Francis Holland School, Sloane Square is a well-established independent girls’ school in central London, valued for its nurturing environment, strong pastoral care and emphasis on developing confident, articulate young women. While academically selective, the school places equal importance on character, curiosity and communication, making it particularly attractive to families seeking a supportive yet aspirational education.
As a member of the London 11+ Consortium, Francis Holland Sloane Square receives a large number of applications each year for a limited number of Year 7 places. Thoughtful and targeted preparation for the Francis Holland 11+ entrance process is therefore essential. At Clarendon Tutors, we regularly support families applying to Francis Holland, helping pupils prepare for both the consortium exam and the school’s interview stage in a way that reflects its ethos.
Francis Holland School, Sloane Square: An Overview
Founded in 1878, Francis Holland School, Sloane Square is an independent day school for girls aged 11–18, located close to Sloane Square in Chelsea. The school is known for its warm community feel, small class sizes and focus on individual development, allowing pupils to grow in confidence and independence as they progress through the school.
Entry at 11+ is the main point of admission. While competition is strong, Francis Holland is looking for girls who will thrive in a supportive, encouraging environment, rather than simply those who perform strongest in written exams alone.
Francis Holland Sloane Square and the London 11+ Consortium
Francis Holland School, Sloane Square is part of the London 11+ Consortium, a group of leading independent girls’ schools that share a common entrance exam. All applicants sit the same consortium assessment, typically in the autumn term of Year 6.
Families may apply to more than one consortium school using the same exam sitting. However, each school considers results independently and conducts its own interviews, meaning that preparation should balance consortium-wide exam skills with school-specific expectations.
The Francis Holland Sloane Square 11+ Entrance Exam
The London 11+ Consortium exam is designed to assess academic potential and reasoning ability, rather than rote learning. While broadly aligned with the KS2 curriculum, questions are often time-pressured and require clear thinking.
The assessments typically include:
- English comprehension and written responses
- Mathematics, including problem-solving
- Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
For Francis Holland Sloane Square 11+ candidates, strong literacy skills, careful reading and confidence with mathematical reasoning are particularly important.
At Clarendon Tutors, our preparation focuses on accuracy, confidence under time pressure and familiarity with consortium-style questions, helping pupils approach the exam calmly and effectively.
The Francis Holland 11+ Interview
All girls who apply to Francis Holland Sloane Square are invited for interview, usually held in January. This stage allows the school to assess personal qualities and suitability alongside academic ability.
Interviews typically explore:
- interests and enthusiasm for learning
- verbal reasoning and communication skills
- confidence, maturity and engagement
- readiness for senior school life
Girls may be asked to talk about reading, explain their thinking or respond to open-ended questions. The school values authentic, thoughtful responses, rather than overly rehearsed answers.
Clarendon Tutors provides Francis Holland-specific 11+ interview preparation, helping pupils feel comfortable expressing their ideas clearly and confidently.
What Francis Holland Looks for at 11+
Across the 11+ consortium exam and interview, Francis Holland Sloane Square looks for girls who demonstrate:
- good academic potential
- strong communication skills
- curiosity and engagement
- confidence without pressure
- a positive attitude to learning
Success depends on a balanced performance, rather than exam results alone.
Preparing for the Francis Holland Sloane Square 11+
Effective preparation for 11+ entry to Francis Holland Sloane Square should be structured but measured, building both skills and confidence. Pupils benefit from:
- focused English comprehension and writing work
- clear, methodical maths practice
- reasoning skills development
- timed exam familiarity
- gentle but purposeful interview preparation
At Clarendon Tutors, we design bespoke Francis Holland 11+ preparation programmes, aligned with the London 11+ Consortium and the school’s supportive ethos.
How Clarendon Tutors Can Support Your Child
We regularly help families applying to Francis Holland School, Sloane Square through:
- specialist 11+ English and maths tutoring
- targeted preparation for the London 11+ Consortium exam
- reasoning and exam-technique support
- mock interviews tailored to Francis Holland
- clear guidance for parents throughout the process
Our approach is calm, personalised and highly experienced.
Final Thoughts
Gaining a place at Francis Holland School, Sloane Square through the 11+ Consortium is a significant achievement. With the right preparation, pupils can approach both the written exam and interview with confidence and clarity.
At Clarendon Tutors, we support families at every stage of the Francis Holland 11+ admissions journey, helping pupils present their abilities authentically and effectively.