When Canon Francis Holland founded his school in 1881, he envisioned a place where girls would be educated to become leaders and thinkers. One hundred and forty years later, that vision remains vibrantly alive at the Graham Terrace address in Belgravia. Francis Holland School, Sloane Square ranks 54th in England for GCSE results (FindMySchool ranking), placing it among the highest-performing independent schools nationally. The school educates approximately 603 girls aged 11-18, blending distinctive architecture with forward-thinking education that has earned it the Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year award in 2023. Under the leadership of Mrs Alexandra Haydon, who joined from Millfield in January 2024, the school continues its trajectory as a beacon of girls' education where creativity, innovation, and enterprise form the core of provision.
The distinctive blue railings on the corner of Graham Terrace mark Francis Holland's headquarters in the heart of Belgravia. The location provides an exceptional advantage; girls walk two minutes to Sloane Square tube station and can access London's museums, galleries, and theatres with ease. The school building reflects the Victorian era in which it was constructed, yet internally buzzes with contemporary energy and innovation.
The school's motto, derived from Psalm 144:12, establishes its foundational purpose: girls are shaped to become "the leaders, thinkers also, innovators, designers, entrepreneurs plus game-changers of tomorrow." This is not marketing speak but lived philosophy. The values of love, humility, compassion, courage, hope and thankfulness (explicitly stated in the school's Christian foundation) permeate daily life. Girls speak of feeling known, valued, and celebrated for who they are, a sentiment reflected in pastoral arrangements that begin with form groups meeting daily with two dedicated tutors.
The house system divides the school vertically into four houses named after remarkable women: Ashcroft, Fonteyn, Franklin and Woolf. Inter-house competition drives positive energy throughout the year, culminating in Sports Day, swimming galas, drama competitions, and academic contests. The Big Sisters scheme pairs each Year 7 pupil with a Year 8 mentor, ensuring no new girl arrives without someone who already cares for her welfare. Senior Pastoral Ambassadors from the sixth form provide additional support, creating a multi-layered safety net.
At GCSE in 2024, 88% of pupils achieved grades 9-7, well above the England average of 54%. In 2025, results improved to 71% achieving grades 9-8, with 87% securing grades 9-7 overall. These figures place the school in the elite tier of academic performance. The school ranks 54th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), and second within Westminster, reflecting both the calibre of intake and the effectiveness of teaching.
The consistency of results year-on-year demonstrates rigorous structure. Mathematics, sciences and languages are taught separately, ensuring depth across disciplines. Latin and Classical Greek feature in the optional subjects available at GCSE, reflecting the school's commitment to breadth rather than narrow vocational focus.
A-level results reflect continued strength. In 2024, 27% achieved A*, 67% achieved A* to A, and 94% achieved A* to B. The 2025 cohort shows improvement, with 31% at A*, 72% at A* to A, and 89% at A* to B. These figures substantially exceed England averages and demonstrate that girls maintain academic momentum through sixth form. The school ranks 70th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the top 10% nationally. The pass rate consistently reaches 100%.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
94.39%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
88%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum balances ambition with accessibility. From Year 7, pupils encounter Theology and Philosophy, sciences taught separately, and a modern foreign language. Mathematics streams at Year 4 onwards allow for tailored pacing. The school actively encourages intellectual curiosity beyond the classroom through academic enrichment initiatives, including the Lower School Enrichment Programme featuring the Curious Club and TIPS Week (Thinking Innovatively and Problem Solving) for Years 7 and 8. Year 9 participate in interdisciplinary collaborative projects with partner schools.
Teaching is described by independent inspectors as delivering knowledge with clear structure and high expectations. Class sizes are manageable, particularly at A-level, where specialisation allows for smaller groups. The school's commitment to using digital technology thoughtfully is notable; whilst each pupil has a one-to-one device, the school adopts a graduated approach to its use, guiding girls to understand when and where technology serves learning rather than replacing it. This deliberate stance reflects awareness of technology's threats to creativity and independent thought.
Every girl has a form tutor who monitors academic progress and welfare. The Head and Senior Deputy Head Pastoral maintain open doors. Beyond this, the school houses ContemPlace, a dedicated counselling team of six specialists plus Kanga, a Hungarian Vizsla therapy dog. The team offers both one-to-one counselling for girls requiring sustained support and a drop-in service during breaks and lunch. The presence of the therapy dog addresses a real need; some girls who might otherwise hesitate to seek help find the comfort of physical connection with Kanga a gateway to accessing support.
The school's mobile phone policy reflects clear values. Pupils in Years 7-8 lock phones in Yondr pouches each morning; Year 9-10 hand them in daily; Year 11 may keep phones but must switch them off at school. Sixth form have greater autonomy but face expectations of maturity.
The Wellbeing curriculum complements academics, addressing health education, relationships and sex education, study skills, citizenship and careers guidance. Learning support is available as a graduated response for pupils with identified needs; staff teach effective study skills and work with girls on note-taking, essay writing, and revision strategies, with no additional charge.
The breadth of co-curricular provision is genuinely exceptional. The school offers approximately sixty clubs, activities, and societies across diverse areas. This section identifies the most significant.
Music stands as a defining strength. The school hosts a Chapel Choir, Lower Chamber Choir, Lower School Choir, Senior Chamber Choir, Senior Choir and Senior Strings ensemble. The Musical Theatre Club, Jazz Vocal Group, Composition Club, Band Jam! and Orchestra complete the performing ensembles. Girls learning an instrument may take around ten lessons per term at individual, group, or theory level. The school's reputation for music is longstanding; Trinity and Guildhall examinations in Speech and Drama are taken by many. Visits to international venues (Athens trips are mentioned in recent inspection documentation) enrich the performing experience. Music scholars receive 5% fee reduction at 11+ entry and up to 10% at 16+ entry, indicating the school's investment in musical talent.
Drama forms the second pillar of the performing arts. Drama clubs, acting and performance coaching, LAMDA (Speech & Drama) provision, and the Lower School Drama Club run alongside the main theatrical production calendar. The school benefits from multiple performance spaces; the former Kallakis Theatre (named after a donor until his fraud conviction led to its renaming) seats audiences for student productions. Drama scholarships mirror music scholarships in value and priority.
STEAM clubs cater to diverse scientific interests. Code Breakers, Computing, Dissection Club, Engineering (Build a Go Kart), High Altitude Ballooning, STEAM Hydroponics, STEAM Construction Club, Touch Typing, and 3D Modelling and Cool CAD are all active. This range positions students for competitive STEM pathways and university applications in medicine, engineering and the physical sciences. The school's commitment to problem-solving and design thinking surfaces repeatedly in curriculum documentation.
Sports facilities are distributed across multiple sites to ensure comprehensive provision. On-site, the school maintains one netball court and a well-equipped gymnasium for indoor PE, dance, yoga, fencing and judo. A dedicated Gymnastics Club with specialist coaches offers training and culminates in an annual Gym and Dance Display. Off-site provision is substantial: most outdoor sports occur in Battersea Park, which hosts extensive grass and all-weather pitches, seven all-weather netball courts and nineteen all-weather tennis courts (many floodlit for evening matches). Years 7-10 access the Millennium Arena for athletics and running club.
Co-curricular sports include Athletics Training, Basketball, Cricket, Cross Country, Football, Hockey, Netball, Pilates, Rowing (in Putney), Running, Sailing, Serve and Smash Society, Swimming, and Tennis. Swimming galas occur at the Queen Mother Sports Centre, the main pool hosting annual competitions. Sixth formers have access to a newly built Fitness Suite and greater freedom to pursue activities of choice, from spinning and boxing to traditional team sports. An extensive fixture list ensures senior sports teams compete regularly against London schools.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is compulsory for Years 9 and 10. The Expeditions Society organises trips across the UK and abroad during the annual Expeditions Week, with partnership opportunities extending to Mvumi in Tanzania for short projects and gap year placements. Skiing expeditions (noted in recent school communications) and bespoke adventures abroad cater to those with appetite for challenge.
The school facilitates leadership development through designated Student Leadership positions (Head Girl Team, Pastoral Ambassadors, Lower School Ambassadors). Academic Ambassadors publish Catalyst, an academic journal, providing sixth formers with editing experience. A TEDx licence enables public speaking and presentation skills development. Debating, the Curious Club, Podcasting, The Good Place, Scholastic Society, and United Nations clubs feed intellectual engagement. Investment Club and Tenner Challenge address financial enterprise; the Sustainability Club and Environment Club reflect contemporary concerns.
The school organises charity work and community volunteering centrally. Girls raise thousands annually through Christmas fairs, talent shows, fashion shows, bake sales, and sponsored sporting challenges. Longstanding relationships with The Katherine Low Settlement, In-Deep, and St Barnabas School anchor local impact. Sixth formers volunteer in local primary schools, care homes and youth organisations. Every pupil contributes to regular foodbank collections.
Termly school fees for Years 7-13 are £10,538 per term (2025-26), inclusive of lunch, books and personal accident insurance. A registration fee of £180 (£240 for overseas residents) is charged upon application, and a deposit of £3,150 is required upon acceptance (with £3,000 refunded after departure and £150 deducted for the Francis Holland Old Girls' Life Subscription). Extra subjects such as instrumental music, drama, and dance incur additional charges billed in arrears; for example, individual instrumental lessons cost £305 per term, group music tuition £200, ballet group lessons £170, and individual ballet £400.
Bursaries are means-tested and typically awarded at Year 7 and on entry to sixth form. The school explicitly states that bursary decisions account for the girl's ability and fit with the school, the overall financial circumstances of the family (income and assets), family circumstances, and the Trust's financial position. Remission of one-third of fees is available to daughters of clergy. The school has pledged to double bursary provision by 2032, targeting approximately 50 girls per year.
Scholarships are recognition-based rather than primarily financial. At 11+, Academic, Music, Drama, Art, Sport and Ballet scholarships are available to 5% of fees (one Ballet scholarship offers £1,500). At 16+, Academic, Music, Drama, and Art scholarships extend to 25% of fees. The school is part of the London Fee Assistance Consortium, offering free or subsidised places to able candidates whose families need support.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per term
Entry at 11+ is competitive. The school participates in the London 11+ Consortium, a group of fourteen academically selective independent girls' schools operating a joint assessment. The entrance examination combines adaptive and non-adaptive components: Maths (20 minutes), Non-Verbal Reasoning (10 minutes), English Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning (30 minutes), a 30-minute break, Problem Solving (15 minutes), and Analysis (25 minutes). All candidates sit one of three examination dates (28 November, 2 December, or 4 December 2025 for September 2026 entry). Successful candidates are then invited to a half-day interview at Francis Holland to assess problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity.
Registration must be completed by Friday 7 November 2025. The school advises families to contact the registrar when their daughter is in Year 5 or early Year 6. Open mornings for prospective families run in summer term and autumn term, offering the opportunity to meet staff, tour the school, and hear from current pupils and the Head.
Entry at 13+ and 14+ also occurs, with entrance examinations in English, Mathematics and Science scheduled for February 2026.
Entry at 16+ to sixth form requires subject-specific entrance examinations and interviews with the Head and Head of Sixth Form. Art and Design candidates present portfolios; Drama candidates perform a monologue. The school emphasises that GCSE grades matter; places are conditional on good results.
The school day runs from 8:20am (registration) to 4:00pm (end of the school day), with co-curricular sessions extending until 4:50pm. Lunch is served in the dining room for Years 7-11; all food is prepared on-site, with seasonal local and British produce prioritised. Sixth formers have a dedicated refectory in the Old School House (the Sixth Form Centre) offering breakfast, lunch, and tea.
Location is excellent. Sloane Square tube station (District and Circle lines) is a two-minute walk. Victoria mainline station is ten minutes on foot. Bus routes 19, 137, 170, 319 and 452 serve the area from south London; a school bus service is organised by the Senior School Parents' Association. On-street parking is available nearby, though the school has no on-site car park.
Intensity of academic culture. The school explicitly states that academic results come in the slipstream of co-curricular activities, not the reverse. The expectation is that girls engage fully beyond the classroom. For families seeking a school with lighter extracurricular expectations, this intensity may feel demanding.
Entry selectivity. With 2,000+ applicants for approximately 150 Year 7 places, admission is highly competitive. The entrance examination tests reasoning and problem-solving, but coaching for interviews is actively discouraged. Families should be prepared for the possibility of rejection despite their daughter's ability.
Location and transport. Whilst the Belgravia location is enviable for accessing central London's cultural resources, it is not convenient for families in outer zones. Tube access is excellent, but those relying on buses from less well-served areas may find daily commuting time-consuming.
Single-sex environment. The school is girls-only throughout secondary. Whilst many families prize this, others may prefer co-education. This is a permanent feature, not something families can opt out of.
Francis Holland School, Sloane Square combines academic rigour, cultural breadth, and pastoral depth in a setting of genuine excellence. Girls achieve results that place the school among the highest-performing independent secondary schools in England. The 2024 ISI inspection confirmed that pupils develop self-confidence and strong social skills through pastoral care that is consistently excellent and that values each girl as an individual. Beyond the classroom, the breadth of clubs, societies, performance opportunities, sports, and community engagement ensures that intellectual curiosity extends into action. The school is named Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year (2023), reflecting recognition of sustained quality across all dimensions.
This school suits families who value intellectual challenge, appreciate the advantages of single-sex education, can access central London location with reasonable ease, and whose daughters are both academically able and ready to embrace the full scope of school life beyond lessons. The main competitive hurdle is securing entry; once a place is won, the education delivered is exceptional.
Yes. The school was rated by ISI inspectors in October 2024 as meeting standards across every area, with the inspection finding that pupils feel safe and thrive in a positive culture and that the curriculum is broad, engaging and forward-looking. GCSE results place it among the highest-performing independent schools in England, with 88% achieving grades 9-7 in 2024. At A-level, 94% achieved A* to B in 2024. The school was named Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year in 2023.
Termly fees for Years 7-13 are £10,538 per term (2025-26), inclusive of lunch, books and personal accident insurance. This equates to approximately £31,614 annually. Additional charges apply for instrumental music lessons, drama, and ballet. Extra subject fees range from £115 (chess) to £400 (individual ballet).
Entry is highly competitive. Over 2,000 candidates typically apply for around 150 Year 7 places. Entrance is via the London 11+ Consortium examination, which assesses Maths, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Problem-Solving and Analysis across an online adaptive assessment. Successful candidates are invited to interview. Families should register by November 2025 for September 2026 entry and contact the school in Year 5 or early Year 6.
Bursaries are means-tested and cover up to 100% of fees for families who demonstrate financial need. The school pledges to double bursary provision by 2032. Scholarships at 11+ (5% fee reduction) and 16+ (up to 25% fee reduction) are merit-based awards in Academic, Music, Drama, Art, Sport and Ballet. The school is part of the London Fee Assistance Consortium, offering free or subsidised places to capable candidates from lower-income families.
The school offers approximately 60 clubs and societies across music, drama, STEM, sport, languages, charity and leadership. Named ensembles include Chapel Choir, Chamber Choirs, Jazz Vocal Group, Orchestra, and Musical Theatre Club. STEM clubs include Code Breakers, Dissection Club, Engineering, and Hydroponics. Sport is comprehensive, with netball, hockey, rowing, tennis, cricket, athletics and swimming all represented. Duke of Edinburgh and expeditions abroad are also available.
Francis Holland (Sloane Square) is day-only, with no boarding. There is no boarding provision. All students are day pupils, though the school's central London location enables access to external resources and cultures.
Leavers progress to a broad range of universities. Recent destinations include Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, UCL, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Kings College London and Exeter. The school provides dedicated university application support, including Oxbridge preparation classes and enhanced guidance for competitive courses such as PPE, Medicine and Law. Many students also progress to international universities in North America and Europe.
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