As part of a commitment both to improving the educational landscape through sharing expertise and best practice and to bringing together schools who share a philosophical approach, we are forming the St Paul’s School Group.

St Paul’s is known internationally for its academic standards¹ and excellence of extracurricular provision². The school has a proven track record of effective strategic planning and budgeting alongside strong pastoral expertise. This is underpinned by a commitment to social mobility, equality, diversity and inclusion³, as well as significant strengths and centres of innovation4 across the school. Since the school was founded in 1509, it has stood for educational strength, and today this is embedded in joyful scholarship with care for the individual child at the heart of the offer.

At this moment of change within the independent sector and from this position of strength, the desire is to protect choice for parents and safeguard the opportunities independent schools provide to wider society, by bringing together a strong group of like-minded not-for-profit schools. Discussions have been opened with a small number of leading London preparatory schools who have a natural fit with the Paul’s School model – with the appetite for an ongoing dialogue with others. St Paul’s School has enjoyed longstanding relationships with Durston House and the Shrewsbury House School Trust, from which several current and former pupils have come to the School over the years, and is delighted that they are joining as founding members of the Group. Each school benefits from strong leadership and offers an outstanding education in their own right. Importantly, each school brings their own unique identity and it is from this shared position of strength that this coalition is born.

1. Highest achieving boys’ school in the country (Sunday Times Parent Power) December 2024. Shortlisted for Independent Senior School of the Year (TES Schools Awards) April 2025
2. Awarded a significant strength for the school’s extracurricular provision (Independent Schools Inspectorate) March 2025
3. Finalist in the following categories: Bursary Support; Enveloping EDI in the Curriculum; Developing School Partnerships (Education Choices Awards) June 2025. Finalist in Independent School of the Year for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Justice (Independent Schools of the Year Awards) July 2025
4. Winner of Best for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (The Week Independent Schools Guide) August 2025. The School’s Firefly racing team were crowned winners of the Ford International Engineering Award for the fourth consecutive year (Greenpower) October 2025

Shrewsbury House School Trust Awards

1. Best Head of a Prep School (Tatler Schools Guide) September 2024-5
2. “Leaders’ clear focus on pupils’ wellbeing through the highly integrated system of tracking and monitoring is a significant strength of the school” is a significant strength (Independent Schools Inspectorate) November 2025
3. Finalists for Pastoral Care and Wellbeing and Innovation in Education (Talk Education) September 2024
4. Finalists for Developing Student Voice, Opportunities in Art and Music and Diversity and Inclusion in Sport (Education Choices Awards) 2025
5. Finalist for Independent Prep School of the Year (Independent Schools of the Year Awards) July 2025
6. Finalists for Head of the Year and Independent School of the Year (Education Today – Schools Today) October 2025.

Durston House Awards

1. Founding school member of AI in education, working in collaboration with Oxford University (AIEOU). Deputy Head Lauren Vallely, presented at inaugural AI in Education Conference, September 2025
2. Prestigious Mentoring Award, reflecting the School’s focus on building a strong mentoring culture (Oppidan Education) 2025
3. Since 2020, 18 St Paul’s academic scholarships have been awarded to Durston House pupils.

Going forward, Durston House and the Shrewsbury House School Trust will be referred to as being part of the St Paul’s School Group. Each school will continue to retain their full identity as separate schools with individual names, brands and leadership.

Since its founding in 1509, St Paul’s has embodied educational excellence, now expressed through a spirit of joyful scholarship and a deep commitment to the individual care of every child at its heart. Each of the schools in the Group will continue to operate as individual entities – there is no expectation of a change of model or approach and families will see no immediate changes to their children’s education. The governing bodies of the Prep schools will now incorporate members from the St Paul’s governing body and additional support, and expertise will be shared across the Group.

Each of the schools in the Group will bring specialisms and expertise which can be shared and enhanced. St Paul’s School has earned a national and international reputation as one of the most academic boys’ schools in the world. Going forward, they are in a position to play a more visible role in education leadership based on a unique model of more liberal, discussion-based teaching. The Group will provide them with a platform to share innovation and expertise in their areas of strength, such as entrepreneurship, coaching and advocating for boys, and US admissions.

Over time it is the intention that there will also be positive change effected through the sharing of expertise and best practice. They also anticipate potential cost savings through the exploration of shared resources, bringing benefits to all pupils and families. Each school will still have their own Head and Senior Leadership Team who will continue running each school, ensuring there is a consistent, positive impact on the quality of education being offered.

As part of this decision, to reflect the structure of the St Paul’s Group and ahead of moving into their new home in January 2026, St Paul’s Juniors will be renamed St Paul’s Prep School.