St. Paul's School for Girls

What St. Paul's School for Girls does

St Paul's School for Girls is a state-funded Catholic secondary school located on Vernon Road in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom, serving girls aged 11–18 across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 (Years 7–13, including Sixth Form). Founded on 7 October 1908 by the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle under Bishop Ilsley with Mother Genevieve Dupuis as the founding figure, the school has operated continuously for over 115 years and remains affiliated with the founding religious order through ongoing trusteeship. Core delivery centres on a full GCSE and A-Level curriculum supplemented by distinctive extracurricular programmes — most notably 492 Squadron Air Cadets (the first and only school-run all-girl RAF Air Cadets flight in the UK, launched September 2014), Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers, SPG Radio (student-led), Guardian Angels peer leadership, and a Learning Hub with library and IT facilities. The school consistently places in the top 1% nationally for academic results, with 91% of GCSE grades at 9–4 (national average 67%), 100% A-Level A*-D pass rate, and was ranked No. 3 in The Times 2025 Top 10 Comprehensive Schools in the UK.

The operating technology stack is built around Firefly as the virtual learning environment, Microsoft Teams (free for all students) for live and remote lessons, and a portfolio of curriculum-specific platforms including MathsWatch, Kerboodle, PiXL Apps, Tassomai, and Unifrog for careers guidance. Operational systems include Arbor Payments for parent billing, Dine with MiQuill for catering, and The Giving Machine for fundraising. The school also operates a SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) via St Paul's Caritas Christi Schools, positioning it as a Lead School for teacher development. Governance is provided by a board of governors under the trusteeship associated with its Catholic foundation, with oversight from OFSTED (rated Outstanding for pastoral care, May 2017) and the Archdiocese of Birmingham (Section 48 Report, October 2021).

The business model is that of a UK state-funded comprehensive: core revenue derives from per-pupil government grant funding allocated via the local authority, with no tuition charged. Optional paid services — uniforms, school meals, stationery from the Learning Hub, school trips — and charitable fundraising (The Giving Machine, PTFA) represent ancillary income streams. Admissions are faith-based and selective, with applicants required to meet Catholic admissions criteria alongside academic assessment. Geographic scope is single-city (Birmingham) with no disclosed international or multi-site operations. Marketing and community engagement are delivered through the school website, headteacher social media (@DrCasserly on X.com), the SPG Podcast, and regular news/events content.

Name

St. Paul's School for Girls

Legal name

St Paul's School for Girls

Website

https://stpaulgl.bham.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St Paul's School for Girls is a state-funded Catholic secondary school in Edgbaston, Birmingham, founded 1908, serving girls aged 11–18 (Years 7–13) with a top-1%-nationally ranked GCSE and A-Level curriculum and distinctive extracurricular programmes including the UK's first school-run Air Cadets flight.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Single-Sex (Boys/Girls) Private Schools (EDAJABAK)

Keywords

• Catholic secondary education
• GCSE and A-Level
• Girls school programs
• Sixth Form education
• Pastoral care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

St Paul's School for Girls is a state-funded Catholic secondary school for girls aged 11-18 (Years 7-13), delivering GCSE and A-Level academic education grounded in the mission of the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle. It offers a comprehensive curriculum across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, alongside distinct programs including the Air Cadets 492DF detachment, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at Bronze/Silver/Gold levels, Sixth Form provision, and a wide range of extracurricular activities, with strong pastoral care and spiritual formation.

Product overview

St Paul's School for Girls offers a comprehensive educational program as a single unified institution. The core product is its academic curriculum spanning Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 with GCSE and A-Level offerings. This is supplemented by student leadership programs (Guardian Angels, Peer Mentors), youth achievement programs (Duke of Edinburgh's Award), specialized extracurricular activities (Air Cadets 492DF, SPG Radio), a Learning Hub, and diverse clubs and sports. The school integrates digital learning platforms including Firefly (VLE), Microsoft Teams (remote lessons), and various educational tools for curriculum delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary School Education (GCSE Program) Comprehensive academic curriculum across Key Stages 3 and 4 (Years 7-11) for girls aged 11-16, culminating in GCSE qualifications across Sciences, Humanities, Languages, Arts, and Social Sciences. Consistently places in the top 1% nationally for results (91% grades 9-4 in 2025 GCSEs).
• Sixth Form (A-Level Program) Post-16 education (Years 12-13) offering A-Level subjects following AQA specifications (including Sociology, Psychology, Politics) for girls aged 16-18. Includes personalised university destinations support via Unifrog and a dedicated Sixth Form Bursary for eligible students. 100% A*-D pass rate in 2025.
• Air Cadets (492DF Detachment) 492DF (detached flight) - the first and only all-girl Air Cadets flight in the Air Training Corps, partnered with 492 Squadron. Cadets participate in team building, aircraft modelling, first aid, rowing, and national competitions, running Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30pm-5:30pm.
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award Program Youth achievement program offered at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels for students in Years 10-13. Students complete Volunteering, Skills, Physical, and Expedition sections as nationally recognized qualifications.
• Extra Curricular Activities Program Wide variety of clubs and activities including sports teams, debating competitions, Birmingham Catholic Partnership events, and MFL spelling bees, enriching student life beyond the classroom.
• Train to Teach (SCITT) Program School-led initial teacher training program (SCITT) for prospective teachers, including subjects on offer for 2026-2027, a School Experience Programme, and frequently asked questions for applicants. Positions the school as a Lead School for teacher training.
• Learning Hub (Library and Study Centre) Library and study area offering themed reading months, IT resources, homework club, and a stationery shop for students.
• Student Leadership and Peer Support Programs Combined student leadership and peer support programs: Guardian Angels (Year 10 pupils supporting younger students with friendship, academic, and social matters, with Year 11 pupils advancing to Archangel status) and Peer Mentors (trained peer mentors providing academic help, emotional support, and guidance to younger students).
• SPG Radio Student-led radio station broadcasting lunchtime shows and Wednesday morning programming, managed by sixth form students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of GCSE grades at 9-4 (National average 67%)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2019Medical students from the University of Birmingham led the Restart A Heart Day event, teaching CPR to Years 7, 8 and Sixth Form students.
• 492 Squadron (RAF Air Cadets)coreOthers · 1 September 2014The school operates 492DF (detached flight), the first and only all-girl flight in the Air Training Corps. Cadets participate in team building, aircraft modelling, first aid, rowing, and national competitions. The program runs Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30pm-5:30pm and includes sports activities.
• Duke of Edinburgh's AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014The school offers the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels for students in Years 10-13. Students complete Volunteering, Skills, Physical, and Expedition sections.
• Sisters of Charity of St Paul the ApostlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe founding religious order of the school in 1908. The order continues to support and maintain connection with the school through ongoing trusteeship and spiritual guidance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bishop Challoner Catholic College: Catholic secondary school in Birmingham serving a similar faith-based student population. Comparable as a fellow Catholic secondary in the same city competing for the same baptised-Catholic applicant pool.
• Wolverhampton Girls' High School: State-funded selective girls' school in the West Midlands with strong academic results. Comparable as a top-performing state girls' grammar competing for high-achieving West Midlands families and producing similar university destinations.
• King Edward VI High School for Girls: Selective state-funded girls' school in Birmingham, consistently ranked among the top girls' schools in the UK. Directly comparable as a high-performing Birmingham girls' secondary competing for the same parental demographic and feeder primary schools.
• Withington Girls' School: Independent girls' school in Manchester consistently ranked among the UK's top schools academically. Comparable as a high-achieving single-sex girls' school with strong pastoral care, broad extracurriculars, and Oxbridge progression.
• James Allen's Girls' School (JAGS): Independent girls' day school in London with strong academic outcomes and extensive extracurricular programs. Comparable as a top-tier girls' school offering GCSE and A-Level education with similar pastoral and enrichment emphasis, though in the independent sector.
• The Henrietta Barnett School: State-funded selective girls' school in London consistently ranked among the top secondary schools nationally. Comparable as a high-achieving state girls' school with a similar selective, high-results profile, though operating in a different region.
• Edgbaston High School for Girls: Independent girls' school located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, the same neighborhood as the subject. Comparable as a single-sex girls' secondary competing for the same Birmingham Catholic/values-oriented family segment, though positioned in the independent rather than state sector.

Emerging players

• Holy Trinity Catholic School: Catholic secondary school in the West Midlands area. Comparable as a faith-based secondary in the same broader region, though operates with different demographic scale and selective criteria.
• St Mary's Catholic School, Bishop's Stortford: Catholic girls' school in Hertfordshire serving a similar faith-based cohort. Comparable as a Catholic girls' secondary with values-based education, though operating in a different region and a different age range.

Others

• Caritas Christi Schools (St Paul's SCITT): St Paul's School for Girls operates as a Lead School for the Caritas Christi SCITT teacher training partnership, with related schools in the St Paul's Caritas Christi network. Comparable as an ecosystem partner in Catholic education and teacher development rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DrCasserly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/stpaulsgirlsbirmingham

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Paul's School for Girls