards volunteering has to offer, and every pupil moving into Year 12 is given the opportunity to volunteer within the school timetable with the support of the Voluntary Service team. Each pupil brings a unique approach to charity work, which influences the various forms of volunteering they choose to undertake. The placements on offer are highly sought after here at St Paul’s and, in turn, our pupils have become a valuable resource to the local schools, hospitals, care homes and youth centres within our local Therecommunity.isagenuine desire among pupils and staff to engage in partnership work, and a commitment to sharing our expertise, energy and facilities for the benefit of the local and wider community. Supporting the community outside the school gates provides the opportunity for pupils to gain valuable real-life experiences, develop empathy and acquire an understanding of the needs and challenges of others, while also helping to develop the skills necessary to make a worthwhile contribution to wider society. It has a positive impact on our pupils’ wellbeing as well as a positive impact on the wider community.
On an international level, St Paul’s has links with the Senahasa Trust in Sri Lanka and Beyond Ourselves in Zambia. Thanks to these links, our pupils have been able to visit our partner schools in both countries, where they have volunteered in the local community and supported school teaching. These opportunities offer our pupils a better understanding of the challenges that charities face when working in the developing world.
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 piqued by 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.
The Old Pauline Club aims to create an inclusive and supportive alumni community that will 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 all around the globe can enjoy getting together and keeping in touch. Old Paulines also receive regular updates from the school through newsletters and the bi-annual magazine.
All our school policies, along with terms and conditions, can be viewed or downloaded at stpaulsschool.org.uk/about/policies
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Contacts 16+ Admission enquiries: 16plusentry@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: Thisstpaulsschool.org.ukprospectusdescribes 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 Further Information booklet. Although believed to be accurate on 1 August 2022 some content may be subject to change.
Our on-site facilities include: World-class concert hall
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL 16+ PROSPECTUS byDesigned haime-butler.com stpaulsschool.org.ukAneducationatStPaul’sis
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.
far from ordinary. Our pupils leave with genuine choices in life and access to the world’s leading universities.
Indoor swimming pool Boat house on the Thames Six Rugby fives 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
© St Paul’s School, 2022. How to Apply Further details on arranging a visit, application deadlines, or how to apply can be found within the Further Information booklet or on our website. Our online application form can be found at: stpaulsschool.org.uk/admissions or accessed using the QR code below.
State-of-the-art theatre complex Art department spanning three floors RIBA award-winning science block Engineering and technology suite
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