Studying at St. Paul’s School in London
By Adam Goodbody
Chief of Staff & ex-Paulite
Studying at St Paul’s School is an incredible albeit intense experience.
When I was there, I absolutely loved it but also recognised I was very lucky and part of an exceptional and very elite community (in both good and bad ways). The school has really changed in feel in the past few years, with huge modern buildings giving it a ‘US university campus’ feel but students remain very high-achieving and motivated. SPS has always been at the top, or near the top, of exam league table and there’s a strong feeling of academic elitism and high standards in most conversations. SPS boys do really well across the board, and they are proud of that.
Academics & teaching
The workload is very demanding. The school has a strong academic culture, and students are expected to be self-motivated and proactive in areas outside the curriculum.
Teaching quality is really good and there’s a strong emphasis on independent thinking and discussion-based learning.
Culture & student life
The student body is highly competitive but also intellectually curious. Many students are passionate about their subjects beyond the classroom. Lots of them pursue big academic projects beyond the syllabus, take part and win competitions etc...
It’s definitely not a school where you can just cruise along—there’s a sense of ambition and drive among most students.
Despite being a famous private school, it has a slightly different feel to the Etons and Harrows of this world. Being in central London helps give SPS a slightly different feel, more diverse or metropolitan in outlook. Students come in by tube from Hammersmith Broadway and it doesn’t suffer from the same sense of isolation or ‘bubble’ feeling of the more well-known private schools out of London.
Extracurriculars & facilities
The school has outstanding facilities, including a theatre, sports complex, rowing club, and well-equipped science labs. A lot of this is new as of the last few years, part of the ‘Masterplan’ to rebuild the school and tear down its 1960s architecture.
There are tonnes of clubs and societies, from debating and coding to philosophy and chess. I did loads at the school and there is genuinely a huge range.
Sport is big, especially rowing, rugby, and cricket, but you don’t have to be an athlete to fit in necessarily.
Social life & atmosphere
It’s an all-boys environment (and one of the few schools which has stuck with this formula) which some people love for the camaraderie, while others might find it a bit intense.
The school is known for fostering independent thinking and individualism, rather than strict conformity. Being academic and ‘into your work’ is definitely encouraged and not uncool, on the whole!
As it’s a London school, students come from a mix of backgrounds, though the demographic obviously leans towards wealthier families due to high fees. Lots of parents work in medicine, consulting, banking and the law.
Pressure & expectations
The pressure is real—not just from teachers, but also from peers who are all high achievers. Most students get top grades the whole time (most obviously at A-Level and GCSE) and that does create pressure.
I definitely found that some students thrive in this environment, while others might find it overwhelming.
There’s strong university preparation, with a high percentage of students going on to Oxbridge and Ivy League schools. It’s normally 40-50 students a year going to Oxbridge and 20 to Ivy League. That creates its own pressure too.
I think if you’re intellectually curious, hardworking, and can handle a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, St Paul’s can be an amazing school. You’ll be surrounded by some of the brightest kids in the UK, with incredible opportunities in academics, extracurriculars and future careers. That said it’s not a school for someone who wants a laid-back experience, and you’ll have to get used to Hammersmith Bridge being shut!