Francis Holland School Regent's Park

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑! 🏊‍♀️✨

A huge shoutout to one of our pupils for her truly incredible achievements in the pool!

Our Inter House Swimming competition took place recently which was a brilliant display of sporting excellence, perseverance and school spirit as pupils competed to add to their House’s tally 🏊‍♀️

We would like to congratulate one pupil in particular, who won not one… not two… but THREE open cups - backstroke, breaststroke and the Speed Cup! 👏✨

She is no stranger to success in the pool having recently come away from a regional competition with a plethora of medals, and as 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞! 🤩

Her outstanding results have seen her qualify for two upcoming national competitions, at one of which she will be the youngest swimmer, swimming in the age category above her!

We wish her all the very best as she prepares and can’t wait to see how she gets on! 👏🫶

𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛𝐬, 𝐅𝐇𝐒 𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐂

We were delighted to welcome back Polished Corner, Laura Jacobs, for the latest event of our Hale Lecture series.

Reflecting on her time at Francis Holland Regent’s Park, Laura spoke warmly about the school as a safe space in which to learn, grow and develop confidence as an individual - crediting her time here with giving her the self-confidence to pursue a career working with major brands in the sporting industry.

Laura gave pupils a fascinating insight into the world of brand marketing, exploring how organisations build genuine emotional connections with audiences to influence behaviours and drive engagement.

Pupils on the panel and in the audience posed thoughtful questions on topics ranging from the rapid growth of women’s sport and the importance of female representation in the industry, to the ways social media is transforming how sports brands engage in two-way conversations with supporters.

Our Hale Lecture series provides a platform for pupils to hear from and engage with trailblazing female leaders across a wide range of industries - developing public speaking and leadership skills while benefitting from unique opportunities to gain valuable industry insight for their future pathways.

Huge thanks to Laura for coming in to speak to us 🫶

This week, pupils from Francis Holland Regent’s Park and St Marylebone School presented their final projects as part of the Architectural Ambassadors programme, delivered in partnership with Royal Institute of British Architects.

Over a number of months, pupils worked in mixed-school teams alongside RIBA-accredited architects, taking part in workshops, developing design concepts, building models and refining their ideas before pitching their final presentations. It was fantastic to see their creativity, collaboration and confidence come together in such beautifully considered and professionally delivered proposals 👏

Programmes such as this form an important part of our commitment to providing enrichment opportunities that extend pupils’ experience of real-world knowledge beyond the curriculum. Through partnerships with leading organisations and other schools, pupils benefit from expert guidance, collaborative learning and valuable opportunities to broaden their networks beyond their own school environment ✨

Congratulations to all involved - there were some truly impressive feats of architecture on display, and perhaps one day we may see one of these designs shaping the London skyline 👀

This week, our Lower Sixth took part in the first annual Francis Holland Regent’s Park Mock Trial, tackling a fascinating case centred on the complex issue of self-defence.

In preparation, students enjoyed a workshop with criminal barrister Mr Christopher Jenkins, who shared expert guidance on delivering persuasive speeches, questioning witnesses and routes into the legal profession.

The Linhope House Common Room was transformed into a courtroom for the occasion, complete with Prosecution and Defence Counsel, witnesses, a Court Clerk, Jury — and even a Court Artist creating brilliant live sketches.

The trial was a huge success, with every student presenting convincing, well-prepared cases with impressive confidence and poise. We were delighted to welcome Ms Lorna Badham of Outer Temple Chambers as our judge, who praised the eloquence and assurance shown by all involved.

Congratulations to all the girls involved in such a fantastic event showcasing advocacy, critical thinking and teamwork - the future of the legal profession certainly looks bright! ✨

The Year 12 A Level Geography students recently undertook a residential fieldtrip to Snowdonia, making the most of sunny weather while carrying out essential preparation for their Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) ⛰️

Throughout the trip, students applied a range of fieldwork techniques to investigate carbon and water cycles, as well as glacial landscapes, deepening their understanding of key physical geography processes in a real-world environment. They collected primary data using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, and developed their methodological skills through careful planning, data recording, and evaluation. In addition, students strengthened their use of GIS by exploring how to map and analyse their findings, linking field observations to wider spatial patterns!

The experience not only enhanced their subject knowledge but also built confidence in independent research; an invaluable step towards success in their NEA.

Last Thursday was our annual Sports Awards Evening - a fantastic celebration of sporting excellence, recognising our pupils’ commitment and dedication to sporting life at Francis Holland Regent’s Park. We were also honoured to welcome a very special VIP as our guest speaker, Katie Shanahan - former England hockey player and sports broadcaster - to talk to our pupils about her impressive career ✨

Pupils were invited onstage to receive their awards in a host of categories including Sportswoman of the Year, Team of the Year and Sports Personality of the Year, as well as awards recognising outstanding achievement and best progress in a variety of sports. We would like to extend our enormous thanks to Katie for presenting our Sports Awards and inspiring our girls with her incredible story 🫶

A huge well done to every single pupil for representing our school on the track, field, court, pitch and in the pool throughout the past year with such dedication, commitment and enthusiasm - a true embodiment of our school values! 👏

Finally, thank you to all those who joined us to celebrate the girls’ successes, and thank you to the PE Department for delivering a wonderful evening of celebration.

Our annual ski trip never disappoints, and this year’s adventure to Geilo, Norway was no exception! ⛷️❄️🇳🇴

From beginners clipping into their skis for the first time, to experienced skiers heading straight for the tougher slopes, the week was filled with challenge, excitement and huge smiles.

Thanks to the patience and encouragement of the instructors, confidence grew quickly and by day two they group glided down the mountain with ease 👏

Beyond the slopes, pupils enjoyed snowshoeing, bowling, tobogganing, fierce snowball fights and, of course, well-earned hot chocolates. With breath taking scenery and unforgettable experiences, every day brought something new 🤩☕️

Most importantly, the trip was about far more than skiing: it was an opportunity to build resilience, deepen friendships, embrace new challenges and create memories to last a lifetime 🫶

Ever wanted to deep dive into the mechanisms of life? 🤔

Welcome to 🔬The Science Study Booth 🔬 - a podcast created and produced by Sixth Form students at Francis Holland Regent’s Park. Presented by two of our budding scientists, each episode explores fascinating topics ranging from Nobel prize winners to memory and Déjà vu, bringing complex scientific ideas to life with curiosity, clarity and enthusiasm 🎙️✨

With episodes released monthly, this podcast offers an exciting opportunity to go beyond the curriculum and engage with science in depth 🧬🧪🩻

Click below to start watching! 🎥🎧

https://vimeo.com/1166314902?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Inter House Music: Ending the Term on a High Note! 🎶

Hot on the heels of Inter House Debating - a tough act to follow! - our musicians rose to the occasion spectacularly on the final day of the Spring Term for the Inter House Music Competition.

Each House showcased incredible talent and teamwork, performing an instrumental piece, a vocal performance and their House song, with musical choices ranging from Queen’s 'We Will Rock You' to Billie Eilish’s 'When the Party’s Over'. Audience expectations were high, and our performers certainly did not disappoint! 🤩

The courage shown by each and every pupil who stepped onto the stage was remarkable. With such a large number of performers involved, the competition was a true reflection of how deeply music is embedded within our school community and how confidently our pupils embrace opportunities to perform 👏

A huge well done to all musicians for their bravery, commitment and energy - performing in front of the whole school is no small feat! Special congratulations to Mars, our overall winners! 🏆✨

🎤🗣️ Inter House Debating: A Spring Term Tradition!

As always, the final day of the Spring Term saw the return of one of our most anticipated events - the Inter House Debating Competition, a celebration of the outstanding oracy, public speaking and confidence developed by our pupils.

This year’s motion, 'This House supports a national ban on the racing of horses and greyhounds across the United Kingdom,' sparked thoughtful and compelling discussion, with both teams presenting carefully researched arguments delivered with impressive poise, clarity and eloquence before the whole school community.

We were delighted to welcome guest judge Maryam Ziarati McLoughlin, General Counsel, who had the tough job of judging a winning side! After a closely contested exchange, the opposition team emerged victorious - though both sides demonstrated remarkable maturity, critical thinking and persuasive skill throughout.

Congratulations to all our debaters for an inspiring showcase of confidence, collaboration and intellectual curiosity - a wonderful way to close out a fantastic term! 👏