In 1509, the humanist scholar John Colet founded a school in the grounds of St Paul's Cathedral to educate "the children of all nations and countries" and prepare young men from modest backgrounds for a career in the Church. He appointed a London guild, the Mercers' Company, to manage the foundation after his death. The boys' school is now in Barnes, across the River Thames from our own site.

By the start of the 20th century, the St Paul's foundation considered that girls should also be able to benefit from the school's mission. Frances Gray, a leading figure in the women's education movement, became the first high mistress of St Paul's Girls' School. Our central building, designed by Gerald Horsley, is now listed as a site of architectural interest.

The school's first director of music was the composer Gustav Holst, who wrote his famous suite The Planets while he worked here and composed the St Paul's Suite for the school orchestra to play at the opening of the new music wing in 1913. Today, the music wing is named after him.

Hundreds of thousands of girls have enjoyed a St Paul's education since the school opened in 1904. In the sciences, the arts, academia, politics and their own families, St Paul's alumnae have been inspired by the confidence we nurtured to help shape the world as we know it.