St Paul's Girls' School
11+ Admissions Guide 2026
How to get into St Paul's Girls' School
Gender
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio
8:1
ExcellentFounded
1904
Age Range
11–18 years
About St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated in London. Founded in 1904 by the Worshipful Company of Mercers, the school was established using part of the Colet estate endowment, with the aim of creating a girls' school to complement the one founded for boys by John Colet in the sixteenth century. The school is a charitable trust and is governed by a board of governors who hold proprietorial responsibility.
The school aims to educate young women to fulfil their potential, equipping them with the skills and confidence to take their place in a fast-moving world. It seeks to nurture thinkers and leaders, stimulating intellectual curiosity and opening young minds to new ideas. The curriculum is extended and enhanced to provide additional challenge, and the school has expanded its curricular offer across year groups in recent years, including developments in language, computer science, and creative technology.
Pupils come from business and professional backgrounds across London, and a large number of nationalities are represented within the school community. One in eight pupils receives a bursary. A number of pupils have identified special educational needs and/or disabilities, and a significant proportion speak English as an additional language, with all such pupils being advanced bilingual learners.
Frequently asked questions about St Paul's Girls' School
How do I apply to St Paul's Girls' School?
Registration opens on 1 June 2026 and closes on 6 November 2026. Full admissions details are available on the official St Paul's Girls' School admissions page.
What subjects does St Paul's Girls' School test in the 11+?
St Paul's Girls' School tests candidates in English and Maths.
How much are the fees at St Paul's Girls' School?
Day fees at St Paul's Girls' School are £37,242 to £40,227 per year.
Where is St Paul's Girls' School located?
St Paul's Girls' School is located in London, Hammersmith and Fulham, United Kingdom.
Subjects Tested
Maths
EnglishFees Fees were correct at the time of recording. Please check the school's website for the latest information.
Day Fees (per year)
£37,242 – £40,227
Leadership
High mistress
Liz Hewer
Chair of Governors
The Hon Timothy Palmer
Ages & Pupils
11–18
Age range (years)
822
Total pupils
232
Sixth form
Contact
Qualifications Offered
Admissions
Main Entry Points
Open Days
See website
Scholarships & Bursaries
Scholarship Types
Bursary Support
11% of girls on bursaries between 85-100%. School working to increase to 20%.
Up to 100% fee remission
Exam Results
99%
GCSE Grades 9-7
89%
A-Level A*-A
96%
A-Level A*-B
Curriculum
Modern Foreign Languages
Popular A-Level Subjects
Popular GCSE Subjects
Sport
Mobile Phone Policy
Years 7-11: All mobile phones must be switched off and kept in student's bag or securely stored in locker from arrival at school to 4pm. Years 12-13: All mobile phones must be switched off and out of sight during form time, assemblies, whilst walking around the school site, and lessons unless teacher has given permission.
ISI Inspection
Excellent
Academic achievement
Last inspected 27 February 2024
Routine Inspection
Personal Development
ExcellentCompliance
MetSchool Profile
Test Format
Entry involves three stages. The first is the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which St Paul's is introducing for 2027 entry, replacing the Cambridge Select Insight assessment. All Year 7 applicants must sit this online test. Parents register directly with ISEB – registration opens on 9 June, and there is no additional fee. Candidates may sit the test at St Paul's or at any approved ISEB test centre. The second stage consists of three written papers in Mathematics, English and General Comprehension. Sample papers and further details will be published in May ahead of the examination sitting. The third stage is an interview of approximately 20 minutes with a member of senior staff. The school is looking for evidence of creativity, engagement and independent thought. Final decisions are based on performance across both the written assessments and the interview. Preparing for St Paul's St Paul's is explicit that candidates do not need to spend significant time practising for these exams. The school wants students to respond naturally to the material rather than reproduce rehearsed answers. A solid grounding in the curriculum – particularly for the ISEB stage, which covers English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning – is more useful than intensive drilling.
Admissions
St Paul's Girls' School is one of London's most academically celebrated independent schools, consistently ranked among the top performers in the country. It draws students from a wide range of primary and prep schools, and its admissions process is designed to identify intellectual potential rather than reward extensive drilling.
St Paul's is seeking genuinely curious learners – students who enjoy engaging with ideas and who will thrive in a demanding academic environment. Alongside academic ability, the school values creativity, independent thinking and the capacity to balance study with a broad co-curricular life. The school also welcomes applications from students with SEND and will discuss access arrangements for the entrance process.
St Paul's is a day school with no boarding. Students must live within a 50-minute commute of the school. The school does not sponsor student visas, though overseas applicants with their own right to reside and study in the UK are welcome to apply. For international candidates, the ISEB test can be taken at any approved worldwide centre, written assessments must be sat in person, and interviews can be conducted remotely.
Means-tested bursaries are available, with awards up to full fees. Music scholarships at 11+ are also offered – details are on the school's fees and scholarships page.
Student Demographics
0.12%
EHCP
7.89%
SEN Support
Links
Financial Health
Grade C · 51 / 100
Composite financial health score
Updated 8 May 2026
16.9 months of free reserves, 3-year average operating surplus of 3.2%, debt-to-income of 0.27.
See breakdown
Sources: Companies House filed accounts (charity SORP).
Methodology: composite score weights free reserves (37.5%), 3-year operating surplus trend (31.25%), debt-to-income (18.75%), and cash liquidity (12.5%). Scores are percentile-relative within the top 100 UK independent schools cohort. Letter grade is the cohort quintile of the composite score (top 20% = A).
Past papers relevant to St Paul's Girls' School
Curated papers that St Paul's Girls' School pupils often practise with.
