Queen’s College London vs Francis Holland Regents Park

[London36]

Dear All,

We visited both QCL and FH Regents Park for Year 7 entry in September 2022. We like both. In many ways they seem very similar to me (pastoral care, approach, academics, neither have sports fields). QCL’s head seems fantastic, there will be a new head in FH, sure that she will be great too.

Which school would you select if you had a choice? What are each known for?

Distance is similar for us.

Thank you very much for your help!

Hi. We visited both schools a few years ago. Both have small campuses, but make use of RP for sports. I really like the sincerity of the QCL head, not so much of the FHRP head.

Queen's College - Two daughters, one in sixth form currently and elder has left (2020) and gone to Uni. Would highly recommend QCL; both my daughters are very different and the school has suited them both. Both have excelled academically and even more importantly, they have been happy (most of the time!). Head strongly believes that happy children do well, rather than a pressurised hothouse atmosphere. No up-to-date knowledge of FHS (since I was there 35 years ago!), but league tables suggest that QCL now has the better academic results.

FHRP is an excellent school. Really nurturing. The current head brought about several positive changes and the new headteacher also seems really good and down to earth. Comparable academically with Queens, FHRP slightly ahead ( as per Sunday Times).

This is definitely a really hard choice as I like both schools - am slightly agonising! I think for me QCL has the edge, after going to both offer holder events - I just warmed more to the Head at QCL and the informality/warm 'feel' I got about the school - but it's just a gut feeling really. I know they are both great schools and very similar in terms of results (though I think the last poster is mistaken - looking at the Sunday Times, QCL is a bit ahead of FHRP for A-levels, but of course that league table doesn't count the last two years when A-level exams were cancelled... so really not sure the league tables mean anything TBH!) My daughter enjoyed both events but I think she is leaning to QCL mainly because a few of her friends from her prep school are definitely going - which isn't necessarily the right reason to choose a school of course. Good luck making the decision @London36 - it's so tricky!

Accepted FHRP now and paid deposit :-) Feeling sooo relieved now.

And I’ve now accepted QCL over FHRP - phew, you’re right it does feel good to have (finally) made the decision and gone with my gut feeling that it’s the school where my daughter will be happier and so hopefully achieve more! Good luck to those all still deciding :)

Thank you to everyone that has posted! There was really very little about either school (and particularly about QCL) on mumsnet.

@dreadingthetime - what helped to tip the balance?
@ARBMum - thank you for the post. It is really helpful

Congratulations for all of your girls and for having already been able to make the decision!!

Thank you!!

@London36 I threw several questions to all schools I applied for my DD. I found FHRP to be very good in coming back. My dd has real interest in science, particularly maths and physics. I communicated with the head of Science and also who looks after the stretch and challenge programme. I believe my DD will be very well supported there. DD was really interested in their participation in NASA challenge. FHRP won both the times they participated which really attracted my DD. My DH though is only interested in A Level and really do not care much about GCSE. We at this stage is not in favour of changing school at A Level. So DH did his research on it, spoke with few A level students as well. School's new and separate A level building means more room for rest of the school which was positive for us as well. Overall, we found FHRP to be well balanced.

Thank you very much for the feedback!

In the end my DD really wanted QCL so that was our choice. I think both schools are really good.

We feel so much better now that we have made a decision and sent in the forms etc.

Thank you once again!

Anyone knows what is asked during the FHRP interview?