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 Regent’s Park, the oldest of the two schools, emphasises the importance of providing an excellent, balanced education, citing compassion, knowledge and perseverance as key values in its community. In recent years, the school has benefitted from significant expansion to its infrastructure, including the new Helen McCrory Drama Studio, Art and Music Studios, and Classics Centre, which all opened in 2021. A new Sixth Form Centre was also unveiled in 2022, providing an ideal bridge between a secondary school and university experience. Enjoying a wonderful location near to Regent’s Park, the School benefits from the energy and charm these surroundings provide, making it a vibrant and inspirational place for girls to learn.
Entering Francis Holland Regent’s Park in Year 7 (11+):
Francis Holland Regent’s Park 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 Regent’s Park:
Francis Holland Regent’s Park 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. The interview will take place in early January and involves a one-to-one interview and a group exercise. 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:
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 Regent’s Park will also request a reference from the Head of the candidate’s existing school.
Scholarships at Francis Holland Regent’s Park
Francis Holland Regent’s Park have a range of scholarships available:
Academic, Music and Art scholarships are offered at 11+ and 16+, while Sport scholarships are offered at 16+ only.
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 Regent’s Park ask at interview?
Like many school interviews the Francis Holland Regent’s Park 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 Regent’s Park (e.g. Why would you like to come to Francis Holland Regent’s Park?)
Why is Francis Holland Regent’s Park so popular?
Francis Holland Regent’s Park has an outstanding record in public examination results. In 2023, Regent’s Park girls achieved 60% A*/A grades at A Level and 77% Grade 9-7 at GCSE.
Girls from Francis Holland Regent’s Park 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 Regent’s Park hard to get into?
Owing to its rich history of academic excellence, Francis Holland Regent’s Park is highly competitive. The school is looking for girls who are well-rounded, enthusiastic about learning, and keen to contribute to school life. It is desirable that potential pupils participate in co-curricular activities and have a strong desire to represent the school through their chosen interests. Owing to its central London location, Francis Holland Regent’s Park encourages its students to take advantage of the myriad exhibitions, concerts, lectures and theatres on its doorstep. The school believes in the importance of girls taking ownership of their education outside the classroom and provides ample resources and support of their independent learning. Other qualities that embody the ideal Regent’s Park pupil include a sense of responsibility for others, a capacity for creative and analytical thought and a desire to contribute to the wider community.
Francis Holland Schools Famous Alumni
- Joan Collins
- Grace Beverley
- Emilia Fox
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.