Francis Holland Schools comprise two sister schools: the first in Regent’s Park, founded in 1878, and the second in Sloane Square, founded in 1881. These schools aim to provide an outstanding education for girls and have a long-standing reputation for their exceptional pastoral care. With a strong focus on creativity, innovation and enterprise, Francis Holland Schools combine first-class facilities with a rigorous academic programme. At the same time, they foster a kind, vibrant and happy environment in which to learn.
Francis Holland Sloane Square aims to inspire its girls to become the leaders, thinkers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Alongside its academic prowess, the school has an exceptional reputation in Sport and the Arts. It is this holistic approach to girls’ education that earns Francis Holland Sloane Square its exemplary standing among independent schools. The school community has been described as friendly and supportive, with teachers going above and beyond to help pupils take advantage of the vast range of opportunities available, both within the school and its wider central London home.
Entering Francis Holland Sloane Square in Year 7 (11+):
Francis Holland Sloane Square has two main points of entry: 11+ (Year 7) and 16+ (Sixth Form). There are also occasional vacancies for entry in Years 8, 9 and 10.
11+ Entrance Process for Francis Holland Sloane Square:
Francis Holland Sloane Square is a member of the London 11+ Consortium, a collection of independent schools which all share a common entrance examination and a common mark scheme. The Consortium introduced a new, bespoke assessment process for school entry in 2023.
The assessment takes place on one of three dates across November and December of Year 6. Candidates may take the examination at their own school or at a Consortium school to which they have applied. If a candidate is applying to multiple Consortium schools, they only sit the entrance examination once.
The online exam is 1 hour and 40 minutes long, with a 30-minute break halfway through. There are five components:
- Maths (20 minutes)
- Non-Verbal Reasoning (10 minutes)
- English Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning (30 minutes)
- Problem Solving (15 minutes)
- Analysis (25 minutes)
The first three components (Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Verbal Reasoning) are adaptive, while the final two (Problem Solving and Analysis) are non-adaptive.
Familiarisation materials for the assessment can be found here
Following the results of the assessment, successful candidates will be invited to interview at Francis Holland Sloane Square. The interview will take place in early January and involves a one-to-one interview and a group exercise designed to assess their skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity. A reference from the Head of the candidate’s current school will also be requested.
Offers will be made in the February following the assessment.
16+ Entrance Process for Francis Holland Sloane Square:
The entrance examination for Sixth Form takes place in November of Year 11. Candidates sit papers in their proposed A Level subjects and have an interview with the Head of Sixth Form. Francis Holland Sloane Square will also request a reference from the Head of the candidate’s existing school.
Scholarships at Francis Holland Sloane Square
Francis Holland Sloane Square have a range of scholarships available:
- Academic, Music, Art and Drama scholarships are offered at 11+ and 16+.
- Sport scholarships are offered at 11+ only.
- Francis Holland Sloane Square also offer Classical Ballet scholarships, up to the value of £2000.
- 11+ scholarships are available up to the value of 5% of fees, while 16+ scholarships can be up to 25%.
What questions does Francis Holland Sloane Square ask at interview?
Like many school interviews the Francis Holland Sloane Square interview seeks to explore the following about each student:
- Family (e.g. What do you like to do on the weekend as a family?)
- School (e.g. What do you most enjoy about your current school?)
- Academic Learning (e.g. What is your favourite subject and why?)
- Reading (e.g. Do you enjoy reading?)
- Extracurricular (e.g. What activities do you get involved in at school outside of the classroom?)
- Hobbies (e.g. What do you do in your spare time outside of school?)
- Francis Holland Sloane Square (e.g. Why would you like to come to Francis Holland Sloane Square?)
Why is Francis Holland Sloane Square so popular?
Francis Holland Sloane Square has an outstanding record in public examination results. In 2023, girls at Sloane Square achieved 62% A*/A grades at A Level and 89% Grade 9-7 at GCSE.
Girls from Francis Holland Sloane Square are regularly offered places at top universities in the UK and internationally. On average, 10% of leavers are offered places at Oxbridge.
Is Francis Holland Sloane Square hard to get into?
Francis Holland Sloane Square has a reputation as one of the finest independent schools in London, and as such places are highly competitive. The school look for evidence of creative and independent thinking in potential candidates and emphasise their desire for all-rounders, who will contribute positively to school life. With a clear aim to empower girls to become the game-changers of tomorrow, Francis Holland Sloane Square has an enviable track record of helping their pupils graduate to outstanding centres of higher education. While evidence of academic performance is desirable in potential pupils, equally important qualities include a clear love of learning, a sense of fun and creativity, and a desire to serve and support others. The school’s pastoral system, including the ‘Big Sisters’ initiative to establish peer support between year groups, is central to maintaining its positive, nurturing atmosphere. As such, generosity and kindness are prized qualities in potential Sloane Square pupils.
Francis Holland Sloane Square Famous Alumni
- Emerald Fennell
- Jemima Goldsmith
- Sienna Miller
Tutors for Francis Holland School Admissions
Keystone has over a decade of experience providing tuition to families who wish to send their children to some of the leading UK independent schools including Francis Holland School.
The tutors we work with are experienced in the intricacies of the 11 plus and 16 plus entrance to Francis Holland School.
For more details on how Keystone can help with preparation for entry to Francis Holland School, please call the office for a chat with one of our client managers, or contact us via our request a tutor form.