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  • Independent school for boys

St Paul's School: entry, tests, dates and fees

Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9JT

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial TeamSchool website

Can we apply, and when?

For September 2029 entry

  • Registration closes, 13+ entry

    Fri 16 Oct

    Friday 16 October 2026, for September 2029 entry

    Checked, source: St Paul's School, checked

  • Places at 13+

    198

    Each year at 13+

    Checked, source: St Paul's School, checked

  • Fees at 13+, day

    £12,666a term

    2026-27 school year, including VAT

    Checked, source: St Paul's School, checked

Your next steps for 13+ entry

  1. Next: Entrance tests

  2. Coming up: Interviews

  3. Coming up: Offers sent

St Paul's School sets its own tests and decides after them and the interviews. We have not found a published pass mark, so we do not show one.

How entry works

How entry works

Ways in, and how children are assessed

St Paul's School takes new pupils at 13+ and 16+. Each way in has its own tests and dates.

  • 13+ entryjoins Fourth Form (Year 9)

    198 places

    How children are assessed: an English paper, a maths paper, an interview, a reference from the current school and the ISEB Common Pre-Test (an online test many independent schools share). Tests are taken in Year 6, with a place offered ahead of entry.

    Registration closes: Friday 16 October 2026 (for September 2029 entry)

Other ways in: 16+Places, tests and registration for each

  • 16+ entryjoins Year 12

    20 places

    How children are assessed: an interview, a reference from the current school, GCSE grade requirements, other tasks set by the school and own subject papers.

    Registration closes: Wednesday 30 September 2026 (for September 2027 entry)

Source: St Paul's School, checked

More about entry from our guide

Most boys start at St Paul's in the Fourth Form, which is Year 9. The surprise for many families is the timing. The 13+ tests happen in Year 6, at the same age as most 11+ exams, and a successful boy is offered a place that begins two years later. He spends Years 7 and 8 at another school first. A smaller group joins the sixth form at 16+.

Joining at 11+: the Prep School route

St Paul's School does not take boys into Year 7 itself. A boy who wants to start in Year 7 applies to St Paul's Prep School, on the same site. Boys offered a place there join St Paul's Prep School (two years, then St Paul's School in Year 9)St Paul's Prep School: JoinsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: We admit approximately 36 boys at this point; they spend two years at St Paul’s Prep School before moving on to St Paul’s School in Year 9.View the official source. The prep school lists 36St Paul's Prep School: PlacesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: We admit approximately 36 boys at this point; they spend two years at St Paul’s Prep School before moving on to St Paul’s School in Year 9.View the official source places at 11+, and its registration for September 2027 entrySt Paul's Prep School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Registration for September 2027 entry is now open.View the official source closes on 16 October 2026St Paul's Prep School: Registration deadline (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Registration closes | Friday 16 October 2026View the official source. Its 11+ also opens with the ISEB Common Pre-TestSt Paul's Prep School: Iseb pretestChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: All Year 6 11+ candidates are required to take the ISEB online pre-test.View the official source. The school does not send out past papers for its own 11+ English and maths exams, but it does publish a syllabus.

So a boy in Year 6 has two ways in: the 11+ at the prep school, or the 13+ with a place held for Year 9. Both are assessed in the same school year, and this round both registrations close on the same day. If you are unsure which suits your son, the admissions team can talk it through with you.

13+: Fourth Form (Year 9)St Paul's School: JoinsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: The main entry point into St Paul’s School is into our Fourth Form (Year 9)View the official source

For September 2029 entrySt Paul's School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Registration for September 2029 entry has opened.View the official source, the 13+ runs in three stages:

  • Stage one: the ISEB Common Pre-TestSt Paul's School: Iseb pretestChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: All registered candidates are required to take the ISEB online pre-test in October or November of Year 6.View the official source, plus a reference from the current schoolSt Paul's School: ReferenceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: We will also request a report from a candidate’s Head Teacher covering their character, academic strengths, and interests.View the official source
  • Stage two: the school's own English paperSt Paul's School: Own englishChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: These will comprise of a 75 minute Mathematics paper and a 45 minute English paper.View the official source and the school's own maths paperSt Paul's School: Own mathsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: These will comprise of a 75 minute Mathematics paper and a 45 minute English paper.View the official source
  • Stage three: an interviewSt Paul's School: InterviewChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Candidates who perform well in the written assessments will be invited to an interview which will take place on a Saturday in late January or early February.View the official source

The ISEB Common Pre-Test is an online test used by many independent schools. A boy answers on a computer, and the questions adapt as he goes. It covers English, maths and reasoning. St Paul's would rather boys take it at their own school. If that is not possible, a boy can sit it at St Paul's instead. Our ISEB Pre-Test guide explains the format.

Boys picked after stage one sit the written papers at St Paul's on 5 January 2027St Paul's School: Assessment date (2029)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Stage Two: Written assessments in Mathematics and English for selected candidates | 5 January 2027View the official source. The school writes these papers itself, so they follow its own style.

Boys who do well on paper are asked to interview on 30 January 2027 and 6 February 2027St Paul's School: Interview date (2029)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Stage Three: Interviews for selected candidates | 30 January 2027 and 6 February 2027View the official source. The conversation tests how a boy works with numbers and how he reads and questions a piece of source material. It also covers what he enjoys outside lessons.

Families hear the outcome in the week starting 22 February 2027St Paul's School: Offer date (2029)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Parents and schools advised of outcome of interview | week commencing 22 February 2027View the official source. An offer here is one of the school's deferred offers (a place at 13+ offered after assessment at 11)St Paul's School: Deferred offerChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: This condition ensures that boys offered places in Year 6 arrive at St Paul’s at 13+ equipped to handle the curriculum.View the official source, and it must be accepted by March 2028St Paul's School: Acceptance deadline (2029)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Acceptance of Main List place with deposit | By mid-March 2028View the official source, during Year 7. Some boys who show promise are not offered a place yet but are asked back for a second look in Year 8.

If a boy's school does not follow the Year 7 and 8 course that St Paul's sets, his offer may carry an extra condition. One example the school gives is a score of at least 70%St Paul's School: Ce pass markChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: For example, one condition may be that they achieve a minimum of 70% in prescribed subjects at Common Entrance.View the official source in set subjects at Common Entrance. Common Entrance is a group of exams that many prep schools sit at the end of Year 8.

St Paul's says 198St Paul's School: PlacesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: with approximately half of the 198 boys coming from St Paul’s Prep School and the other half from a wide variety of prep schools (ending at Year 8) across London.View the official source boys join its Fourth Form. About half come up from St Paul's Prep School and about half from other prep schools.

16+: Year 12St Paul's School: JoinsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Every year, approximately 20 pupils join St Paul’s School in Year 12.View the official source

The school lists 20St Paul's School: PlacesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Every year, approximately 20 pupils join St Paul’s School in Year 12.View the official source places at 16+. Registration for September 2027 entrySt Paul's School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: The dates below are for the 16+ entry in 2027 admissions process.View the official source closed on 30 September 2026St Paul's School: Registration deadline (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Stage One: Deadline for applications (and IELTS) | Wednesday 30 September 2026 12.00 GMTView the official source. The next round opens in June 2027St Paul's School: Registration opens (2028)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Registration for 16+ entry in 2028 will open in June 2027.View the official source. The process has these parts:

  • subject papers set by the schoolSt Paul's School: Own subject papersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: All 16+ applicants are invited to sit the entrance examinations in their chosen A level subjects.View the official source
  • GCSE grade requirementsSt Paul's School: Gcse requirementsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: The offer of a place is conditional on a candidate achieving a minimum of eight (I)GCSE passes at grade 7, of which at least six are at grade 8 or 9 (including the subjects to be studied at A-level).View the official source
  • interviewSt Paul's School: InterviewChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Selected candidates are interviewed by the subject Heads of Department or senior teaching staff in each of their chosen subjects.View the official source
  • reference from the current schoolSt Paul's School: ReferenceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Once received, we will contact an applicant’s school for a detailed academic reference.View the official source

Applicants sit papers in the A level subjects they hope to study, at St Paul's on 6 November 2026St Paul's School: Assessment date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Stage Two: Entrance Examinations | Friday 6 November 2026View the official source. Most of the content is drawn from GCSE courses, and Art has no written paper. Interviews follow on 21 November 2026St Paul's School: Interview date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Stage Three: Interviews with subject Heads of Department for chosen A Levels | Saturday 21 November 2026 09.00 – 13.30*View the official source. Any offer also rests on the student reaching the GCSE grades the school asks for.

Key dates

13+ dates for September 2029 entry

St Paul's School

  1. Done: Registration opens for 13+ entry

  2. Done: Registration closes for 13+ entry

  3. Next: Entrance tests

  4. Coming up: Interviews

  5. Coming up: Offers sent

  6. Coming up: Scholarship assessments

    Only if you are applying for a scholarship

  7. Coming up: Accept or decline an offer by

    Expected

Dates for the other ways in16+

16+ entry, September 2027

  1. Done: Registration opens for 16+ entry

  2. Done: Registration closes for 16+ entry

  3. Next: Entrance tests

  4. Coming up: Interviews

  5. Coming up: Accept or decline an offer by

    in about 8 weeks

  6. Coming up: Offers sent

    Expected

At a glance

St Paul's School in brief

tap a value for its source

Ages
13 to 18AgesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Boys attend St Paul’s Prep School aged 7 to 13, and St Paul’s School aged 13 to 18.View the official source
The ages the school teaches, from youngest to oldest.
Ways in
13+, 16+
The ages at which the school takes new pupils (4+, 11+ and so on).
Scholarships
4 kinds
Awards for a talent, such as academic work, music or sport.
Day or boarding
day and boarding
Whether pupils go home each day or can live at the school.
Help with fees
Yes, up to 100%
Bursaries reduce fees for families on lower incomes, after a check of income and savings.

Fees

From £12,666 a term, including VAT
13+ entry, day
£12,666 a term, including VAT
13+ entry, full boarding
£19,181 a term, including VAT
16+ entry, day
£12,905 a term, including VAT
16+ entry, full boarding
£19,420 a term, including VAT

Fees for the 2026-27 school year, as the school publishes them. We never add or remove VAT.

fees shown include VAT

Deposit when you accept a day place: £3,300.

Source: St Paul's School, checked

Joining atDay feeBoarding fee
13+£12,666 per term, including VATSt Paul's School: DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: St Paul’s School – Fourth to Upper Eighth Form (Years 9-13) | £12,666View the official source£19,181 per term, including VATSt Paul's School: BoardingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Boarding Fee (including tuition fees) | £19,181View the official source
16+£12,905 per term, including VATSt Paul's School: DayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: St Paul’s School – New joiners into the Eighth Form (Year 12) | £12,905View the official source£19,420 per term, including VATSt Paul's School: BoardingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Boarding Fee for new joiners in Eighth Form (including tuition fees) | £19,420View the official source

These are the fees St Paul's publishes for 2026-27St Paul's School: Academic yearChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Fees per term (inclusive of VAT £) | 2026/27View the official source, and fees shown include VATSt Paul's School: Vat treatmentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Fees per term (inclusive of VAT £) | 2026/27View the official source. The school sets new fees each year, so check its latest list before you plan.

St Paul's takes boarders as well as day boys, starting from Year 9. Its fee list gives one boarding fee and does not split weekly from full boarding. Weekly boarders stay from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon. The school notes that only a small number of boarding places may be free for new Year 9 boys.

At 13+, registration costs £240, including VATSt Paul's School: Registration feeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: 13+ entry | A registration fee of £240 (incl. VAT) is payable when registering your son for 13+ entry to St Paul’s School.View the official source. This fee is not refunded. At 16+ there is an exam fee of £75St Paul's School: Registration feeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: 16+ entry | You will be required to upload an electronic copy of your son’s passport (jpg or pdf) and make an online payment for the £75 exam fee.View the official source instead. When a family accepts a place, the school asks for a deposit of £3,300St Paul's School: Deposit dayChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: St Paul’s School – 13 + entry | A deposit of £3,300 is required when a parent accepts the offer of a place.View the official source; families with a bursary pay a smaller one.

Bursaries and scholarships

Bursaries up to 100% of fees
Bursaries (help with fees)
Available, up to 100% of the fees. They depend on a check of household income and savings. Income guide: £144,000 gross household income.
Scholarships
For academic, art, music and sport, at 13+ and 16+ entry.

Source: St Paul's School, checked

St Paul's calls its bursaries Founder's Awards.

  • Bursaries: means-tested bursaries availableSt Paul's School: AvailableChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: are proud to provide assistance with fees to the families of talented boys who otherwise could not afford private educationView the official source
  • Largest award: 100%St Paul's School: Max percentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: The value of the award is therefore means-tested, and depending on the parents’ financial circumstances it could be between 2% and 100% of fees.View the official source of fees
  • Income limit: £144,000 (gross household income, maximum)St Paul's School: Income thresholdChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: Families with a gross household income of up to £144,000 pa and net assets up to £1.6m may be eligible for a bursary.View the official source

The school also sets a limit on a family's net assets, not just on income. It calls its figures a guide, so a family near the limit should still ask. Our bursaries guide explains how these checks usually work.

The school offers academic scholarshipsSt Paul's School: AcademicChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: St Paul’s School offers a number of honorary Academic Scholarships annually.View the official source, art scholarshipsSt Paul's School: ArtChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: We are delighted to be launching art scholarships, which will be available for boys at the School from Autumn Term 2026.View the official source, music scholarshipsSt Paul's School: MusicChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: A number of music scholarships and exhibitions are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+ to pupils who show outstanding potential in at least one instrument.View the official source and sport scholarshipsSt Paul's School: SportChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: St Paul’s School is excited to be launching a number of sports awards which will be available for boys at the School from Autumn Term 2026.View the official source. There are scholarships at 13+St Paul's School: 13 plusChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: A number of music scholarships and exhibitions are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+ to pupils who show outstanding potential in at least one instrument.View the official source and scholarships at 16+St Paul's School: 16 plusChecked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: A number of music scholarships and exhibitions are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+ to pupils who show outstanding potential in at least one instrument.View the official source. New academic scholarships are given at 13+ rather than 16+, and they are mainly an honour, so real help with fees comes through a bursary. The sport awards, called Gissing Sports Awards, are for boys joining at 11+ and 16+. Music awards for boys joining at 11+ are made into the prep school.

The school's published information differs on when the 13+ scholarship exams for this round take place, so we have left that date out and asked the school to confirm.

Open days

Not published yet

St Paul's lists open days and term-time visits for each entry point on its admissions pages. Check there for the next dates and how to book a place.

Results, as published by the school

A level grades A* to A: 92.5% (2025)

  • A level grades A* to A, 2025

    92.5%A level grades A* to A, 2025Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: In 2025, at A Level, 59.3% of grades awarded were A* and 92.5% were A* or A.View the official source

    No earlier year published

  • GCSE grades 9 to 8, 2025

    90.4%GCSE grades 9 to 8, 2025Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: In 2025, at GCSE, 68.6% of grades awarded were at Grade 9 and 90.4% were Grade 8 or 9.View the official source

    No earlier year published

Results are the school's own figures. Schools count them in different ways, so compare with care.

The school reports these exam results. We show them exactly as it publishes them.

MeasureFigure
A level grades A* to A92.5% (2025)St Paul's School: A level astar apercent (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: In 2025, at A Level, 59.3% of grades awarded were A* and 92.5% were A* or A.View the official source
GCSE grades 9 to 890.4% (2025)St Paul's School: Gcse9to8 percent (2025)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against St Paul's School.The source says: In 2025, at GCSE, 68.6% of grades awarded were at Grade 9 and 90.4% were Grade 8 or 9.View the official source

Official documents and sources

19 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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