St Paul's Girls' School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Paul's Girls' School
Address
Brook Green London , W6 7BS England
Information
Type	Private day school
Established	1904
Founder	Worshipful Company of Mercers
Local authority	Hammersmith and Fulham
Department for Education URN	100366 Tables
Chairman of Governors	Simon Wathen
High Mistress	Sarah Fletcher
Gender	Girls
Age	10 to 19
Enrolment	808 As of 2023[update]
Capacity	825 As of 2023[update]
Former pupils	Old Paulinas

St Paul's Girls' School is a private day school for girls aged 11 to 18. It is located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England. This school is known for being one of the top private schools in the world.

The School's Story: History of St Paul's Girls' School

Main building of the school in Brook Green

St Paul's Girls' School was started in 1904 by the Worshipful Company of Mercers. They used money from a special fund set up by John Colet many years before. Colet had also founded a boys' school, St Paul's School, in the 1500s. This new girls' school was meant to be a partner to the boys' school.

The school buildings were designed by an architect named Gerald Horsley. He was one of the first members of a group called the Art Workers Guild.

The school has had some very famous music teachers. These include Gustav Holst (from 1905 to 1934) and Herbert Howells (from 1936 to 1962). Holst wrote some of his famous pieces, like the St Paul's and Brook Green suites, especially for the students at the school. He also wrote his most famous work, "The Planets", while teaching there.

Amazing Results: Exam Success at St Paul's Girls' School

St Paul's girls often achieve excellent results in their GCSEs and A Levels. These are important exams students take in the UK.

In 2014, almost all GCSE results (99.3%) were the highest grades (A* or A). A huge 93.6% were the very top grade, A*. This was the best result the school had ever achieved, and it was the highest in the whole country that year.

In 2016, the school had its best ever A Level results. A total of 60% of all grades were A*s, and 93.8% were A* or A grades.

A close-up of the main school building

In 2023, 80.5% of GCSE entries received a grade 9, which is the highest possible. Also, 94% of entries got an 8 or 9. These grades are like the old A* grade. This was the eleventh year in a row that over 90% of grades were equivalent to an A*.

For the 2023 A level and Pre-U exams, 53% of grades were A* (or the equivalent top grades for Pre-U). An impressive 87.04% of grades were A* or A.

Music at St Paul's Girls' School

Gustav Holst was the director of music at the school from 1905 until he passed away in 1934. During this time, he wrote his famous orchestral pieces, including St Paul's Suite and The Planets.

After Holst, Herbert Howells took over, followed by John Gardner in the 1960s. Gardner wrote many memorable pieces for the school, including popular Christmas carols like Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day.

Side view of the school buildings from Rowan Road

Drama and Performances

The school has a main theatre where most school plays and shows are put on. This theatre is named after a former student, Celia Johnson, who became a famous actress. There is also a smaller drama studio for other productions.

Sports and Activities

Rowing: On the River Thames

The school has a very active rowing club called the St Paul's Girls' School Boat Club. They train on the River Thames. The club is part of British Rowing and has won four national championships.

School Leaders: The High Mistresses

The head teacher of St Paul's Girls' School is called the High Mistress. Here is a list of the women who have led the school:

• Frances Ralph Grey (1903–1927)
• Ethel Strudwick (1927–1948)
• Margaret Osborn (1948–1963)
• Alison Munro (1964–1974)
• Heather Brigstocke, Baroness Brigstocke (1974–1989)
• Helen Elizabeth Webber Williams (1989–1992)
• Janet Gough (1993–1998)
• Elizabeth Mary Diggory (1998–2006)
• Clarissa Mary Farr (2006–2017)
• Sarah Fletcher (2017–present)

Famous Former Students: Old Paulinas

Students who used to go to St Paul's Girls' School are called "Old Paulinas". Many of them have become famous in different fields.

Arts and Entertainment

Business Leaders

• Isabel dos Santos – businesswoman
• Grace Beverley – founder of Tala and Shreddy

Food and Cooking

• Thomasina Miers – chef and founder of Wahaca restaurants
• Henrietta Lovell – founder of the Rare Tea Company

Education and Learning

• Eleanora Carus-Wilson – historian
• Sheila Forbes – principal of St Hilda's College, Oxford
• Henrietta Harrison – professor at the University of Oxford
• Jessica Rawson – warden of Merton College, Oxford
• Joan Robinson – economist

Helping Others: Humanitarian Work

• Myrtle Solomon – pacifist and activist

Law and Justice

• Sonia Proudman – High Court Judge

Journalism and Media

Politics and Government

• Jane Bonham Carter – Liberal Democrat politician
• Vicky Ford – Conservative Member of Parliament (MP)
• Harriet Harman – Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and former Cabinet minister
• Susan Kramer – former Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP)
• Shirley Williams – former Labour Education Secretary and co-founder of the Social Democratic Party

Science and Research

• Kate Bingham – venture capitalist
• Rosalind Franklin – scientist who helped discover the structure of DNA
• Christine Hamill – mathematician
• Kathleen Kenyon – archaeologist
• Irene Manton – botanist
• Sidnie Manton – entomologist
• Onora O'Neill – philosopher
• Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin – astronomer
• Catherine Peckham – doctor and scientist
• Joan Beauchamp Procter – zoologist

Sports Stars

• Kitty Godfree – tennis player
• Lara Prior-Palmer – equestrian
• Zoe de Toledo – rower

Notable Former Staff

Some other notable people who have taught at St Paul's Girls' School include:

• Margaret Cole – socialist politician and Classics teacher
• Nicola LeFanu – director of music in the 1970s
• Clara Taylor – chemist and science teacher