St Paul's Cathedral School stands as one of England's oldest educational institutions, tracing its roots to the foundation of St Paul's Cathedral in AD 604. This independent preparatory school for boys and girls aged 4 to 13 occupies a unique position in British education, serving both as a day school for up to 240 pupils and as the residential choir school for the 32-36 choristers of St Paul's Cathedral. Located at 2 New Change in the City of London, the school became co-educational in 2002 and introduced a girls' chorister boarding programme in September 2025. Day fees for 2025-26 range from £7,218 per term in Reception to £7,770 per term for older years, including VAT and lunches, while chorister families pay £4,366 per term for boarding (with full tuition covered by the Cathedral Chapter and means-tested assistance available).
Founded as a song school alongside St Paul's Cathedral in 604 AD, the institution formally established its Choir School around 1123, when eight boys in need of alms received education and accommodation in exchange for singing the Cathedral Office. For centuries, a Grammar School existed alongside the Choir School until Dean Colet refounded the former as St Paul's School in 1511. During the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, the Children of St Paul's gained fame for theatrical performances at Greenwich Palace before Queen Elizabeth I. After the Restoration, campaigner Maria Hackett's sixty-year advocacy led to a purpose-built school opening in Carter Lane in 1874. The school moved to its current New Change site in the 1960s when road-widening threatened the previous building.
Today's school maintains deep connections to its choral heritage while offering a rounded preparatory education grounded in Christian values of love, justice, tolerance, respect, honesty, service, and trust. Parents describe an "exceptional ethos" that gives pupils "a strong sense of being also rooted in a community". The school's 2017 ISI inspection awarded the highest accolade of 'Excellent' in both educational attainment and pupil progress. Under the leadership of Head Judith Fremont-Barnes, who joined in September 2023, the school balances the professional demands of daily cathedral worship with a nurturing environment where pupils are described as "delightful, self-possessed plus well behaved, yet with an also obvious sense of fun".
As an independent preparatory school, St Paul's Cathedral School does not publish KS2 SATs results or sit mainstream state examinations. Instead, pupils follow a broad curriculum preparing them for selective 11+ and 13+ entry to London day schools and national boarding schools via Common Entrance examinations. The school's ISI 2017 inspection rated both educational attainment and pupil progress as 'Excellent', and teachers are recognised for providing "individual attention and innovation" with an average class size of 15 across two classes per year group.
Academic preparation is rigorous, with over 50% of all leavers winning academic, music, art, sport, or all-rounder scholarships to their next schools. Recent years have seen awards to Winchester, Queen's College Taunton, Harrow, Lancing College, King's School Canterbury, King's Ely, Trinity School and Rugby School, among others. For choristers, the demands are particularly intense: alongside a full academic timetable, they attend daily morning and afternoon rehearsals and sing evensong in the cathedral every day of term. Yet the school's structure ensures these pupils remain fully integrated into school life, participating in sports, extracurricular clubs, and pastoral activities alongside their day-pupil peers.
Specialist support is available for the 11 pupils identified with SEND, who receive targeted learning assistance. The school's 2024 ISI non-routine inspection confirmed that safeguarding and welfare arrangements are in place, though it noted that boarding provision for the newly introduced female choristers required development to match that available to boys—plans addressed by the September 2025 opening of purpose-designed girls' boarding facilities.
Music defines daily life at St Paul's Cathedral School, with over 90% of pupils participating in a choir or instrumental ensemble. Beyond the Cathedral Choir itself, the school runs five school choirs, an orchestra, and eight chamber groups. All pupils learn an instrument in class, and from Year 3 onwards take individual instrumental lessons. Pupils regularly achieve ABRSM Grades 7 and 8 by age 13, and approximately 50% of 13+ leavers gain music awards to their senior schools. The choristers have performed at state occasions including the funerals of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher and the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Physical facilities reflect the constraints and opportunities of a City location. The school occupies one site with a separate Pre-Prep department, an excellent science laboratory, an ICT room, two outdoor play areas, and a hall used for PE and assemblies. Games lessons take place at nearby venues including Finsbury Leisure Centre, John Orwell Sports Centre, Archbishop's Park, and City Sport. Pupils enjoy access to between 10 and 15 sports over the year, with competitive teams from Year 3 upwards in football, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis, and tag rugby. The school has enjoyed national success in football in recent years, and fixtures are played regularly throughout the academic year.
The boarding house, reconstructed for the 2025-26 academic year, spans multiple floors with over 420 square metres dedicated to 36 beds arranged in groups of six, supplemented by common rooms, a cinema room, bathrooms, quiet social areas, and staff accommodation. Boarders follow a structured timetable balancing rehearsals, cathedral services, academic work, and recreational activities including a varied programme of evening and weekend clubs.
Art and drama are taught as discrete subjects to all pupils, with termly productions and regular exhibitions. The school's location in the historic City of London offers unique enrichment opportunities, including easy access to museums, galleries, and cultural institutions.
St Paul's Cathedral School does not function as a traditional feeder to any single senior school. Instead, pupils move on to over 30 independent day and boarding schools at both 11+ and 13+. Roughly half of pupils (predominantly girls) leave after Year 6 for London day schools, while most boys continue to Year 8 for Common Entrance at 13+.
Recent destinations include City of London School for Girls, City of London School for Boys, Westminster, Francis Holland (both Regent's Park and Sloane Square), Highgate, Channing, Forest School, Dulwich College, South Hampstead, University College School, North Bridge House, Queen's College, St Marylebone, and Blackheath High School at 11+. At 13+, leavers have progressed to Eton, Winchester, Radley, Harrow, King's Canterbury, Oundle, Bedford, Rugby, Uppingham, Bradfield, New Hall Chelmsford, and St Albans.
The breadth of scholarship success—spanning academic, music, sport, art, and all-rounder awards—demonstrates the school's effectiveness in preparing pupils for rigorous secondary environments. The exceptional music provision ensures choristers are particularly competitive for music scholarships, though the school's approach emphasises finding the best individual fit for each child rather than steering cohorts toward particular destinations.
Entry to St Paul's Cathedral School is available at 4+ and 7+, with occasional places in other year groups as they arise. The 4+ entry assessment takes place in November preceding the September start, while 7+ entry is held in January. At 7+, candidates sit a short test and spend a day in school to allow teachers to assess academic potential and social fit. A registration fee of £100 is payable before a child can be registered.
Chorister voice trials for boys aged 6 to 8 are held throughout the year, and since September 2025, girls have also been eligible for choristerships with full boarding provision. Choristerships represent exceptional value: the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral covers full tuition fees, with parents paying only the £4,366 per term boarding fee, for which means-tested assistance up to 100% is available from the Chorister Trust. A £300 deposit is required when a chorister joins.
At 11+, the school offers up to eight scholarships annually (with a maximum of four for existing pupils) across four categories: Academic, Music, Sport, and Art. Competition for places is selective, reflecting the school's academic standards, specialist music provision, and prime City location. Families typically come from across Greater London and the Home Counties, drawn by the unique combination of choral education, strong academic preparation, and the school's historic character. The school does not publish specific admissions statistics or catchment distances, and entry is not governed by local authority allocation processes.
St Paul's Cathedral School occupies a distinctive niche in the independent school landscape. For families seeking a richly musical preparatory education steeped in centuries of choral tradition, it offers an unparalleled environment. The daily rhythms of cathedral worship, the professional standard of musical training, and the school's intimate connection to one of London's most iconic buildings create an experience few schools can replicate. Academic results and scholarship success demonstrate that this specialist focus does not come at the expense of broader educational outcomes: pupils leave well-prepared for competitive 11+ and 13+ entry, with over half winning awards.
The school's small size—approximately 260 pupils with an average class size of 15—ensures individual attention, and the ethos of pastoral care earns consistent praise. However, prospective families should weigh the realities of a City location: outdoor space is limited, games lessons require travel to external facilities, and the school's compact footprint lacks the extensive grounds typical of suburban or rural prep schools. For choristers, the commitment is considerable, with daily rehearsals and services demanding discipline and stamina alongside academic study.
Families will also want to note that the school's 2024 ISI inspection identified areas requiring regulatory compliance, specifically regarding equality of boarding provision for the newly introduced female choristers—gaps the school addressed with new facilities for September 2025. As an independent school, St Paul's Cathedral School is not subject to Ofsted inspection, and comparative performance data against state primaries is not available.
For the right child—particularly one with musical aptitude and an affinity for the choral tradition—St Paul's Cathedral School offers a rare and enriching education. Its unique heritage, specialist provision, and strong academic foundations make it a compelling choice for families who value music, faith, and a close-knit community in the heart of London.
St Paul's Cathedral School received 'Excellent' ratings in both educational attainment and pupil progress in its 2017 ISI inspection, the highest accolade available. Over 50% of leavers win academic or specialist scholarships to leading senior schools including Westminster, Eton, Winchester, City of London, and Highgate. The school's exceptional music provision, with over 90% of pupils in ensembles and 50% of 13+ leavers gaining music awards, sets it apart nationally. Parents praise the pastoral care and individual attention enabled by small class sizes averaging 15 pupils. However, as an independent preparatory school, it does not publish KS2 data or participate in state performance tables, making direct comparisons with maintained schools difficult.
Applications are made directly to the school for 4+ or 7+ entry. For 4+ entry, assessments are held in November before the September start; for 7+ entry, assessments take place in January. Candidates sit a short test and spend a day in school. A £100 registration fee is required. Chorister voice trials for boys and girls aged 6-8 are held throughout the year. At 11+, up to eight scholarships in Academic, Music, Sport, and Art are available annually. Visit the school's admissions page at www.spcslondon.com or contact admissions@spcs.london.sch.uk or 020 7248 5156 for full details and to arrange a visit.
Day fees for 2025-26 range from £7,218 per term in Reception to £7,770 per term for older year groups, including VAT and lunches. Choristers receive full tuition funded by the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral, with parents paying £4,366 per term (£13,098 per year) for boarding. Means-tested assistance up to 100% of the boarding fee is available from the Chorister Trust, making choristerships accessible to families across income levels. A £300 deposit is payable when a chorister joins, and a £100 registration fee applies to all applicants.
St Paul's Cathedral School is one of the oldest schools in England, with roots dating to AD 604, and the only co-educational choir school serving St Paul's Cathedral. Up to 36 boy and girl choristers board and sing daily services in one of the world's great cathedrals while receiving a full preparatory education. Over 90% of all pupils participate in choirs or instrumental ensembles, and the school regularly achieves national success in music scholarships. Its location in the heart of the City of London, coupled with its Anglican ethos and specialist provision, creates a distinctive educational environment unmatched elsewhere.
Leavers progress to over 30 leading independent schools at 11+ and 13+. Recent destinations include City of London School (boys and girls), Westminster, Francis Holland, Highgate, Dulwich College, Eton, Winchester, Harrow, Radley, King's Canterbury, Rugby, and Uppingham. Around half the cohort (mainly girls) move on at 11+ to day schools in London; most boys stay through to 13+ for Common Entrance. Over 50% of leavers win academic, music, sport, art, or all-rounder scholarships, with choristers particularly successful in securing music awards.
Yes. The school provides full boarding for up to 36 choristers (boys and girls), who live on site and sing daily services in St Paul's Cathedral. A purpose-built boarding house opened in September 2025, offering modern facilities including beds arranged in groups of six, common rooms, a cinema room, and quiet social areas. Boarding is available from age 7 upwards. Choristers follow a structured programme balancing rehearsals, cathedral services, academic work, and recreational activities. Day pupils do not board.
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