St Paul's Girls School (spgs)

Maths/Further Maths: Department's great, especially since Miss Darwin's going on maternity leave
Economics: One guy department called Mr Turner, he seems nice if you like his subject (we don't do economics before a-level, so he'll treat all you guys equally in terms of liking his subject)
French: I have to say I haven't done French since Year 9 ... I think Hallie does it though, I'll ask her =P
Physics: If you like the subject, you'll love the teachers. Dr Slaski is a bit of a legend (aka the Slaskinator) who drops innuendos that *could* have been because he's bad at English ALL THE TIME and Dr Lee is ridiculously tall and crazy in a good way.
German: YAY I'm taking German - we seem to be getting most of the teachers in the department. Frau Barth (language/grammar) I personally like though she seems to bear a grudge against slackers; Frau Frank/Barker (...I'm not sure) - stern but I think she grows on you; Frau Alice (conversation) is the best teacher I've ever had but she's actually insane; Frau Boothman (literature) - apparently a bit boring, but ah well. Literature.

Coming to the induction day on the 25th? =D

Hey all,

I'd heard about some new 6th popping up on TSR so I thought I'd butt in . I'm Hallie. HI NAT!

Basically I'm one of those people that loves the school very much and end up passionatley defending it (in all areas except the new administration and Miss Stalin - ewww). I really can't imagine being anywhere else or wanting to leave. I know it's not that way for everyone though. I'll try and add my little opinion to stuff other people have said...

The work! Haaa I remember back in year 6 all the junior school mothers insisting that we die of stress and spend our existence shaking in classrooms popping anti-depressants as the only food we ever eat...NOT like that!

Basically, if you don't want to work, you don't have to (though I'm sure this changes with AS's and the fact that you like what you're doing). It depends on your teacher, but it's hard to get really in trouble for not working as long as you sort of keep up appearances with the occasional homework and don't skip lessons. Compared to other schools I hear about, we have very few rules. But on the flip side, people are motivated to do well (no matter how many times you hear 'what was the homework? Oh well I'm not gonna do it', you will never hear 'I just won't revise for my GCSE and get a C' uttered in earnest) and in my experience people like to seem intelligent, particularly in a witty or observant way - you want to sound articulate, know what's going on in the world etc. It's certainly not considered uncool or nerdy to do well. What is considered bad form is to be overly competitive (at least openly ) or be constantly going on and on about work. Everyone seems to find the level of work they're comfortable with and be able to do well on that. And if teachers think you're 'struggling' and not just slacking, they will make an effort to help you out, and will always pay attention if you ask them for help.

Which brings me on to the teachers, because I have to say that they're awesome. They love their subject and they're total characters most of them. The relationship between them and the students in the sixth form particularly is great.

Clothes! OK need to admit something - I do notice what people wear. If I think someone is dressing in a particularly bad way, I will notice it. What I won't do is think any worse of them as an individual for it or treat them differently. I think it's an important distinction. There definitely isn't a culture of having to wear expensive clothes at all, which I think someone mentioned. It's nice to look nice, but seriously you're thought worse of if you insist on wearing designer stuff all the time just to prove a point - that's why basically no one does this

Are we bitchy? In my fairly limited experience derived from what I hear/know about other schools, we're better, but that doesn't mean it's all rainbows. We're teenage girls. But in my experience of the year at least, everyone's got friends who look out for them, and everyone's nice to other people wherever you may come across them - queues, lockers, lessons blah blah. There is NOT that ridiculous US high school movie style thing where people roam the hallways glaring at underlings. Don't expect that at all. That doesn't mean we don't conceal the occasional bitchy resentment, but really, it's not a bad atmosphere at all.

God I'm writing a lot. Sorry.

So my advice to anyone...as was mentinoned above - be nice and friendly! And a big thing I'd say is, don't be quick to stereotype people as 'Paulina' or 'typical private-school girl' or whatever. People can surprise you!

So, look forward to meeting you guys!

I go to SPGS as well, or did. I'm in the last year so just finished forever a few weeks ago and I hope that this comment won't be tinged by nostalgia but here goes...

I loved the school, I was incredibly happy and got a lot out of it. Then again, I was lucky enough to have a great set of friends and to really want to be there. A lot of the people who were unhappy with the school in my year had been forced to go there by pushy parents and ended up leaving anyway. As far as drugs and eating disorders go, I don't think the school is any worse than normal, and I also don't think that the school itself really has an effect on those kind of things.
It's really brave of you to move to a new school, and its true what other people on here have said - you will be judged primarily on how friendly you are. Of course people look at each others clothes. Who doesn't? But there is no culture of having to wear any style or brand to fit in. And to be honest, especially in the sixth form, you will find that everyone is so busy that they end up just wearing trackies and stuff anyway.
What I would say is:
1. Take advantage of the fact that most of the teachers are amazing and if you need help go to them. They are always happy to give you extra work and help you with something you don't understand. If you don't get on with your subject teacher, ask your form teacher or another person in the department to help you.

2. Join in everything you can. I am only just realising how many work placements/activities/competitions the school tells you about, and it can get overwhelming. But it has so many great connections, you should use all of them.

Of course there are bad things, the new administration in particular are awful fascists and there is a constant expectation that you will be overachieving. But I really did love it. I miss it already.

Oooh fun to see this thread has come back again. I wrote to the 'buddy' I've been assigned (we were only given postal addresses, not sure if the letter-writing will come off charming or creepy!) so I'm getting excited for induction day...also because then exams will be over.

@Mincan (btw am I right in guessing Mincan is your name too or is it just your username?) - subject-wise I'm signed up for English, History, Art Hist, French and Bio, with the aim of dropping one of the last two. The idea of free periods just captivates me too much to do five! You're doing French, right? (too lazy to look downthread ) If you were wondering about teachers, our best teacher, and our arguably most amusing and incompetent teacher (SOOO french always staging mental breakdowns and sighing), both just left so the department's getting a revamp! They're the only two teachers I've ever had so I can't tell you a lot about the department, but generally I think languages are considered kind of easy and kind of fun at AS - at least that's what I've heard. The only thing to watch out for is the conversation teacher, who kind of scuttles around all smiley in her Breton stripes and loafers but you know, you just know that there is a little bit of an evil soul underneath and I'm rather terrified of her. The German convo teacher is ah-mazing though. I had her for free periods and she was such a laugh.

Well we got a house visit too, thanks though

Will you be paying the full amount then?

Hey people, I'm doing the St Pauls exams for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Religious Studies. Would anyone there know the exam boards at GCSE, that would kinda give me an idea of what their students work at and what they would expect from others. Also, if anyone who's taken the exams could exlain the difficulty, it would be of great help. Thanks

Hey people, I'm doing the St Pauls exams for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Religious Studies. Would anyone there know the exam boards at GCSE, that would kinda give me an idea of what their students work at and what they would expect from others. Also, if anyone who's taken the exams could explain the difficulty, it would be of great help. Thanks

Hi, we think that we have been subjected to same treatment by St. Paul's girls school who interviewed our daughter but did not give offer admission due to the bursary application.

we asked school if this was the case and they denied it.
They are not transparent at all on why they did not offer her a place.

All future bursary applicants be warned, if you ask them to pay your fee, you just have shot yourself in the foot or shall I say head!

Based on other exams our daughter did, we know that she should be in top 25 percent of girls in all their exams including the interview which went very well - so we strongly believe that bursary application is the reason!

very disappointed of such an iconic school to behave in this way.

please share if anyone had any experiences in this area.

Hi, we think that we have been subjected to same treatment by St. Paul's girls school who interviewed our daughter but did not give offer admission due to the bursary application.

we asked school if this was the case and they denied it.
They are not transparent at all on why they did not offer her a place.

All future bursary applicants be warned, if you ask them to pay your fee, you just have shot yourself in the foot or shall I say head!

Based on other exams our daughter did, we know that she should be in top 25 percent of girls in all their exams including the interview which went very well - so we strongly believe that bursary application is the reason!

very disappointed of such an iconic school to behave in this way.

please share if anyone had any experiences in this area.