St Paul’s Cathedral School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Guide

About St Paul’s Cathedral School

St Paul’s Cathedral School, in the shadow of the Cathedral in the City of London, takes day pupils at three main entry ages: 4+ (Reception), 7+ (Year 3) and 11+ (Year 7).

Separately from that day-pupil route, the school also admits choristers, boys and girls, from age 7, through a distinct process run by the Cathedral Music Department rather than the school’s academic admissions team. The two routes are worth keeping apart in your planning, since they lead to very different assessment days and very different fees.

Key information for 2027 entry to St Paul’s Cathedral School at 7 Plus (7+)

• School type: co-educational, St Paul’s Churchyard, City of London
• Day-pupil entry ages: 4+ (Reception), 7+ (Year 3) and 11+ (Year 7)
• Day-pupil 7+ format: a brief assessment in maths and English, plus a reference from the current school and a day in school; the school states no prior preparation is required
• Assessment is held in the January before September entry; an exact date isn’t published
• Registration fee £150, non-refundable
• Scholarships are offered at 11+ only; means-tested bursaries are available generally
• Separately, choristers join from age 7 via the Cathedral Music Department’s Voice Trial, held throughout the year; contact is via the Director of Music’s office to arrange an informal audition first
• Choristership: the Cathedral Chapter covers full tuition fees, so parents pay boarding only, quoted at £4,366 per term, with means-tested help up to 100% available from the Chorister Trust
• Boy choristers board; a girls’ boarding programme has been running from September 2025

Admissions information for 2027 entry to St Paul’s Cathedral School at 7 Plus (7+)

For day pupils, the 7+ assessment happens in January before September entry, though the school doesn’t publish an exact date each year, so confirm it with admissions once you’ve registered. The school is explicit that no prior preparation is required for the day-pupil assessment, which is closer to a genuine reassurance than most schools offer.

The chorister route runs entirely separately. Auditions for the Voice Trial happen throughout the year rather than on one fixed day, and the first step is contacting the Director of Music’s office to arrange an informal audition, not registering through the standard admissions process. Financially it is a different proposition too: the Cathedral Chapter pays full tuition for choristers, so the fee that lands on parents is boarding only, quoted at £4,366 per term, with means-tested help available on top from the Chorister Trust.

How can I register my child for the 7 Plus (7+) assessment at St Paul’s Cathedral School?

For the day-pupil route, register through spcslondon.com with the £150 fee, and the school will confirm the January assessment date once you’re in the process. For the chorister route, contact the Director of Music’s secretary directly to arrange an informal audition; this runs alongside, not instead of, meeting the school’s standard admission requirements.

What is the 7 Plus (7+) assessment format at St Paul’s Cathedral School?

Day pupils sit a brief assessment in maths and English, alongside a day spent in the school and a reference from their current school. The school states plainly that no prior preparation is required.

Because the school itself downplays preparation, the useful work is making sure your child is comfortable with ordinary Year 2 maths and English and at ease spending a day somewhere new, rather than drilling for a long written paper.

St Paul’s Cathedral School 7 Plus (7+) top tips for your child

• Take the school’s ‘no prior preparation required’ line at face value for the day-pupil route
• Keep maths and English at a comfortable Year 2 level rather than pushing further
• If your child sings, contact the Director of Music’s office early for an informal Voice Trial audition
• Remember the two routes need separate contacts: admissions for day-pupil entry, the Music Department for choristers
• Ask about means-tested help through the Chorister Trust if the boarding fee is a barrier to the choristership

How to prepare your child for the 7 Plus (7+) St Paul’s Cathedral School assessment

Our 7+ English and maths packs below cover exactly the two subjects in the day-pupil assessment, with full answers for marking together. They are aimed at the academic route; those pursuing a choristership should focus preparation on singing with the Director of Music’s office instead.