Francis Holland Sloane Square

[Freshlaundry1]

Does anyone have any recent experience or views on this school? I like the fact that there is a prep and it works for us location-wise, but have now heard from several sources about challenges around a toxic all-girl bullying culture in the senior school.

Have moved this thread to ‘secondary schools’ hoping someone can give us some insights.

Only secondhand info that some year groups can be a bit toxic depending on the pupils..a few uber wealthy celebrity offspring can cause issues!

Yes, that’s exactly the information we are hearing from multiple sources now

major psychological issues!

We have now heard a story about a girl in the senior school being bullied to the point of it getting physical. Think that’s enough data for us on the school and we will not be applying!

I think that is harsh.

Unless it has changed dramatically since I used to know it well (about 7 years ago), it is a lovely nurturing school which put pastoral care at the centre of its offering.

Of course, the pupils are generally very wealthy, but the whole Christian ethos of the school was giving back and valuing everyone as an Individual (not religious myself, but it’s a good ethos regardless).

You will never find a school with zero bullying but, if found out, it was properly dealt with.

My DD went there for sixth form only. She didn’t love it (who loves school), but she respected her teachers, made a few friends and achieved three A*s. It was more academic than we were expecting. We are a middle class family and there are definitely some uber wealthy families there but my DD didn’t really think that made a difference. She did have a longer commute than most (we are in zone 3) but two of her friends had equally long commutes. My only thing, and I think this is for all all girl schools, not just FH, is that they really expect them to go into business/law/finance (Math is the most popular A level), and my DD was on the creative/writing end and she felt a bit unsupported in her initial choice to go to art school. But they were very helpful when she pivoted after her A level results in applying to Cambridge after she left. Plus I must add she was diagnosed with MS just weeks before she sat her A levels and they really pulled out all the stops to support her. The headmistress retired just after she left so not sure if that has made any difference.
Ultimately I think it’s a good school and please don’t judge by rumours or second hand information.

@Newbutoldfather There has been a new headmistress for 3 years. The previous one was, by all accounts, a real visionary and really transformed the school. Unfortunately, since the previous head’s departure, things have changed. The ‘rumour’ about bullying turning physical is not a rumour and from close family friends whose perspective I really trust. I initially posted on here because I’d heard concerning stories from a couple of sources and wanted to gauge if other people had heard similar. Now, with the issue that happened to our friend’s daughter, we sadly have confirmation of what we were worried about.

Sadly, schools change when leadership changes.

I’m sad to say we have first-hand experience of the bullying culture at FHS. I won’t go into too much detail because it may reveal my daughter’s identity, but it’s not a kind school. Bullying can happen anywhere, but the toxic ‘herd’ nature of the girls there is ignored by the senior leadership. Head of pastoral cares seems to concern herself most with uniform regulation rather than creating a nurturing learning environment.

Very sorry to hear @Orchidmist, I really hope your daughter is ok.

Do you plan to change schools @Orchidmist ? I have walked past this school on multiple occasions and some of the girls didn’t seem that nice. And the length of some of the skirts!!! 🙈