Francis Holland School, Sloane Square
Francis Holland School Sloane Square
Org 1: HMC
Org 2: GSA
39 Graham Terrace, London, SW1W 8JF
Telephone: 020 7730 2971
Age Range: Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Day Only
Gender: Girls
Exams offered: A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), GCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Clergy discount
Francis Holland is committed to widening access to the local and wider community. Our Foundation Scholarship Bursary Programme supports girls who display outstanding promise to succeed at Francis Holland, but whose parents might not have sufficient financial means. The level of assistance provided will depend on individual circumstances, which will be reviewed annually. The number of bursaries awarded each year is at the discretion of the Governors and may vary.
Our decisions about the award of bursaries take account of a number of factors, including:
•The ability of the girl and her fit with the school
•The overall financial circumstances of the fee payers, both income and assets
•The family circumstances of the applicant
•The financial position of the Trust.
Scholarships Offered: Academic, Art, Classical Ballet, Drama, Music, Sport
Bursaries / Discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award, Clergy discount
Scholarships and Bursaries – Further Details
We award scholarships in recognition of excellent achievement in particular disciplines and we aim to provide opportunities for enrichment to those who hold such awards, in addition to the fee discount referred to below.
Academic Scholarships
•Year 7: 11+ Academic Scholarships are available to the value of 5% of fees.
•Sixth Form: 16+ Academic Scholarships (internal and external) are available up to the value of 10% of fees.
Music Scholarships
•Year 7: 11+ Music Scholarships are available to the value of 5% of fees.
•Sixth Form: 16+ Music Scholarship are available up to the value of 10% of fees.
Drama Scholarships
•Year 7: 11+ Drama Scholarships are available to the value of 5% of fees.
•Sixth Form: 16+ Drama Scholarships are available up to the value of 10% of fees.
Art Scholarships
•Year 7: 11+ Art Scholarships are available up to the value of 5% of fees.
•Sixth Form: 16+ Art Scholarships are available up to the value of 10% of fees.
Classical Ballet Scholarship
•One Classical Ballet scholarship is available up to the value of £1,500.
Sports Scholarships
•Year 7: 11+ Sport Scholarships are available to the value of 5% of fees.
Fee Remission
•Remission on a third of the fees for daughters of the clergy.
•Bursaries are awarded according to financial circumstance.
Please contact: The Registrar, Mrs Rowena Kibblewhite for more information on 020 7824 5005 or at registrar@fhs-sw1.org.uk
Founded 1881.
The Senior School has 600 pupils, with entry at 11+ for the Senior School, and 16+ for Sixth Form. Entry at 4+ to Francis Holland Prep, which currently has 250 pupils.
Curriculum and Aims. Outstanding academic standards are achieved through the provision of a challenging academic curriculum and talented staff who encourage an enthusiasm for learning, intellectual curiosity and creativity as well as encouraging entrepreneurship through our national award-winning Futures & Innovation programme.
Our innovative and responsive curriculum is constantly evolving to reflect the changing world around us, encouraging girls to listen deeply, think critically and disagree constructively. A dynamic and deeply relational approach to teaching has seen a strong upward trajectory of academic performance, with 71% of pupils achieving A*/9-8s at GCSE and 72% A*- A at A Level in 2025. Our value-added is one of the strongest in the country, with girls regularly outperforming benchmarked expectations.
We equip girls with the resilience not simply to cope with challenges, but to turn challenges into opportunities. We embed problem-solving and solution-driving into every aspect of their learning. Beyond the exam hall, we prioritise skills that will truly set our pupils apart - leadership, oracy, empathy and storytelling - so they are empowered to think creatively, to influence, to innovate and ultimately, to succeed.
This allows our girls to thrive in a relaxed and happy environment where they are valued for their individuality and able to fulfil their unique potential. Sixth Formers can study three, or occasionally four, subjects over the two years, and all have the opportunity to take an Extended Project Qualification. The Sixth Form has dedicated careers and universities support, with girls prepared for university entry both in the UK and overseas, including top US colleges, and excellent enrichment opportunities including a TEDx license and a weekly Sixth Form Speaker Programme.
Prep School. From September 2024, Francis Holland’s Junior School at Sloane Square relocated to an iconic Victorian Grade II listed building, just off the King’s Road in the heart of Chelsea, becoming Francis Holland Preparatory School. This prime property has more than doubled the space previously occupied by our Junior School, and most importantly has enabled us to extend our award-winning FHS education to over one hundred more girls. By becoming two form entry, we have further strengthened our educational offering, both academically and pastorally, and offer greater opportunities for music, sport, drama, art and other co-curricular activities. Planning for class sizes of 20 have enabled us to maintain the level of individual attention for each child and the nurturing and friendly environment for which Francis Holland is renowned. Francis Holland Prep has taken over an impressive 20,000 sq ft site at 15 Manresa Road, SW3 6NB. The building, which dates back to 1890, combines heritage with modern learning spaces. The wealth of impressive facilities includes the old Chelsea library, a spacious School Hall with staging, a specialist STEAM facility and an extensive outdoor play area. We expect many of our Prep pupils to join the senior school at Francis Holland, Sloane Square in Year 7 and offer a 'no surprises approach' in this regard. Visit www.francishollandprep.org.uk to find out more. Physical Education. Netball, Hockey, Tennis, Swimming and Cricket are our main sports. Girls also have the opportunity to partake in Gymnastics, Athletics and Football. Senior girls have a choice of additional activities including spinning, Judo, Pilates, strength and conditioning and use of the fitness suite. There is a Sixth Form gym in the Sixth Form Centre, the Old School House. Overall we offer over 25 sports and have recently launched an Elite Athlete Mentoring Programme for the growing numbers of our athletes competing at a regional and national level.
Scholarships and Bursaries. Francis Holland is committed to widening access to the local and wider community. Our Foundation Scholarship Bursary Programme supports girls who display outstanding promise to succeed at Francis Holland, but whose parents might not have sufficient financial means. Bursary awards up to 100% fees are typically offered at Year 7 and on entry to the Sixth Form and are reviewed annually. The number of bursaries awarded each year is at the discretion of the Governors and may vary.
There are the following competitive awards each year:
11+ Academic, Music, Drama, Art, and Sport scholarships are available to the value of 5% of fees. One Classical Ballet scholarship is available up to the value of £1,500.
Sixth Form: Academic scholarships (internal and external) up to the value of 10% of fees. Music, Drama, Art, Classical Ballet and Sport scholarships up to the value of 10% of fees are also offered.
Remission of a third of the fees is available for places offered to daughters of the clergy.
Fees per term (2025-2026). £10,478.40, including VAT.
Situation. The School is situated in Belgravia on Graham Terrace, a two-minute walk from Sloane Square station and 10 minutes from Victoria, which has major rail links around London and the South West. Buses to Clapham, Battersea, Wandsworth, Hammersmith, Fulham and Putney pass the school.
Charitable status. The Francis Holland (Church of England) Schools Trust Limited is a Registered Charity, number 312745. It exists to provide high quality education for girls.
Governors & Staff:
Patron: The Right Revd and Right Hon The Lord Bishop of London
Council of Governors:
Chairman: Patrick Sherrington, LLB, LLM, FCI, Arb
Ms F Angel, BA Hons, PGCE
Dr F Baawuah, MB, ChB, MRCGP, MRCP
Dr C Barker, MA, BM, BCh, MRCPCH, PhD
Mr M Cuthbert, FRICS, BSc, MBA, DipProjMan
Mr A Fincham, MA
Prof C Gwenlan, MSci, PhD
Dr S Hay, PhD, MA, BSc
Mrs S Nedas
Mrs N du Preez, MA, BSc
Ms E Regina, MSc Arch, ARB, RIBA
Ms N de Renzo, MSc, Bocconi
Revd A Walker
Ms J Woodham-Smith, MA
Mrs C Shaw, MA
Executive Committee:
Head: Mrs A Haydon, MSc Oxford, BSc Durham
Head of Francis Holland Regent’s Park: Mrs K Woodcock, BA Bristol
Head of Francis Holland Prep: Mrs S Dixon, MA King’s, BA Leeds
Director of External Relations: Mrs V McKinley, BA London
Director of Human Resources: Mr B Taylor, PGDip, BA Hull, MCIPD
Director of Technology: Mr M Britland, BSc Gloucestershire
Chief Operating Officer: Ms S Lamb, MA St Andrews ICAEW ICOT
Senior Leadership Team:
Senior Deputy Head, Staff; DDSL: Ms C Stansfield, MA Courtauld, BA Oxford
Senior Deputy Head, Pastoral, DSL: Mrs S Pittaway, BA Reading, NPQH
Deputy Head of Operations & Co-Curricular: Mrs J Wood, BA Pembroke
Deputy Head Academic: Mr J Devenport, MA UCL, BSc Bristol
Head of Sixth Form: Mr J Courtenay Clack, BA Manchester
Director of Futures and Innovation: Mrs C Wilkes, MSc LSE, BA Cantab
Director of Development: Mr T Robertson, MA Edinburgh
Director of Technology: Mr M Britland, BSc Gloucestershire