With much excitement, Francis Holland Preparatory School welcomed pupils to a spacious new Chelsea home at the start of the school year
Moving to a new place is always exciting and, for staff and pupils of Francis Holland’s Junior School at Sloane Square, there was extra excitement. They have relocated close by to an iconic Victorian Grade II listed building in Manresa Road, just off the King’s Road. The school is now known officially as Francis Holland Preparatory School.
The first day of the new school year on 5th September was a celebration for pupils, parents and staff. The Right Reverend Doctor Emma Ineson, Bishop of Kensington, was guest of honour and described Francis Holland Prep as a place of love, learning and joy before leading the whole school in a prayer and blessing. She then cut a ceremonial ribbon to declare the school officially open.
This move has more than doubled the space previously occupied by girls aged 4-11, meaning places can be offered to over100 more pupils. By September 2026, the prep will offer two-form entry, with 280 pupils. More space means it can also further strengthen the educational offering, both academically and pastorally. This enables greater opportunities to spread out and offer extra specialist provision in music, sport, drama, art and other co-curricular activities. Of course, the relocation for Francis Holland Prep also frees up more space in FHS Sloane Square – enabling further curriculum enhancement there for the Senior girls.
While the prep school has expanded, planning for class sizes of 20 enables it to maintain the same level of individual attention for each child within a nurturing and friendly environment, says Francis Holland Schools Trust. The new school site extends to 20,000sq ft and was formerly the home of The Hampshire School. The building, which dates back to 1890, includes the old Chelsea Library – a local landmark building with a delightful frontage and glorious spaces.
Facilities at the new school site include a large hall with staging for shows, assemblies and special events. There’s a specialist STEAM facility and an extensive outdoor play area – a real asset in central London, although, of course, there are many green spaces beyond the school across this enclave of south-west London.
The new location is designed to provide outstanding preparation for leading seniors, including the two FHS schools in Sloane Square and Regent’s Park. Francis Holland Prep Head Suzy Dixon (who headed up the Junior School) says: “The move to Manresa Road provides the perfect environment to cultivate lively, thoughtful and questioning pupils who can debate with gusto, reflect on the world around them with care and empathy, solve problems creatively, and appreciate the bigger picture”.
Although it no longer shares a location with its big sister, Francis Holland Prep will maintain its particularly close association with Francis Holland, Sloane Square, with specialist staff continuing to teach at both schools. It’s anticipated that many pupils will continue to choose to move on there from the Prep at 11+.
Francis Holland Prep School francishollandprep.org.uk
Further reading: Bromley High School introduces Middle Years
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