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12 December 2022
Sian Griffiths, Education Editor at The Sunday Times, has commented “Flying the flag for girls’ academic success is Francis Holland School, Sloane Square, up in The Times’ rankings from 91st in 2019 (the last year public exams were able to take place as normal due to Covid) to 13th in 2023.”
It is true that our incredible public exam results (94% of GCSE grades were A*-A and 81% A*, while 75% of A Level results were A*-A and 40% A*in Summer 2022), have been on a dramatic upward trajectory over the last five years, but what really sets FHS apart is our outstanding pastoral care and strong sense of community which allow girls to achieve their full potential.
Headmistress Lucy Elphinstone, who has led FHS from strength to strength over the last decade, has described how encouraging our pupils to not be “Little Miss Perfect”, to “do it scared” and take on challenges even if they feel unprepared, has taught them not to fear failure and enabled them to grow hugely in confidence, which in turn has resulted in our meteoric rise in exam results.
She has said “I am delighted with this accolade but more than anything it shows that developing creativity and curiosity whilst building resilience and courage is the path to a successful and happy school. This is a tribute to the fabulous community of staff, pupils and parents who make FHS the most wonderful place to learn.”
A culture of kindness and compassion, where each child and teacher is seen, known, loved and valued for their individuality rather than their achievements, has created a happy and cohesive school. Pupils learn to give and serve with the courage, humility and determination to make, and to be, the difference in society.
Dynamic and inspirational teaching, focused on thinking innovatively, problem-solving, design thinking and developing leadership skills, gives pupils a unique springboard to be the gamechangers of tomorrow. Meanwhile, our double national award-winning Creative Enterprise programme is embedded in the curriculum from the day girls start at FHS in Year 7, endowing them with the skills and business acumen to be the job makers, not the job takers, in tomorrow’s society.
All of these elements combined result in a holistic, transformational education, whereby pupils leave FHS with the resilience, imagination and emotional intelligence necessary to thrive in a fast-changing and uncertain world.
Please click here, or pick up the Parent Power Schools Guide, included in this weekend’s Sunday Times, to find out more!
#ParentPower #IndependentSchooloftheYear2023
