The St Paul’s Girls’ School admissions process
By Anya Davies
Pro mentor & ex-Head Girl at SPGS
Internationally recognised and consistently topping national league tables, St. Paul’s Girls’ School (SPGS) is one of the UK’s leading independent schools.
It boasts an impressive array of awards and achievements, most recently winning the Sunday Times’ ‘Independent School of the Year by Academic Excellence 2025’ and ‘London Independent School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025’. Beyond its stellar academic reputation, however, SPGS is an extraordinarily unique and special school in which to learn and grow up. It prides itself on fostering students (‘paulinas’!) who are intellectually curious, driven and who relish independent thinking. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the admissions process, covering entrance exams, interviews, fees, key dates, the admissions timeline, competitiveness, notable alumni, and information on scholarships and bursaries.
11+ entrance exams
The SPGS admissions process for entry at 11+ does its very best to identify students with natural ability and potential. Because of this, the examination format differs slightly to that of other independent schools. As with many, however, it comprises multiple stages:
CEM computer test
All applicants must first complete an on-screen, time-limited cognitive ability test designed to assess verbal reasoning, mathematical ability and non-verbal reasoning. This is essentially SPGS’s version of the ISEB stage that many other schools have. The test lasts approximately an hour and is conducted on-site at SPGS. The assessment is designed to measure applicants’ underlying aptitude rather than prior knowledge, helping to identify those with the intellectual potential to thrive at SPGS. Specific CEM practice materials are not provided, but you can familiarise yourself with the test format here: plus.cem.org/cemselectfam.
Written examinations
Candidates who perform well in the CEM test are invited to sit written examinations in English, Mathematics and ‘Comprehension’. These tests are notoriously tricky and are designed to push students to think critically and creatively.
English paper: The 1hr15 English exam involves the close reading of a literary prose passage. Candidates must answer a series of questions, which increase in length of required response. There are no short-form questions, so all require a full, written response. Some questions are more standard, requiring candidates to extract key information and analyse the meaning and effect of language. Other questions, however, demand a more imaginative approach. They require candidates to extrapolate from the text, explain personal opinions and make hypotheses. Unlike in some other 11+ English papers, the ‘answer’ cannot always be found in the text itself.
Mathematics paper: The maths paper comprises two sections of 35 and 40 minutes respectively. Both cover topics appropriate to the National Curriculum level up to KS2. Section A features straight-forward ‘sums’, as well as questions that are more ‘problem-solving’ in style. Section B is very unusual and again differs greatly to many other 11+ maths papers. Questions are multi-part and will often introduce a new concept to candidates, before asking them to put it into practice. In preparing for this paper, the key is to work on developing a flexible and curious mathematical mindset.
Comprehension paper: The comprehension paper is exclusive to SPGS and tests comprehension in its broadest sense. Each paper has a theme and explores this through a huge range of materials. The themes really vary -- past themes include ‘food’, ‘clothes’, ‘ships and shipping’, and ‘Richard III’! Questions range from being about science, to history, to art and are often based around sources. In this paper, SPGS are above all looking for students who can react perceptively and interestingly to a range of stimuli that will be entirely new to them.
Interviews
Following the written examinations, shortlisted candidates are invited to attend an interview at SPGS. The interview should feel like a friendly, informal, but stimulating conversation. It gives the school the chance to get to know students beyond their academic ability. During the interview, candidates will also be provided with stimulus material, such as a poem, an image or a mathematical puzzle, and will be encouraged to discuss their thoughts and interpretations. As in the written examinations, SPGS are looking for students who are engaged, creative, and able to think independently.
Entry at 16+
SPGS also offers entry at 16+ for students joining the Sixth Form. The process is very selective and aims to admit students who will contribute actively to the school community and excel in their chosen A-level subjects. Applicants must register in advance and sit examinations in the four subjects they intend to study at A-level. Each paper lasts 45 minutes. These written tests assess subject knowledge, problem-solving ability and analytical skills. SPGS’s dedicated webpage has extensive information of the subject content of each exam.
Successful candidates are then invited to interview. They will have interviews for their assessed A Level subjects, as well as a general interview. The general interview will cover their academic performance, their hopes for further education, and their wider interests. Admission decisions take into account examination performance, interview assessments and references from the candidate’s current school.
For detailed information on 16+ admissions, including registration deadlines and examination requirements, please visit the SPGS website: https://spgs.org/admissions/entry-at-16/.
Fees
For the most current information on tuition fees and associated costs, please visit the official SPGS website: https://spgs.org/admissions/entry-at-11/.
Admissions timeline
Understanding the sequence of events in the admissions process is essential for preparing effectively. Below are the key steps in the process:
Early November: Registration deadline. Parents must submit the completed registration form, a copy of the candidate’s passport and a £250 registration fee (unless applying for a bursary-only place). Late applications will not be accepted.
Late November: Candidates sit the CEM computer test at SPGS. Parents are informed of the outcome in mid-December and a confidential reference is requested from the candidate’s current school.
Early January: Successful candidates from the computer assessment are invited to sit the entrance examinations in English, Mathematics and Comprehension. Shortlisting for interviews is based on these results.
Mid to Late January: Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews at SPGS with a senior member of staff. These will last about 20-25 minutes.
Mid February: Parents receive final decisions via email.
Early March: Acceptance deadline. Parents must confirm acceptance and pay a deposit (50% of a term’s fees, with reduced deposits for bursary recipients). An additional deposit is required for overseas families.
Summer Term: SPGS sends out an information pack, including invitations to summer term events such as the new students’ tea in June.
Please note that these dates are indicative and subject to change. Always refer to the official SPGS website for the most up-to-date information.
How competitive is it?
Given SPGS’s esteemed reputation, competition for places is naturally high. Each year, a large number of applicants compete for a limited number of places (roughly seven applicants for every place). The multi-stage, and rather unique, assessment process ensures that candidates who are offered places are those who will truly thrive at SPGS, and whose intellectual curiosity matches the ethos of the school. The key to preparing for SPGS’ assessments is through developing an intellectual flexibility, rather than through rote learning.
Notable alumni
In its 120-year history, SPGS boasts an impressive list of distinguished alumnae who have made significant contributions across various fields. Some particularly noteworthy names, from a very long list, include:
Dodie Smith (author of The Hundred and One Dalmatians and I Capture the Castle)
Rosalind Franklin (major contributor to the discovery of DNA)
Alexandra Shulman (previous editor of British Vogue)
Imogen Stubbs (actor)
Bronwen Maddox (journalist, and now director and CEO of Chatham House)
Natasha Richardson (actor)
Dame Kate Bingham (Chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce in 2020)
Rachel Johnson (journalist)
Sophie Raworth (BBC news journalist and broadcaster)
Stephanie Flanders (BBC News journalist and broadcaster)
Rachel Weisz (actor)
Susanna Reid (previous BBC broadcaster and current presenter of Good Morning Britain)
Emily Mortimer (actor)
Victoria Coren-Mitchell (journalist, professional poker-player and presenter)
Grace Beverley (founder of Tala sportswear and fashion label – featured in Forbes ‘30 under 30’.)
Scholarships and bursaries
SPGS has a wonderful bursary programme and is dedicated to making its world-class education accessible to talented students regardless of financial circumstances. The school offers generous means-tested bursaries to families who require support with tuition fees. Bursaries are allocated based on a detailed financial assessment of the applicant’s household income and assets.
While SPGS primarily focuses on bursaries, it also offers scholarships recognising exceptional talent in specific areas. Scholarships do not carry a direct financial award but are a mark of distinction, celebrating students who excel academically or in particular disciplines such as music. For detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures and deadlines, please refer to the school's official website: https://spgs.org/admissions/entry-at-11/.