St. Francis' College - Girls' Schools Association

Founded in 1933 and set amidst the green residential environment of Letchworth Garden City, the world’s first garden city, St. Francis’ College stands tall in this enviable location.

Letchworth is conveniently located half way on the main train line connecting London and Cambridge. Your journey by direct train from London Kings Cross station will take just 35 minutes while Heathrow airport is 50 minutes away by car.

Run by an educational charity, St. Francis’ College has been providing a first-class education for girls for decades. Now a day and boarding school for girls aged 3-18, welcoming girls of all faiths and none, we blend traditional values and a modern vision.

Our academic achievements are outstanding and we have a solid tradition of academic rigor. However, we believe that academic success should be balanced with personal success in everything the girls do. Our girls learn to set their own aspirational targets and we encourage them to nurture self-belief.

This means that good results happen naturally. And it is this philosophy and approach that has become an essential part of the St. Francis’ Way.

At St. Francis’ we believe that given the right stimulus, the right environment, the right focus and support, and with effort and commitment, your daughter can be anything she wants to be. As one of the top all-girls’ independent schools in the country, St. Francis’ prides itself on building intellectually creative minds.

We have strong traditions in art, dance, drama and music. The recycled fashion Show is a popular annual event, and the girls are adept at developing their own photographs in the dark room. Annual dance and drama productions from Kindergarten to Year 13 are held in our 330-seat professional Theatre and our serene Chapel hosts regular music concerts.

You can board at St. Francis’ from Year 6, and there is the option of weekly or flexi boarding, although the majority board full-time.

The boarding house has a lovely family atmosphere supported by experienced boarding staff and academic tutors. Boarding comes with a built-in social life, which means that the girls will be living with their friends – a recipe for fun!

Our school has everything you would expect and more: there’s a 330-seat purpose-built theatre, a 20-metre indoor heated swimming pool, gymnasium, dance studio, hockey pitches and five courts for both netball and tennis.

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Address Broadway, Letchworth Garden City
SG6 3PJ

Essentials

Head James Nichols

Age range 3 - 18
Day / Boarding
- Day
- Full Boarding
- Weekly Boarding
- Flexi Boarding
Religious affiliation Christian Ethos

Exams
14+ GCSE, IGCSE
16+ A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Fees (per term) September 2021 - August 2022
Prep/Junior School
- £3,620 - £4,700 per term
- Boarding £8,150 - £10,140 per term
Senior School
- £6,150 per term
- Boarding £9,600 - £11,590 per term
Sixth Form
- £6,150 per term
- Boarding £9,600 - £11,590 per term
Find out more about fees >

Exams
- Exams
- 14+ GCSE, IGCSE
- 16+ A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Fees (per term)
- Fees (per term) September 2021 - August 2022
- Prep/Junior School
  - £3,620 - £4,700 per term
  - Boarding £8,150 - £10,140 per term
- Senior School
  - £6,150 per term
  - Boarding £9,600 - £11,590 per term
- Sixth Form
  - £6,150 per term
  - Boarding £9,600 - £11,590 per term
- Find out more about fees >

Bursaries & Scholarships

At St. Francis’ College we support all girls in their individual gifts and talents and endeavour to help each one of them to discover her passion and unlock her potential. Our Scholarship programme is designed to identify strengths, nurture commitment and resilience, provide excitement and challenge and to celebrate success.

Prep School Scholarships

Year 3 Entry
There are a limited number of financial awards available to girls entering Year 3, which are awarded on the basis of assessment tests taken on one day in the Spring Term. These are open to internal and external applicants. Entrants must take the tests on the specified day in order to be considered for an award.

Year 5 Entry
Academic and Arts Scholarships (Dance, Drama, Music and/or Art) are available for entry into Year 5; these are open to both internal and external applicants. Scholarship Exams and Auditions take place in the Spring Term.

Senior School Scholarships

Year 7 (Entrance at 11+)
Academic Scholarships are awarded to the best candidates on the basis of performance in the College’s Entrance Examination. The value of scholarship award is either 10% or 20% and is open to both internal and external applicants.

There are two Sports Scholarship awards and four Arts Scholarships (Art, Dance, Drama, Music) to the value of 10% each plus tuition in one or two disciplines taken in College.

One additional award: The St Francis de Sales Award – is offered to the daughter or granddaughter of an Old Girl of the College.

Year 9 (Entrance at 13+)
Academic Scholarships are awarded to the best candidates on the basis of performance in the College’s Entrance Examination with a value of either 10% or 20%.

Two Sports Scholarships and two Arts Scholarships (Art, Dance, Drama, Music) are available at 10% each plus tuition in one or two disciplines taken in College.

Year 12 – Sixth Form (Entrance at 16+)
A number of awards are available to students entering the College’s Sixth Form. These are awarded as a result of an examination and interview held in November each year. Students are asked to demonstrate an ability to contribute significantly to a specific area of school life, e.g. School Council, music, drama, community, sport as well as academic promise.

There is one Sports Scholarship awarded, value 10%. and two Arts Scholarships (Art, Dance, Drama, Music) available at 10% each plus tuition in one or two disciplines taken in College.

Headmistress` Special Award is a discretionary Scholarship (not always awarded) for a girl who displays outstanding promise or contribution to College life.

For full details of eligibility and what a Scholarship award offers, together with applications deadlines and assessment dates, please email [email protected](Senior) or [email protected] (Prep)

Please note that a pupil may hold only one scholarship at any given time.

Fee Assistance

If an applicant requires financial support to join St. Francis’, an additional application should be made for a Bursary (reduction in school fees). A Scholarship and a Bursary can be awarded to one holder and run concurrently.

Bursaries are available for entry at 11+, 13+ and 16+. These are awarded on the basis of financial need. Additional bursaries are also available for current students at a critical point in their education should financial need dictate. All bursaries are reviewed annually.

For further details, please contact the Admissions Administrator on [email protected]

Find out more >

Scholarships & Bursaries offered