Francis Holland School, Sloane Square
Independent Day School for Girls (11–18) · Est. 1881
Founded in 1881 by Canon Francis Holland, a Chaplain to Queen Victoria, this is one of two Francis Holland schools in central London — the Sloane Square sister, tucked into a tight Belgravia site on Graham Terrace a few minutes' walk from the King's Road. It is a Church of England girls' day school of around 600, known for warm, family-feeling pastoral care, a much-praised neo-gothic Sixth Form centre, and an unmistakably Chelsea-and-Belgravia community. Sport happens up at Battersea Park; ballet is a genuine on-site speciality.
Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2023 — a warm, central-London girls' day school posting its best-ever A-level results in 2025 (72% A*–A, 31% A*) and 87% grade 9–7 at GCSE, without a hothouse reputation.
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39 Graham Terrace, Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8JF
Day Fees
£11,058
per term, Years 7–13 (from Sept 2026, inc. lunches & Personal Accident Insurance)
Exam Format
London 11+ Consortium
shared ~100-min assessment + interview & group exercise
Total Pupils
608
girls 11–18, day only (ISI Oct 2024)
Founded
1881
by Canon Francis Holland, Chaplain to Queen Victoria
A-level Results 2025
72% A*–A
31% A*, 89% A*–B, 100% pass — school's best ever outside Covid years
GCSE Results 2025
87% 9–7
44% of grades at grade 9; 71% at 9–8
Best For
Central-London families — especially in Chelsea, Belgravia and Pimlico — who want a warm, relatively small girls' day school with strong and rising academic results, genuinely well-regarded pastoral care, an excellent Sixth Form centre, and a real strength in music, drama and classical ballet. It suits a girl who would flourish being 'known' rather than one chasing the most pressured academic environment.
Watch Out For
It is a tight central-London site — parents on forums consistently call it 'cramped' and short on facilities, with sport off at Battersea Park. The community is unmistakably affluent Chelsea/Belgravia ('a bit of a bubble'). It has become markedly harder to get into, so it is risky to treat as a 'back-up'. The October 2024 ISI report flagged one area for development: making teaching in Years 7–9 consistently effective.
Entry Points
- Main intake at 11+ (Year 7) via the London 11+ Consortium assessment plus interview and group exercise; 16+ (Sixth Form) entry by subject papers and interview; occasional places in Years 8–10. There is a separate Francis Holland prep/junior school with its own admissions.
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: Francis Holland Sloane Square is a member of the London 11+ Consortium — an association of independent London day schools for girls that share a single entrance assessment. For 2027 entry, registration closes on Friday 6 November 2026 (apply via the school's OpenApply admissions portal). The Consortium assessment is sat on Tuesday 1 December 2026, usually at the candidate's current school — a roughly 100-minute test in two halves (the first half adaptive, the second non-adaptive) covering maths, comprehension and verbal/non-verbal reasoning, plus problem-solving and a 'creative comprehension'/analysis paper. The school explicitly says the assessment 'looks beyond academic ability' to potential in problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity. Candidates are then invited to a one-to-one interview and a group exercise on Friday 8 January 2027. A reference is requested from the current school. Offers are issued on Friday 12 February 2027, with acceptances due by Wednesday 3 March 2027.
Attend Open Mornings
Visit FHS Sloane Square and at least one Consortium peer (the Consortium has many girls' day schools). The Sloane Square site is compact and central — see it in person to judge whether the scale and the Chelsea/Belgravia community suit your family.
Build Consortium-style fluency
Begin practice across maths (to Year 5 National Curriculum level), English comprehension, verbal and non-verbal reasoning — on screen, since the Consortium assessment is online and partly adaptive. Wide reading and discussion build the 'creative comprehension'/analysis skills that drilling alone won't.
Apply via OpenApply
Register on the school's OpenApply portal by 6 November 2026 and pay the registration fee. Arrange the current-school reference. Flag any scholarship interest so you can book the relevant January assessment day.
Interview and group exercise at FHS
A one-to-one interview plus a group exercise at the school on 8 January 2027. Scholarship candidates also attend their strand's assessment day in mid-January.
Offers and acceptance
Offers issued 12 February 2027; acceptances and deposit due by 3 March 2027.
Key Dates — 11+ Entry 2027 (Year 7 from Sep 2027)
- 1
Registration deadline (via OpenApply portal)
Friday 6 November 2026
- 2
London 11+ Consortium assessment
Tuesday 1 December 2026
- 3
Interview + group exercise
Friday 8 January 2027
- 4
Scholarship assessments (Y7)
Classical Ballet 10 Jan, Art 12 Jan, Music 13 Jan, Sport 14 Jan, Drama 15 Jan 2027
- 5
Offers issued
Friday 12 February 2027
- 6
Acceptance deadline
Wednesday 3 March 2027
Inside the FHS Sloane Square 11+ (London Consortium)
Francis Holland Sloane Square does not set its own 11+ papers — it is a member of the London 11+ Consortium, a group of independent London girls' day schools that share a single entrance assessment. A girl sits the assessment once and it counts for every Consortium school she applies to. The test runs roughly 100 minutes in two halves: an adaptive first half (maths, non-verbal reasoning, English comprehension, verbal reasoning), then, after a break, a non-adaptive second half of problem-solving puzzles and a 'creative comprehension'/analysis paper. It is explicitly designed to assess cognitive potential — problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity — rather than curriculum recall. Candidates who progress attend a one-to-one interview and a group exercise.
Adaptive First Half
~70 minutes for the adaptive half (within a ~100-minute assessment plus a break) · Online, adaptive, multiple-choice — sat once for all Consortium schools, usually at the current school
Children who only practise on paper, or who expect Year 6 maths, are wrong-footed: the maths deliberately stays at Year 5 level, and the adaptive on-screen format punishes the 'skip and come back' habit. Pacing and on-screen familiarity matter as much as content.
Problem-Solving & Creative Comprehension
~40 minutes for the non-adaptive half · Online, non-adaptive — same questions for all candidates
This section is deliberately resistant to drilling. Children trained only on standard comprehension and arithmetic find the multi-source synthesis and lateral problem-solving unfamiliar — it rewards wide reading, curiosity and flexible thinking built over time.
Interview & Group Exercise
Short 1:1 interview plus a group exercise, on a single January day · In-person at the school — one-to-one interview + observed group exercise
Over-rehearsed answers read as inauthentic, and in the group exercise a girl who dominates reads worse than one who contributes warmly and listens. The school's culture prizes kindness — bossiness is a poor fit signal.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: Online and adaptive: maths (~20 min, pegged to Year 5 National Curriculum), non-verbal reasoning (~10 min), English comprehension (~20 min) and verbal reasoning (~10 min). Adaptive means questions adjust to performance and you cannot revisit earlier answers.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — Adaptive First Half
Keep maths practice firmly at Year 5 NC level but build speed and confidence — the Consortium states Year 6 content is not tested
Use the Consortium's own online practice tests so the adaptive, no-going-back format is familiar
The pattern: Children who only practise on paper, or who expect Year 6 maths, are wrong-footed: the maths deliberately stays at Year 5 level, and the adaptive on-screen format punishes the 'skip and come back' habit. Pacing and on-screen familiarity matter as much as content.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Adaptive on-screen practice; Year 5 maths mastery; reasoning fluency
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
Adaptive on-screen practice; Year 5 maths mastery; reasoning fluency
Adaptive First Half
#2
Multi-source synthesis, lateral problem-solving, wide reading
Problem-Solving & Creative Comprehension
#3
Authentic conversation + warm, collaborative group work
Interview & Group Exercise
Results & League Table Position
FHS Sloane Square 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
31%
Public A-Level breakdown not published.
A-Level A*/A Rate
72%
2025: 31% A*, 72% A*–A, 89% A*–B, 100% pass rate — described by the school as its best-ever percentage of A* and A grades outside the Covid-adjusted years. Two pupils gained Oxbridge places (one reading Engineering at Oxford). Popular destinations included King's College London, Durham and Edinburgh.
GCSE Grade 9-7
87%
Public GCSE breakdown not published.
A-Level A*-B Rate
89%
The school appears among the top 40 independent schools in the Sunday Times Parent Power rankings and was Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2023. Parents on forums consistently describe results as 'incredible' and rising — and, notably, 'really good results but without hothouse pressure'.
A-Level Results vs National Average
FHS Sloane Square vs England average (%)
What this means: FHS Sloane Square's 2025 A-level cohort — 31% A*, 72% A*–A, 89% A*–B, 100% pass — is the school's best A*/A performance outside the Covid-adjusted years, and the clearest sign yet that an older forum reputation for a GCSE-to-A-level 'dip' is out of date. Two pupils took Oxbridge places in 2025 and leavers spread across King's College London, Durham, Edinburgh and St Andrews, with 15 heading to universities overseas.
GCSE Grade Distribution
FHS Sloane Square vs National distribution (%)
What this means: At GCSE in 2025, 87% of grades were 9–7, with 44% of all grades at the very top grade 9 and 71% at 9–8. The school highlights consistent value-added — results averaging around half a grade higher than baseline predictions — which it presents as evidence that strong outcomes come from good teaching and progress rather than from raw selectivity alone.
University Destinations
Where FHS Sloane Square leavers go — % of cohort
The school signals strong progression outcomes, but does not publish a detailed destination split in the public admissions material used for this brief.
Notable Academic Achievements
All ISI Standards Met (October 2024 inspection)
ISI inspection 8–10 October 2024: every standard met across Leadership & Governance, Quality of Education, Pupil Wellbeing, Social & Economic Education and Safeguarding. Inspectors praised a 'positive culture in which pupils feel safe and can thrive', a 'broad, engaging and forward-looking curriculum' and an 'exceptional' sixth-form centre. One recommended next step: make teaching in Years 7–9 consistently effective.
Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2023
Francis Holland Sloane Square was named the Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2023, and continues to feature among the top independent schools in the Sunday Times Parent Power rankings.
Best-ever A-level results in 2025
2025 A-level results — 31% A*, 72% A*–A, 89% A*–B and a 100% pass rate — were described by the school as its strongest percentage of A* and A grades outside the Covid-adjusted years. The result caps several years of rising performance.
Founded 1881 by a Chaplain to Queen Victoria
Canon Francis James Holland — an Anglican clergyman and Chaplain to Queen Victoria — founded the school in 1881, opening with 13 pupils at 80 Coleshill Street in Belgravia. It moved to its present Graham Terrace site in October 1884. The motto, from Psalm 144, is 'That our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple'.
Part of the Francis Holland Schools Trust
The school is one of two Francis Holland senior schools in central London — the Sloane Square sister to Francis Holland School, Regent's Park — plus a prep school, all under the Francis Holland Schools Trust, whose pillars are excellence, character, creativity, sustainability and community.
Genuinely international intake
The ISI October 2024 report records 257 of 608 pupils (~42%) as having English as an additional language — a markedly multilingual, internationally connected community for a school of this size, reflecting its central-London, globally mobile catchment.
Music, drama and classical ballet at a high level
Performing arts are a real strength: the school offers Classical Ballet as a scholarship strand in its own right and ballet is described as 'very popular', alongside high-standard music and drama (the Black Box studio theatre in Carmel Hall, acquired in 2010, supports drama).
Alumnae across the arts and public life
Old Girls include actresses Sienna Miller and Emilia Fox, model Cara Delevingne, TV personality Tamara Ecclestone, and the novelist Nancy Mitford.
League Table Position: The school appears among the top 40 independent schools in the Sunday Times Parent Power rankings and was Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2023. Parents on forums consistently describe results as 'incredible' and rising — and, notably, 'really good results but without hothouse pressure'.
The Interview
Candidates who progress past the London 11+ Consortium assessment are invited in for a one-to-one interview AND a group exercise — held, for 2027 entry, on 8 January. The school is clear that it 'does not value one part of the application process over another': the reference, the assessment and the interview/group stage all count. The tone is warm — parents repeatedly describe FHS Sloane Square as a 'kind' school focused on knowing each girl — but it is genuine selection, and FHS has become notably harder to get into.
Format
One-to-one interview plus an observed group exercise, in person at the Graham Terrace site
Duration
A short individual interview; the group exercise runs alongside on the same January day
Role in Admissions
Part of a holistic assessment, not a pass/fail gate
Curiosity and kindness, not polish
The school's stated values centre on belonging, curiosity 'over perfection', and kindness — and the ISI October 2024 report praises a culture of mutual respect and the 'big sister' programme. The interview and group exercise reward a girl who is genuinely curious and works generously with others, not one delivering a rehearsed performance. The group exercise specifically observes problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.
What Makes a Strong Impression
Authentic enthusiasm for real interests — a book, a project, a question she's curious about — lands far better than a polished list of achievements. In the group exercise, staff watch how a candidate listens, builds on others' ideas and recovers from a wrong turn. Warmth and collaboration are read as fit signals; the school's pastoral, 'every girl is known' identity runs right through the assessment.
Likely interview themes
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
- What the candidate enjoys reading and learning about
- Interests and activities outside the classroom — music, drama, ballet, sport
- How she approaches a problem or a question she finds hard
- Why Francis Holland Sloane Square specifically
- How she works with and supports other people
The pattern: Conversational and warm — exploring interests, curiosity and thinking, plus collaborative group problem-solving
Never Asked — Don't Over-Prepare
- Trick or 'gotcha' academic questions
- Detailed knowledge of the school's history or alumnae
- Anglican doctrine specifics (the school is Church of England in foundation, welcoming all faiths)
- A comparative grilling about other Consortium schools applied to
What Actually Wins Offers
- 1Genuine, specific curiosity about real interests — not a rehearsed achievement list
- 2Warm, generous collaboration in the group exercise
- 3Comfort thinking aloud through an unfamiliar problem
- 4A real reason for choosing Francis Holland Sloane Square
- 5Kindness and active listening — central to the school's culture
“They achieve really good results but without hothouse pressure.”
“The new Sixth form centre has meant they have retained more high achieving girls.”
“its reputation for girls' wellbeing is outstanding.”
“Lots of bright girls I know wait listed this year and only two offers.”
“It's become incredibly hard to get into so I wouldn't count on it being a back up.”
Contact Admissions
Francis Holland School, Sloane Square 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 22+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
It's a London 11+ Consortium school — one assessment, many schools
FHS Sloane Square does NOT set its own 11+ papers. It belongs to the London 11+ Consortium: your daughter sits a single ~100-minute assessment (usually at her current school) that counts for every Consortium school she applies to. Preparation should target the Consortium format — adaptive first half, non-adaptive problem-solving and 'creative comprehension' second half — not a school-specific paper. Crucially, the maths is pegged to Year 5 National Curriculum content and explicitly will NOT test Year 6 material.
The second half of the assessment is deliberately hard to coach
After the adaptive first half, the Consortium assessment has a non-adaptive section — puzzles/problem-solving and a 'creative comprehension'/analysis paper where candidates synthesise information from several sources. The school says the assessment 'looks beyond academic ability' to problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity. Heavy past-paper drilling helps less here than years of wide reading, discussion and lateral-thinking practice. Start broad and early rather than intensively and late.
It has become genuinely hard to get into — don't treat it as a back-up
Across multiple Mumsnet threads, parents describe FHS Sloane Square as 'increasingly popular and therefore more selective', with accounts of bright girls being wait-listed. One parent put it bluntly: 'It's become incredibly hard to get into so I wouldn't count on it being a back up.' If FHS Sloane Square is a serious target, prepare for it as a first-choice-level school, not a safety net.
Compact central-London site — 'cramped', with sport off-site
The Graham Terrace site is small and built-up — a recurring forum theme is that the school is 'a bit cramped in terms of space' and, like many central-London schools, 'lacks facilities'. Sport happens off-site at Battersea Park. The flip side, parents note, is the location itself: minutes from Sloane Square Tube and the King's Road. Visit and judge for yourself whether the scale suits your daughter — for many girls the intimacy is a positive, not a drawback.
The Chelsea/Belgravia 'bubble' is real — and it's a kind one
Parents consistently describe an affluent Chelsea/Belgravia/Sloane Square community — 'a bit of a bubble' with 'lots of very affluent families'. The same parents are equally consistent that it is 'a kind school' with a 'genuine, personalised atmosphere' and that they were 'surprised by how down to earth it was'. Worth knowing what the social context is — but the warmth of the community is the dominant forum theme, not snobbery.
ISI Oct 2024 flagged one development area: teaching in Years 7–9
The October 2024 ISI inspection met every standard and praised wellbeing, safeguarding, the curriculum and the sixth-form centre — but gave one recommended next step: 'make sure that teaching in Years 7 to 9 is consistently effective.' The report notes that in some lower-school lessons 'a few pupils are not sufficiently engaged' and don't make the progress they should. Teaching in the sixth form and upper school was praised. Worth raising at an Open Morning to hear how the school is responding lower down.
The Sixth Form centre is a genuine asset — and a retention story
The Sixth Form centre — a refurbished neo-gothic Victorian 'Old School House' — is singled out as 'exceptional' by the ISI October 2024 report and praised by parents. One Mumsnet parent links it directly to outcomes: 'the new Sixth form centre has meant they have retained more high achieving girls.' If your daughter might join at 11+ and stay through to 18, the quality of the sixth-form environment is a real part of the long-term value.
The old 'A-level dip' reputation looks out of date
An older forum theme was that FHS Sloane Square was strong at GCSE but dipped at A-level, and sat behind its Regent's Park sister academically. More recent forum comments push back ('it's actually SS that is higher in the league tables'), and the 2025 A-level result — 31% A*, 72% A*–A, the school's best outside Covid years — does not look like a dip. Treat the older reputation with caution; ask the school directly for the current year's A-level breakdown.
Six scholarship strands — including Classical Ballet in its own right
Scholarships are offered at 11+ and 16+ in six strands: Academic, Art, Classical Ballet, Drama, Music and Sport. Classical Ballet as a standalone scholarship strand is unusual and reflects a real school strength. Each non-academic strand has its own assessment day in mid-January (for 2027 entry: Ballet 10 Jan, Art 12 Jan, Music 13 Jan, Sport 14 Jan, Drama 15 Jan). Per Keystone Tutors, 11+ awards are modest in fee terms (around 5% of fees), 16+ awards can reach ~25%, and Classical Ballet awards up to ~£2,000 — but confirm current values directly with the school, as these figures are tutor-sourced, not from the school's own page.
Bursaries are means-tested — and there's a clergy discount
Means-tested bursaries are offered at Year 7 and Sixth Form entry, assessed on the family's full financial circumstances (income AND assets) alongside the pupil's talent and ability. The school is a member of the London Fee Assistance Consortium. There is also a specific provision: remission of one-third of fees for places offered to daughters of the clergy. The school does not publish a maximum bursary value — contact the Fee Support Team early to discuss.
New head since January 2024 — and a genuinely international intake
Mrs Alexandra Haydon became Head in January 2024 (previously Deputy Head, Academic at Millfield), succeeding the long-serving Lucy Elphinstone — so a girl starting now will have a relatively new head for her time at the school. Note also that the ISI October 2024 report records 257 of 608 pupils (~42%) with English as an additional language: this is a markedly multilingual, internationally connected community, which is worth knowing whichever way it cuts for your family.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Francis Holland School, Sloane Square. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Preparing for a school-specific 11+ paper
FHS Sloane Square uses the shared London 11+ Consortium assessment, not its own papers. Families who prepare for a generic or school-specific 11+ miss the Consortium's particular format — adaptive first half, non-adaptive problem-solving and creative-comprehension second half.
Fix: Prepare specifically for the London 11+ Consortium format using the Consortium's own practice materials, on screen, including the multi-source 'creative comprehension' style.
Drilling Year 6 maths for the assessment
The Consortium maths section is explicitly pegged to Year 5 National Curriculum content and will not test Year 6 material. Time spent pushing into Year 6 topics is largely wasted for this assessment.
Fix: Consolidate Year 5 maths to fluency and speed, and put the saved time into reasoning and the problem-solving/creative-comprehension half of the test.
Treating FHS Sloane Square as a safe back-up
The school has become 'incredibly hard to get into' per parent forums, with bright girls reported wait-listed. It is no longer a reliable safety net behind more famous names.
Fix: If it's a genuine target, prepare for it at first-choice intensity and apply early — and build a realistic spread of Consortium and non-Consortium schools.
Over-rehearsing for the interview and group exercise
The school explicitly values curiosity 'over perfection' and a kind, collaborative culture. Scripted answers and a dominant style in the group exercise read as a poor fit.
Fix: Practise real conversation about genuine interests, and coach warm, generous collaboration — contributing and listening — for the group exercise.
Assuming the old 'weaker at A-level' reputation still holds
An older forum reputation had FHS Sloane Square dipping at A-level and trailing its Regent's Park sister. The 2025 results (31% A*, 72% A*–A — best outside Covid years) and recent forum commentary contradict that.
Fix: Judge the school on its current published results and ask admissions directly for the latest A-level breakdown rather than relying on dated reputation.
FHS Sloane Square vs Competitor Schools
How does Francis Holland School, Sloane Square 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: On academic intensity, FHS Sloane Square sits below the very top London girls' day schools (St Paul's Girls', G&L) but its results are strong and rising — and parents consistently describe outcomes achieved 'without hothouse pressure'. On pastoral warmth and 'every girl is known', it is a recognised strength. On facilities and site, it is constrained — a small central-London footprint with off-site sport.
| Factor | FeaturedFrancis Holland Sloane Square | Francis Holland Regent's Park | Queen's Gate School | Godolphin & Latymer School | Wimbledon High School (GDST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent Girls Day (11–18) — CofE, central London | Independent Girls Day (4–18) — sister school, Marylebone | Independent Girls Day (4–18) — South Kensington | Independent Girls Day (11–18) — Hammersmith | Independent Girls Day (4–18) — SW London |
| Co-educational | |||||
| VR in Exam | |||||
| Annual Fee | |||||
| 11+ Difficulty | High | High | Medium-High | Very High | High |
| Interview Style | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Why Parents Choose FHS Sloane Square
- Warm, 'known' pastoral cultureParents repeatedly describe a kind, personalised school where 'my daughter feels known and understood'. The ISI October 2024 report puts pupil wellbeing 'at the forefront' of the school's practice. For a girl who would thrive being known rather than being one of a very large cohort, this is a core draw.
- Strong and rising results without a hothouse reputationBest-ever A-level results outside Covid years in 2025 (72% A*–A, 31% A*) and 87% 9–7 at GCSE — combined with the consistent parent refrain of 'really good results but without hothouse pressure'.
- Performing arts, especially classical balletClassical Ballet is a scholarship strand in its own right and ballet is a genuine on-site speciality, alongside high-standard music and drama. A performing-arts-inclined girl finds real provision here.
- An exceptional Sixth Form centre, in the heart of ChelseaThe neo-gothic 'Old School House' Sixth Form centre is praised by inspectors and credited by parents with retaining high-achieving girls — in a location minutes from Sloane Square and the King's Road.
Points to Consider
- Compact site, limited facilities, off-site sportA small central-London footprint that forums call 'cramped'; sport is off at Battersea Park. Families wanting expansive on-site facilities should weigh this carefully.
- An affluent Chelsea/Belgravia 'bubble'The community is unmistakably affluent and central-London — 'a bit of a bubble'. Parents balance this against genuine warmth, but it is worth going in clear-eyed about the social context.
- Hard to get into — not a back-upRising popularity and selectivity mean it cannot be relied on as a safety net. Bright girls have been reported wait-listed.
- ISI Oct 2024 flagged Years 7–9 teaching consistencyThe one recommended next step from an otherwise-strong inspection — worth a direct question at an Open Morning.
Scholarships & Financial Support
Francis Holland Sloane Square offers scholarships at 11+ (Year 7) and 16+ (Year 12) entry across six strands: Academic, Art, Classical Ballet, Drama, Music and Sport. Academic scholarship is assessed through the main London 11+ Consortium process; each non-academic strand has its own assessment day in mid-January. Detailed criteria and values are set out in the school's 11+ and 16+ Scholarships Booklets.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Scholarship (11+ and 16+) | Honorific recognition; modest fee value (~5% at 11+, up to ~25% at 16+ per Keystone Tutors — confirm with school) | Not publicly disclosed | At 11+, assessed through the main London 11+ Consortium assessment and interview — no separate academic exam. At 16+, through the Sixth Form entry papers and interview. | Yes |
| Music Scholarship (11+ and 16+) | Honorific; may include instrumental tuition support — confirm value with the school | Not publicly disclosed | Audition-based assessment day (13 January 2027 for 2027 Year 7 entry). Register interest at application stage. | Yes |
| Classical Ballet Scholarship (11+ and 16+) | Honorific; up to ~£2,000 per Keystone Tutors — confirm with the school | Not publicly disclosed | Dedicated ballet assessment day (10 January 2027 for 2027 Year 7 entry). An unusual standalone strand reflecting a genuine school strength. | Yes |
| Drama Scholarship (11+ and 16+) | Honorific — confirm value with the school | Not publicly disclosed | Audition-based assessment day (15 January 2027 for 2027 Year 7 entry). | Yes |
| Art Scholarship (11+ and 16+) | Honorific — confirm value with the school | Not publicly disclosed | Portfolio and practical assessment day (12 January 2027 for 2027 Year 7 entry). | Yes |
| Sport Scholarship (11+ and 16+) | Honorific — confirm value with the school | Not publicly disclosed | Practical assessment day (14 January 2027 for 2027 Year 7 entry). | Yes |
| Bursary (means-tested) | Means-tested fee remission; maximum value not publicly disclosed. One-third fee remission for daughters of the clergy. | Offered at Year 7 and Sixth Form entry | Means-tested on the family's full financial circumstances — income AND assets — alongside the pupil's talent and ability. ENTIRELY SEPARATE from scholarships. The school is a member of the London Fee Assistance Consortium. Contact the Fee Support Team well before entry. | Yes |
* Scholarship value figures (11+ awards around 5% of fees, 16+ awards up to ~25%, Classical Ballet up to ~£2,000) are sourced from Keystone Tutors, not the school's own published page — confirm current values directly with admissions. Means-tested bursaries are entirely separate and confidential, assessed on full family circumstances; the school is a member of the London Fee Assistance Consortium and offers one-third fee remission for daughters of the clergy.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Francis Holland School, Sloane Square's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
Year 4 — Visit and decide
Get to know the school and the Consortium
- Attend an Open Morning at FHS Sloane Square — judge the compact central-London site in person
- Visit at least one other London 11+ Consortium school for comparison
- Understand how the shared Consortium assessment works across multiple schools
- Encourage wide independent reading and curiosity-led discussion at home
Useful resources
School Open Mornings · London 11+ Consortium website · Wide independent reading
Year 5 — Foundation
Build Consortium-format fluency
- Consolidate Year 5 National Curriculum maths to fluency and speed (Year 6 content is NOT tested)
- Begin on-screen, adaptive-format practice in English comprehension, verbal and non-verbal reasoning
- Practise multi-source 'creative comprehension' and lateral problem-solving — the hard-to-coach part
- Keep reading widely and discussing ideas — this feeds both the assessment and the interview
Useful resources
London 11+ Consortium practice tests · Adaptive online 11+ platforms · Bond / CGP reasoning books
Year 6 Autumn — Register & assess
Application and the Consortium assessment
- Register on the OpenApply portal by 6 November 2026 and pay the registration fee
- Arrange the confidential reference from the current school
- Flag scholarship interest and note the relevant January assessment day
- Sit the London 11+ Consortium assessment on 1 December 2026
Useful resources
OpenApply admissions portal · Full timed Consortium-format mocks · Current-school reference
Year 6 January — Interview & scholarships
Interview, group exercise and scholarship days
- Prepare for a warm one-to-one interview about genuine interests and curiosity
- Practise warm, collaborative group work for the group exercise (8 January 2027)
- Attend any scholarship strand assessment day (Ballet 10 Jan, Art 12 Jan, Music 13 Jan, Sport 14 Jan, Drama 15 Jan)
- Avoid over-rehearsing — the school values curiosity over polish
Useful resources
Mock conversational interviews · Collaborative problem-solving practice · Scholarship strand preparation
February–March — Offers
Decision and acceptance
- Offers issued 12 February 2027 — review against other Consortium outcomes
- Confirm acceptance and pay the £3,150 deposit by 3 March 2027
- If relevant, progress a separate means-tested bursary application with the Fee Support Team
- Plan the move into Year 7 — transition events for joining families
Useful resources
School transition programme · Fee Support Team (for bursaries) · Deposit and acceptance paperwork
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Intelligence Score
Updated May 2026 (incl. ISI Oct 2024 report fully extracted + 2025 results + Sept 2026 fees) · 22 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 (incl. ISI Oct 2024 report fully extracted + 2025 results + Sept 2026 fees). Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
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Near FHS Sloane Square
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