Leading the way academically since 1509, with a unique setting on the banks of the Thames since 1968
From the High Master
I am so glad you are considering St Paul’s for your son and I hope that, if you have not already done so, you will soon be able to visit our modern, riverside campus to experience first-hand the unique energy of our school day.
St Paul’s excels as the top academic boys’ school in the country. We educate exceptionally talented, academically able boys, and have tailored the environment and opportunities here to best support them in all areas, helping them to discover and refine their strengths. Scholarship lies at the heart of Pauline life; pupils are taught by subject experts, many of whom publish their own academic work, and lessons venture well beyond the national curriculum, with outstanding examination results a by-product of the intellectual curiosity and rigour that our pupils display. Upon visiting St Paul’s on any given day you might witness a huge variety of inspiring and exciting activities. These could include but are certainly not limited to: a pupil-run society debating the latest political thinking, a visiting speaker from an overseas charity delivering a seminar, the 1st XI footballers preparing for the next ISFA match, actors rehearsing for a forthcoming play, or a group of students helping younger pupils locally, nationally or internationally via our unique peer-to-peer mentoring app.
Three core pillars underpin life at St Paul’s: scholarship, character and opportunity, and from these, stem the key character traits that we seek to nurture and develop in our pupils: respect, kindness, humility, integrity and resilience. We have developed our Character Curriculum to prepare pupils for life beyond school, guiding them through matters of ethics, relationships and well-being with care and compassion. Our constantly evolving programme with our sister school, St Paul’s Girls’ School, offers opportunities for collaboration within the academic setting,
but also through co-curricular activities and social interactions for every year group. We are committed to providing our pupils with a ‘best of both worlds’ experience, remaining experts in boys’ education, whilst enabling essential social development and mutual respect.
St Paul’s has a long and illustrious history of over 500 years, but we are very much a forward-thinking institution. We draw upon our founder’s vision of a school with a charitable outlook, whilst seeking to prepare young men for modern society. This ethos inspires our work to ensure that all boys with the academic potential to thrive at St Paul’s can take up their place, regardless of their financial background; further information on our bursary programme can be found later in this booklet. Our Partnerships team also strives to widen access to St Paul’s for pupils from schools both local and further afield, enabling them to benefit from the use of our facilities and teaching expertise. Volunteering through our Partnerships and Charities programmes forms an essential part of Pauline life and all pupils will enjoy the opportunity to give of themselves to various projects during their time at the school.
I truly believe that a Pauline education provides all the elements necessary to produce wellrounded young adults who will excel as they enter higher education, workplaces and local communities, and make sound contributions to the world at large. It is a huge privilege and daily joy to be part of this exceptional community. I look forward to meeting you in person.
Sally-Anne Huang High Master
Scholarship and Beyond
Pupils at St Paul’s receive an outstanding all-round education that prepares them for life and lasts a life-time. Whilst we, and they, are extremely proud of the exam results they achieve and the courses they go on to study, there is so much more to a St Paul’s education. Whilst with us, we want them to develop a love of learning, to discover how to build positive relationships and to grow the confidence to work for change.
of grades awarded at A Level and Pre-U in 2023 were A* (or equivalent) and
51% 85% 87% 62% A LEVEL
were awarded A* or A (or equivalent)
were Grades 8 or 9 of GCSE grades awarded in 2023 were at Grade 9
Gold medals or distinctions achieved in Academic Olympiads (academic year 2023-24). Olympiads entered by Paulines include: Astronomy & Astrophysics, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Linguistics, Mathematics and Physics. 595
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) gives pupils the freedom to pursue their individual intellectual and creative passions beyond the syllabus.
How worried should we be about AI in our NHS mental health services? Is Instant Gratification the driving factor behind the increased rise in mental health issues among young people?
an Energy Recovery System for Bicycles
Scan the QR code below for the full list of the latest A Level results.
How can I create a single life-size leg sculpture that models a variety of medical conditions?
Can AI truly revolutionise biomedical innovation? Creating the Best Model Glider which Flies the Farthest
Can I write a play that explores realistic character relationships and attitudes during the era of 1950s McCarthyism, using the methods of 20th and early 21st century American playwrights?
Will AI-based statistical methods revolutionise football as we know it?
Scan the QR code below for the full list of the latest GCSE results.
Can I write, perform and record an EP (Extended Play) of 3-5 songs that takes inspiration from a number of different artists and styles (Ed Sheeran, Otis Redding, Baraka and Frank Ocean)?
Are humans, who have the money to spare, morally obligated to donate their money to charity?
Can I create a progressive video guide to the image class in hordes. io in the style of a tutorial?
Should Bohmian Mechanics be Dismissed as an Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics?
University Destinations
Number of pupils that accepted places at universities
Edinburgh (17)
Bristol (13)
Durham (10)
Warwick (8)
Bath (4)
Exeter (3)
Leeds (3)
Southampton (2)
St Andrews (2)
St George’s (2)
Surrey (2)
Cardiff (1)
Glasgow School of Art (1)
Liverpool (1)
Manchester (1)
Nottingham (1)
York (1)
UK International
Imperial College London (23)
University College London (21)
London School of Economics (12)
King’s College London (4)
Queen Mary’s (2)
City & Guilds of London Art School
Royal Veterinary College (1)
Cambridge (21)
Oxford (29)
UK-wide Universities London Universities Oxbridge
USA Universities
Columbia (5)
Yale (4)
Brown (3)
Chicago (3)
Georgetown (3)
University of California, Berkeley (3)
Cornell (2)
Princeton (2)
University of Southern California (2)
University of Virginia (2)
Dartmouth (1)
Harvard (1)
Stanford (1)
University of California, Los Angeles (1)
University of Pennsylvania (1)
University of Notre Dame (1)
Other International
Canada
McGill (1)
Europe
Bocconi, Milan (4)
Ecole Polytechnique, France (1)
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (1)
Given the strength of this all-round education –it’s little wonder that leavers head to the world’s best higher education establishments.”
Tatler Schools Guide 2023
Scan the QR code below for the full list of the latest university destinations.
Boathouse
world-class Engineering and Technology suite
Houses for pupils to share experiences and events across year groups
3,000 hrs 12
of pupil volunteering supporting our eight partner charities
or more drama productions per year, plus drama clubs, societies and competitions
1 3 1 100 minutes
available each lunchtime with over 80 clubs and societies to choose from throughout the year
249
pupils performed in music concerts in the 2023-24 academic year
£66.1m
of the 21 founding clubs forming the Rugby Football Union in 1871
spent on new buildings and refurbishments to existing buildings over the last six years
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 will guide them through their time at school and each tutor group is made up of boys from all five year groups, providing opportunities to learn from and socialise with boys from different years. The tutor groups are further supported by our vertical House system: each tutor group is
part of a House, within which pupils will stay throughout their five years at St Paul’s. Each year, there is a vibrant inter-house competition, which offers wide-ranging opportunities for all to be involved and feel included. An Undermaster oversees the pupils within their House and provides pastoral guidance and leadership. In addition, the Head of Middle School and Head of Eighth Form are experts in supporting pupils through the junior and senior years at St Paul’s.
Boarding
Full, weekly and flexi-boarding is available for all pupils in the senior school. School House is a small and welcoming community of full and weekly boarders on the banks of the Thames, with outstanding pastoral support, structured daily prep time and use of the school’s facilities available to pupils, as well as a programme of weekend excursions and activities. The recently refurbished West House provides a riverside home for flexi-boarders one to four nights per week – ideal for those who have a long commute, early-morning or after-school activities, or whose parents are away for a period of time.
Charity, Partnerships and Character Development
It is our belief that by building integrity and providing opportunities for service, we will encourage our pupils to lead purposeful, socially responsible lives.
Our pupils volunteer to mentor their peers locally, nationally and internationally through our own Colet Mentoring app, with 1,556 academic support sessions taking place in the last year.
Our students are very driven and have clear passions about particular subjects and aspirations about future careers. I do believe that their voluntary service gives them perspective that steers their trajectory within their passions.”
Dr Carlos Gane, Head of Voluntary Service
Collaboration with St Paul’s Girls’ School
St Paul’s School provides the environment where boys thrive academically while learning to meet the challenges beyond school life. Our long-standing collaboration with our sister institution, St Paul’s Girls’ School includes joint off-timetable days, performing arts productions, co-curricular activities, shared committees and volunteering. In 2024, this partnership was formalised when St Paul’s School and St Paul’s Girls’ School jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding for future collaboration.
We are uniquely placed at St Paul’s as we work so closely with St Paul’s Girls’ School and provide ‘the best of both worlds’ – the specialist nature of a single-sex environment with a thorough programme of both academic and co-curricular activities where the two schools work together and pupils make friends and meet as equals.”
Sally-Anne Huang, High Master
Founder’s Awards (Bursaries)
ASSISTANCE WITH FEES
St Paul’s School 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 for families with a household income less than £135k per annum, on a ‘sliding scale’ relative to household income and assets.
My son was given the most wonderful opportunity to be part of this amazing establishment and has flourished socially, academically and as a human being. St Paul’s has brought out the best in my child and I am forever grateful.”
Parent of a current bursary recipient
pupils currently receive bursaries.
Paul’s.
Admission Process
13+
Online registration
Stage One: ISEB online common pre-test
Stage Two: Written assessments in Mathematics and English for selected candidates
Stage Three: Interviews for selected candidates
Parents and schools advised of outcome of interview
Acceptance of Main List place with deposit
Review of Reserve List and possible move to Main List
Scholarship examinations
16+
Online registration
Stage Two: Entrance examinations
Stage Three: Interviews for selected candidates
Stage Four: Offers
Acceptance of offers and deposit payment
Confirmation that conditions of offers are met
(following submission of final Year 11 results)
Mid April of Year 5 – mid September of Year 6
Early October – late November of Year 6
Early January of Year 6
January – May of Year 6
Within three weeks of interview
By mid May of Year 7
October – December of Year 8
Early May of Year 8
Early June in Year 10 – mid September in Year 11
Early November in Year 11
Mid November in Year 11
Early December in Year 11
Mid December in Year 11
August prior to entry
How to find us
Our day pupils join us from destinations within the M25 and further afield, while our boarders join us from the length of the UK and across the globe.
We are fortunate to enjoy a central London location:
Hammersmith Underground Station: 20-minute walk
Barnes Bridge National Rail Station: 20-minute walk or 5-minute bus journey
Barnes National Rail Station: 5-minute bus journey
Served by a number of public bus service routes
School bus service serving North London, Surrey and South West London routes
Senior School Bus Routes
North London 1
North London 3
SP05 Surrey
SP06 Local
East Finchley Station
Henlys Corner
Golders Green
Finchley Road
Swiss Cottage
St John’s Wood Station
Maida Vale
Hendon Way
Hampstead High Street
Belsize Park
Primrose Hill
St John’s Wood
Regent’s Park
Baker Street
Putney Heath Parkside Hospital
Coombe Hill
Tolworth Long Ditton
Hinchley Wood Surbiton
Esher
Walton-OnThames
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL
Wimbledon Common
Copse Hill North
Putney West
Copse Hill South WIMBLEDON
PARK RICHMOND PARK
BARNES
SOUTH HAMPSTEAD
HAMPSTEAD HEATH
BELSIZE PARK
REGENT’S PARK
Read our Further Information Booklet by scanning the QR code.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Admissions
13PlusEntry@stpaulsschool.org.uk 16PlusEntry@stpaulsschool.org.uk 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 Further Information booklet. Although believed to be accurate on 31 July 2024 some content may be subject to change.
All our school policies, along with terms and conditions, can be 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, 2024.
stpaulsschool.org.uk