Francis Holland School Regent's Park
Independent Day School for Girls · Est. 1878
Francis Holland School Regent's Park is one of London's most quietly self-assured independent girls' schools — a place where intellectual curiosity is genuinely celebrated and girls are expected to have opinions worth defending. Founded in 1878, it sits in a handsome building near Regent's Park and serves around 500 girls from 11 to 18. The school is a member of the London 11+ Consortium, which means entry is through a sophisticated 100-minute adaptive online assessment — not a simple written paper — followed by a face-to-face interview. The ethos is warm but academically serious: 90% of A-Level entries graded A*–B and 86% of GCSEs at 9–7 (2022) place it firmly in the top tier of London day schools. It suits a girl who is curious, articulate, and comfortable being held to high expectations in a close-knit community. Not for families looking for a large, impersonal campus — this is a school that knows every pupil.
A founding member of the London 11+ Consortium, Francis Holland Regent's Park delivers top-tier academic results within a close-knit girls' community of 500, just minutes from Regent's Park.
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Ivor Place, London NW1 6XR
Day Fees
£10,845
per term (from Sep 2026)
Exam Format
London 11+ Consortium
Adaptive online, 100 min
Total Pupils
~500
all girls, ages 11–18
Founded
1878
over 145 years
A-Level A*–B
90%
2022 results
GCSE 9–7
86%
2022 results
Best For
Academically curious girls who thrive in a close-knit community, enjoy being challenged, and want a school that knows them as individuals — ideally within easy reach of central or north London.
Watch Out For
Competition ratios and offer scores are not published. The London 11+ Consortium exam is adaptive and online — preparation must include digital practice, not paper-only. Fees are £10,845/term (from Sep 2026). No boarding.
Entry Points
- 11+ (main entry)
- 16+ (Sixth Form)
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: Registration closes in November and the London 11+ Consortium exam is sat in November/December — meaning preparation must be substantially complete by October of Year 6. Do not start exam preparation in September.
Open Morning
The school hosts an Open Morning in June. Booking opens in May and places fill quickly — book early. This is the primary opportunity to visit, meet staff, and confirm FH Regent's Park is the right choice before committing to the application.
Final preparation window
The most critical months for exam preparation. The London 11+ Consortium adaptive exam tests cognitive ability across six sections. Preparation must include online/digital practice — not only paper-based practice.
Registration Deadline
Complete the online application form and pay the non-refundable £150 registration fee. Scholarship and bursary applications (Academic, Music, Art, Sport) are initiated at the same stage.
London 11+ Consortium Assessment
The 100-minute Consortium exam is sat at the candidate's current school (if they can host) or at any Consortium school the family has applied to. Part 1 (Maths, NVR, English comprehension questions, VR) is adaptive. Part 2 (Puzzles & Problem-Solving, Creative Comprehension) is non-adaptive after a 30-minute break.
Interview
Shortlisted candidates are invited to a face-to-face interview at the school. The interview is the third and final element of the process, given equal weight to the reference and the exam.
Offer Letters
Offers are sent to successful candidates in February. The school notifies families of the outcome of the full assessment process.
Acceptance Deadline
Families must formally confirm their acceptance of the place by the March deadline.
Key Dates At-a-Glance — 2027 Entry (Year 7 Sept 2027)
- 1
Open Morning
June (Year 5)
- 2
Registration deadline
November (Year 6)
- 3
Consortium exam window
November/December (Year 6)
- 4
Interview
January (Year 6)
- 5
Offers sent
February (Year 6)
- 6
Acceptance deadline
March (Year 6)
Inside the London 11+ Consortium Assessment
Francis Holland Regent's Park is a member of the London 11+ Consortium and uses the Consortium's shared adaptive online assessment — not a school-set written paper. The exam is 100 minutes long, split into six distinct sections across two halves. Part 1 (Maths, NVR, English comprehension questions, VR) is adaptive — questions adjust to the candidate's performance. Part 2 (Puzzles & Problem-Solving, Creative Comprehension) is the same for all candidates. The exam is sat online, at the candidate's current school or any Consortium member school. A face-to-face interview follows for shortlisted candidates.
Maths (20 min)
20 minutes · Adaptive online (Part 1)
Preparing using Year 6 or beyond material wastes time — the exam is explicitly capped at Year 5 curriculum. Candidates who have raced ahead to Year 6 topics in preparation should switch focus to accuracy and fluency within the Year 5 content only.
Non-Verbal Reasoning (10 min)
10 minutes · Adaptive online (Part 1)
NVR is the section most commonly under-prepared. Many families focus exclusively on Maths and English and give NVR only token attention. A 10-minute adaptive NVR section can significantly separate candidates who have drilled patterns from those who have not.
English Comprehension (20 min)
20 minutes · Adaptive online — comprehension questions on shared fiction passage (Part 1)
Expecting extended writing in the English section is a common misconception. The comprehension section has no writing task — it is entirely question-based on the fiction passage. Prepare for inference, retrieval, and language analysis questions, not for essay writing.
Verbal Reasoning (10 min)
10 minutes · Adaptive online (Part 1)
Confusing VR with a vocabulary test is the most common mistake. This section tests grammatical correctness and standard English usage in context — not word definitions. Practice with VR-specific question types, not vocabulary lists.
Puzzles & Problem-Solving (15 min)
15 minutes · Non-adaptive online — same for all candidates (Part 2, after break)
Candidates who have only practised subject-specific maths or English questions are often unprepared for the cross-domain, multi-step nature of this section. Practice specifically with puzzle-style and lateral thinking problems from September onwards.
Creative Comprehension (25 min)
25 minutes · Non-adaptive online — same for all candidates (Part 2, after break)
This is not a standard comprehension section and should not be prepared for as one. The multi-source format requires candidates to synthesise and compare — a skill that comes from reading non-fiction, articles, and mixed-media sources, not just practising fiction comprehension.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: 20 minutes covering the National Curriculum for Year 5 only — nothing from the Year 6 curriculum is tested. The adaptive format means questions get harder or easier based on answers. Accuracy matters more than speed: the adaptive engine rewards correct answers, not fast ones.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — Maths (20 min)
The exam explicitly tests Year 5 curriculum only. Every hour spent on Year 6 content is wasted — redirect to fluency and accuracy within Year 5.
The adaptive test is screen-delivered. Practise with the official London 11+ Consortium online practice test, not paper-only workbooks.
The engine rewards accuracy, not speed. A correct answer to a harder question beats two rushed wrong answers — slow down and check.
All arithmetic must be done mentally or by written method. Practise mental arithmetic under timed conditions regularly.
The pattern: Preparing using Year 6 or beyond material wastes time — the exam is explicitly capped at Year 5 curriculum. Candidates who have raced ahead to Year 6 topics in preparation should switch focus to accuracy and fluency within the Year 5 content only.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Year 5 Curriculum Accuracy
What this means in practice:
Dedicate 60%+ of prep time to this area
Practice under timed conditions regularly
Review mistakes immediately after each session
Track progress weekly to spot patterns
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Year 5 Curriculum Accuracy
Maths (20 min)
#2
Pattern Recognition via Volume Practice
Non-Verbal Reasoning (10 min)
#3
Inference & Analysis (No Extended Writing)
English Comprehension (20 min)
#4
Standard English Usage in Context
Verbal Reasoning (10 min)
#5
Cross-Domain Multi-step Reasoning
Puzzles & Problem-Solving (15 min)
#6
Multi-source Synthesis & Critical Thinking
Creative Comprehension (25 min)
Results & League Table Position
FH Regent's Park consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
22%
National rank #85
A-Level A*/A Rate
62%
Use the narrative summary below.
GCSE Grade 9-7
86%
National rank #75.
A-Level A*-B Rate
90%
Francis Holland Regent's Park sits comfortably in the upper echelon of London independent girls' day schools by results. It is not the most academic school in London — but it achieves outstanding outcomes within a warm and non-pressurised environment, which is a significant differentiator.
A-Level Results vs National Average
FH Regent's Park vs England average (%)
What this means: 90% of A-Level entries graded A*–B (2022) places Francis Holland Regent's Park comfortably in the top tier of London independent day schools for sixth form outcomes. The school consistently sends a cohort to Oxbridge and the full range of Russell Group universities.
GCSE Grade Distribution
FH Regent's Park vs National distribution (%)
What this means: 86% grades 9–7 at GCSE (2022) is an excellent result for a school of 500 girls and reflects the genuinely high academic bar maintained from Year 7. These are not outcomes achieved by extreme narrowing of the curriculum — FH runs a broad and enriching programme.
University Destinations
Where FH Regent's Park leavers go — % of cohort
Notable Academic Achievements
London 11+ Consortium founding member
One of a small group of leading London girls' schools that jointly administer a sophisticated, adaptive 11+ assessment
90% A*–B at A Level (2022)
Consistently in the top tier of London independent girls' day schools for post-16 outcomes
86% grades 9–7 at GCSE (2022)
86% of all GCSE entries awarded grades 9–7 — well above independent school averages
ISI Inspected Outstanding (2025)
Most recent ISI inspection (March 2025) confirmed the school's continued outstanding educational quality
League Table Position: Francis Holland Regent's Park sits comfortably in the upper echelon of London independent girls' day schools by results. It is not the most academic school in London — but it achieves outstanding outcomes within a warm and non-pressurised environment, which is a significant differentiator.
The Interview
A face-to-face interview at the school with a member of the admissions or academic team. The school states explicitly that the reference, examination, and interview are given equal weight — a strong exam score does not guarantee a place if the interview is weak. The interview explores intellectual curiosity, personal interests, and fit with the school's ethos.
Format
One-to-one face-to-face interview
Duration
Approximately 20–30 minutes
Role in Admissions
Part of a holistic assessment, not a pass/fail gate
The Three-Part Equality Rule
Francis Holland explicitly weights reference, exam, and interview equally. This is not a school where a brilliant exam score overrides a mediocre interview, or where a glowing reference compensates for poor exam performance. All three legs of the stool must be solid.
What Makes a Strong Impression
Girls who impress in the FH Regent's Park interview typically have three things in common: they can talk with genuine enthusiasm about something they care about (a book, a topic, a hobby) without sounding rehearsed; they have thought specifically about why Francis Holland rather than any other school; and they listen and engage with the interviewer's responses rather than delivering a monologue. Authenticity is the deciding factor — the interviewer can immediately distinguish a girl who is naturally curious from one who has memorised talking points.
Confirmed Interview Themes
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
- Personal interests, passions, and hobbies — expect detailed follow-up questions on whatever is mentioned
- Books recently read and what the candidate found interesting or challenging about them
- Why Francis Holland Regent's Park specifically — what draws her to this school over others
- Academic subjects enjoyed and why — genuine enthusiasm for a subject is a strong signal
- Current events or things happening in the world that the candidate finds interesting
- Achievements the candidate is proud of — non-academic as well as academic
The pattern: Conversational and exploratory — the interviewer wants to understand the candidate as a person, not test knowledge. Expect follow-up questions on stated interests.
Never Asked — Don't Over-Prepare
- Curriculum knowledge or facts from school subjects — this is not a knowledge test
- Questions designed to trick or destabilise the candidate
- Opinions on controversial political topics at this age group
What Actually Wins Offers
- 1Genuine, specific enthusiasm for something — not generic 'I love reading' but 'I've just finished X and found the way the author does Y really interesting because...'
- 2Having done real research on the school, its ethos, and what makes it different from others
- 3Comfortable, natural conversational manner — neither over-formal nor inappropriately casual
- 4The ability to develop a thought when questioned further, rather than giving a pre-prepared answer and stopping
- 5Showing intellectual curiosity rather than purely academic ambition — they want girls who find ideas interesting, not just girls who want top grades
“The interview felt like a proper conversation — my daughter came out saying she hadn't even noticed it was an interview.”
“They told us very clearly that the exam is only one third of it. The reference from the school and the interview carry the same weight. That surprised us — we'd been told by the tutor to focus on the exam.”
Contact Admissions
Francis Holland School Regent's Park Admissions Team
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 18+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
The exam is online and adaptive — paper practice is insufficient
The London 11+ Consortium exam is delivered entirely online and Part 1 is adaptive. Candidates who have only ever practised on paper are at a material disadvantage in both familiarity with the screen format and in not understanding how the adaptive engine works. The official Consortium online practice test is the single most important preparation resource — buy and use it from September of Year 6.
The reference carries the same weight as the exam
Many families and tutors treat the school reference as a formality. At Francis Holland Regent's Park it is not — the school weights it equally with the exam and the interview. Ensure your daughter's current Headteacher knows she is applying, can write a genuinely specific and positive reference about her intellectual character, and has enough time to do so before the November deadline.
Open Morning places fill quickly — book in May
The Open Morning is held in June and booking opens in May. Places are limited and fill rapidly. Missing the Open Morning is a strategic mistake — attending in person allows your daughter to form a specific, authentic view of the school that will substantially improve her interview performance.
Scholarship applications are made at registration — not after
Applications for Academic, Music, Art, and Sport scholarships are initiated on the same registration form as the general application. This is not a separate process with a later deadline. If bursary or scholarship support is relevant to your family, flag this at registration (November) — not later.
Tiebreaker criteria are published — use them
When two candidates meet the admission requirements equally, preference is given to: sibling at the school, alumna parent, parent/guardian who is a current member of staff, particular skill or talent, and daughters of Church of England clergy. If any of these apply, this must be noted on the application form — the school cannot factor it in if it is not disclosed.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Francis Holland School Regent's Park. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Treating this as a standard written 11+ exam
The London 11+ Consortium uses an adaptive, online, 100-minute digital assessment — not the school-set written papers used by many other London independents. Preparation strategies for written tests (e.g. SHSK, South Hampstead, or Channing) are substantially different from those needed here. Confirm the exam format before finalising your preparation plan.
Preparing using Year 6 or higher maths content
The Maths section is explicitly capped at the Year 5 National Curriculum. Families who have pushed their daughters into Year 6 or 7 maths content in preparation are wasting time. Mastery and accuracy within Year 5 material is what the exam rewards.
Neglecting the Puzzles & Problem-Solving and Creative Comprehension sections
Part 2 of the exam — Puzzles & Problem-Solving (15 min) and Creative Comprehension (25 min) — are non-adaptive and account for 40% of exam time. They require different skills (cross-domain reasoning, multi-source synthesis) that are not developed by standard subject practice. Many families under-prepare for Part 2.
Assuming the interview is a formality
The school explicitly states that reference, exam, and interview are weighted equally. An outstanding exam score does not secure a place if the interview is weak. Girls who walk in with no specific view of what makes FH Regent's Park distinctive and why they want to go there consistently underperform.
Missing the Open Morning
The Open Morning is the primary opportunity to experience the school's culture and ethos first-hand. Girls who attend the interview having visited the school have a specific, authentic reason for wanting to be there. Girls who have only read about the school online are noticeably less convincing in their answers.
FH Regent's Park vs Competitor Schools
How does Francis Holland School Regent's Park compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
Important context: Francis Holland NW1 is part of the London 11+ Consortium alongside South Hampstead High School, City of London School for Girls, and others. The Consortium exam is sat once for all member schools — applying to multiple Consortium schools does not mean sitting the exam multiple times.
| Factor | South Hampstead High School | FeaturedFrancis Holland Regent's Park | City of London School for Girls | Channing School | North London Collegiate School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent Girls' Day | Independent Girls' Day | Independent Girls' Day | Independent Girls' Day | Independent Girls' Day |
| Co-educational | |||||
| VR in Exam | |||||
| Annual Fee | ~£30,000+ | ~£32,535 | ~£31,000+ | ~£24,000+ | ~£27,000+ |
| 11+ Difficulty | Very Selective | Selective | Highly Selective | Selective | Highly Selective |
| Interview Style | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Why Parents Choose FH Regent's Park
- London 11+ Consortium memberOne assessment for multiple leading schools — efficient for families applying to several Consortium schools simultaneously.
- Warm, close-knit community~500 girls in a central London setting — staff genuinely know every pupil by name. Not a large, impersonal institution.
- Strong results in a supportive environment90% A*–B at A Level and 86% 9–7 at GCSE without the extreme academic pressure associated with the very top London schools.
- Excellent locationNear Regent's Park, Baker Street, and Marylebone — accessible from a wide range of London postcodes.
- Four scholarship types at 11+Academic, Music, Art, and Sport scholarships available — broader scholarship access than many comparable schools.
Points to Consider
- Competition data not publishedThe school does not publish applicant numbers, offer rates, or typical exam scores. Competition is known to be significant — but precise ratios are unavailable.
- Fees: £10,845/termFrom September 2026. Three terms = approximately £32,535/year before extras (uniform, trips, optional activities).
- No boardingDay school only. Families need to be within a practical commuting distance of NW1.
- Adaptive exam requires specific preparationThe Consortium format requires online digital practice and preparation for Parts 1 and 2 separately. Paper-only tutoring is insufficient.
Scholarships & Financial Support
Scholarships at Francis Holland Regent's Park are initiated at the same time as the general registration (November, Year 6). There are four types: Academic, Music, Art, and Sport. Bursary support is also available for families who could not otherwise afford the fees — the school describes bursary provision as a long-standing priority.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|
* Scholarship and bursary applications are made on the same form as the general application. Contact the Registrar for current values and eligibility criteria — specific award amounts are not published on the school website.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Francis Holland School Regent's Park's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
Year 5 (Summer Term)
- Attend the Open Morning in June — book as soon as booking opens in May
- Begin NVR pattern practice (workbooks at least 2x per week)
- Assess current Year 5 maths fluency — identify any gaps in curriculum coverage
- Start wide reading programme: varied fiction AND non-fiction (articles, non-fiction books)
- Purchase the official London 11+ Consortium online practice test for familiarisation
September–October (Year 6)
- Complete the online Consortium practice test to experience the adaptive format first-hand
- Run full timed Maths practice (Year 5 curriculum only) with digital/on-screen practice sessions
- Begin Puzzles & Problem-Solving practice specifically — lateral thinking and multi-step problems
- Practise VR question types (odd one out, complete the sentence, analogies in words)
- Practise English comprehension — inference and analysis focus, NOT extended writing
- Begin Creative Comprehension preparation using multi-source exercises
November (Year 6)
- Submit the online application form and pay the £150 registration fee before the deadline
- Initiate scholarship application (Academic/Music/Art/Sport) on the same form if applicable
- Confirm where the exam will be sat (current school or a Consortium member school)
- Ensure school reference is being prepared — speak with the Headteacher if needed
- Final run-through of all six exam section types; identify and reinforce weak areas
November / December (Year 6)
- Sit the London 11+ Consortium assessment
- Review performance and maintain calm — results are processed centrally
- If sitting at a Consortium school: confirm logistics (location, start time, what to bring)
January (Year 6)
- Interview preparation: practise talking naturally about genuine interests, books read, reasons for choosing FH Regent's Park
- Avoid scripted answers — the interview is conversational and follow-up questions will expose any rehearsed responses
- Visit the school website and social media to build specific knowledge about the school's current activities and ethos
- Attend the interview relaxed and confident — the school wants to see a real person, not a polished performance
February–March (Year 6)
- Await offer letter (February)
- If offered: confirm acceptance by the March deadline
- If waitlisted: contact the Registrar to understand the position and likely movement
- If unsuccessful: arrange debrief call with current school to inform secondary applications
You now know things about this school most applicant families never find out.
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Intelligence Score
Updated May 2026 · 18 sources
Coverage
Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
Freshness
This edition was last checked May 2026. Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
Use it well
Treat lower-scoring areas as prompts to verify with admissions, not as automatic red flags. The score is about evidence quality, not school quality.
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