Entry at age 13
‘Being a Pauline means school is actually fun — there’s always stuff to do.’ — 4th former
Parents, boys and prep school heads all work together to make sure that St Paul’s is the right school for a boy. When everyone is happy that it is, here’s how to apply for entry at age 13:
How do I register?
You may request a prospectus online or by contacting our receptionist on 020 8748 9162. Simply return the registration form we will send you, together with an original birth certificate and the registration fee of £175.When should I register?
The 13+ list opens four years prior to entry, in May. It closes in the following May, allowing you time before registering to discuss the move to senior school with your prep school.
The next available year for 13+ entry is 2016, which is for boys born between 1 September, 2002 and 31 August, 2003.
Registrations will open on 14 May (Monday), 2012, and all forms must reach us by the closing date of 17 May (Friday), 2013.
At a state primary school?
We welcome applicants from state primary schools. You have your own entry examination in Year 5 and initially join our prep school in Year 7, allowing you to enjoy the final year in your current school.
At a prep school and missed the closing date for 13+ entry?
If you have missed the closing date (ie, you would like to join St Paul’s in 2015), contact our receptionist (020 8748 9162). Please note that the closing date for 2015 waiting list entrants is 5 October, 2012.
You will be invited to sit an examination and, if you’re successful, we will contact your Head for a report. A number of boys will then be invited for interview. If you meet our selection criteria, and we have places available, you’ll receive an offer of a place, subject to achieving the required standards in the Common Entrance or Junior Scholarship examination.
There may be an opportunity to register for 11+, provided you have not missed the 11+ closing date. All boys gaining a place at Colet Court will automatically be registered for St Paul’s.
What happens after registration?
The birth certificate and acknowledgment will be sent to you by return of post.
Three years before entry, we will send a confirmation of application form, requesting updated details and a signature authorising us to contact the prep school head for a report at the end of that year.
Two years before entry, and provided we receive a report from the prep school recommending that we are the appropriate choice, we will invite you for interview. This will take place, in random order, any time between January and December. The interview requires no special preparation: it is simply a 20 minute conversation during which you will be asked questions covering a range of topics. At the same time, parents will have the chance to speak to a senior member of staff. Decisions will be sent out within ten days of the interview.
Boys who are successful will receive a main list offer, provisional on their achieving the required standard in the Scholarship or Common Entrance exams taking place in May or June of the year of entry. (The 2012 Junior Academic Scholarship takes place over three days, 7-9 May.) Boys who don’t quite make the main list but whom we feel might develop over the following year will receive a reserve list offer. With the help of prep schools, we will review the reserve list around one year before entry. For a very few boys, we will be unable to make an offer.
One year before entry, parents of boys on the main list will be asked to accept formally the provisional offer by returning the deposit of one third of a term’s fees. Those on the reserve list will be contacted either by ourselves or your prep school head with further news.
Come and look at the school …
School tours are available for registered boys and their parents. They can be either a group or an individual tour. Our receptionist (020 8748 9162) will help you with available dates and our staff and pupils will be happy to give you a flavour of life at St Paul’s.
How is a place confirmed?
Shortly after the entrance exams, parents of successful boys will receive a letter confirming the award of a place. During the summer we send a new-boys’ pack which provides detailed information, including the date of the induction day (usually the day before term starts).
Is any fee assistance available?
Fee assistance is available to parents who meet the means-tested criteria.
Do you have a sibling policy?
All boys are treated the same whether or not they have a brother at the school.
