The
best way to get a sense of what it’s like to be at St Paul’s is to
listen to the girls. They all stress the need to be prepared to try
anything and everything that interests you – and not to be afraid that
you’ll stand out from the crowd.
"This school is not a sausage factory – quite the reverse," says one
year 10. "We’re encouraged to be individuals and to enjoy our
differences.”
A year 11 echoes, “It’s easy to fit in. You could be anyone from
anywhere and be happy here. You just have to join in and enjoy the
opportunities you get."
They
are also expected to take considerable responsibility for organising
their own time, setting their academic priorities and looking after
each other. "Being here is so exciting and there’s so much you don’t
want to miss, so you become very good at time-management, very
quickly," says a year 8.
Girls on the school council recently developed a code by which they
believe the school should operate – RESPECT: Responsibility,
Enthusiasm, Sensitivity, Politeness, Enjoyment, Courtesy, Trust. "We
asked the teachers to leave so that we could debate the moral rules we
felt should guide us without feeling inhibited," explains a year 12.
That means looking after each other. "We try to help each other,"
explains a year 13. "If you’re looking down, someone will always ask
what’s up and help you through any problems. It’s competitive but
supportive here. People aren’t selfish – they’re kind."
Who we are 
The
best way to get a sense of what it’s like to be at St Paul’s is to
listen to the girls. They all stress the need to be prepared to try
anything and everything that interests you – and not to be afraid that
you’ll stand out from the crowd.
They
are also expected to take considerable responsibility for organising
their own time, setting their academic priorities and looking after
each other. "Being here is so exciting and there’s so much you don’t
want to miss, so you become very good at time-management, very
quickly," says a year 8.