Francis Holland School Sloane Square

If your daughter is a curious, motivated girl who would enjoy a small school in the heart of London, Francis Holland, Sloane Square is the kind of place that tends to suit her. The Good Schools Guide calls it a school that inspires, invigorates, stretches and stimulates, and notes that it is no longer seen as the safety net it once was. It is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, tucked between Pimlico Road and Sloane Square in Belgravia, and its Church of England character still shapes daily life, with a motto asking that its daughters become the cornerstones of the temple; even the pastoral hub is named Cornerstone.

Founded in 1881 by Canon Francis James Holland, the school occupies a warren of buildings that thread from one hall and classroom to the next. Music sits at the centre of things, with two choirs across the lower and upper school and concerts shared with the sister school at Regent's Park. Sport is described by the girls themselves as great fun rather than fiercely competitive, with sessions at Battersea Park and nearby. Parents tend to be grounded and realistic, and a firm phone policy keeps mobiles locked away during the day.

Led since January 2024 by headteacher Mrs Alexandra Haydon, a scientist by background who came from Millfield, the school offers a strong creative and pastoral culture in a central setting. It suits a girl who will enjoy that mix and who wants to be known well, not just taught well.