Working at St Paul's has exceeded all my expectations and I feel as if I have "come home". I could combine my great interest in pastoral care with advanced academic work with the girls and I very much enjoy the high degree of autonomy that we teachers have here. I love everything, from teaching beginners in modern languages to reading literature with my year 13 classes, from caring for first year entrants and making them comfortable to representing the school at functions. I have different roles and enjoy exploring the variety that my job offers – there is never a boring minute.
Biology teacher
I was a little bit apprehensive moving to an institution with such a reputation but I have been made to feel part of the community from day one. I am enjoying teaching so much more than in other places – instead of going home feeling exhausted and frustrated, I am still exhausted but feel challenged and stimulated to delve even further into my own subject.
History teacher
For the teacher, St Paul's is extraordinarily rewarding. First, because the pupils are chosen not only for their ability but also for their curiosity, they are eminently teachable. After more than 20 years of teaching here, I particularly enjoy the way their buoyancy permeates the school: the mid-teens dip of which I sometimes hear colleagues complain in other schools does not seem to be a problem here (and year 9 is a lovely year to teach). Love to know, the title of a question and answer website, fits most of them! St Paul's allows one both to enjoy teaching and to cultivate the scholarly aspect of a subject; to see the A-level girls queuing up to have, say, Prof William Doyle sign their copies of The Oxford History of the French Revolution exemplifies their respect for knowledge and expertise.
Drama teacher
I applied to work at St Paul's because I was ready for a change. Having spent five years in the state sector and been involved in the government's Fast Track Teaching programme I was keen to discover how other education systems worked and St Paul's was a brilliant opportunity for me to do so. It was therefore very exciting to have my preconceptions of working in the independent sector shattered in my first term at St Paul's. The emphasis on extra-curricular activities and pastoral care is fantastic and the opportunities available to the girls before they even set foot in a classroom are phenomenal. The girls are brilliant to work with and the support structures for staff are extremely well considered.
Member of support staff
St Paul's is a special place to work because it has friendly, supportive and inspiring staff. It is a pleasure to work in as the surroundings and facilities are way above any school I have worked in before. It also gives you the confidence that you can aspire to anything.
Who we are 