Francis Holland School: Regent's Park - About Francis Holland School:History

The Reverend Canon Francis Holland

Francis Holland School, Regent's Park, was founded in 1878 by the Reverend Canon Francis Holland, and was opened in Baker Street where it remained until 1915. The School was then transferred to its new purpose built site near Clarence Gate.

Since that time there has been a continuing programme of modernisation and development in order to ensure that the facilities of the school are in keeping with the rapidly changing needs of modern education.

Over the years a third wing was built, joining the two ends of the original V shaped building. This transformed the teaching provision and Sixth Form facilities and, in addition, provided the School with a fine swimming pool in a hall which, by means of a floating floor, doubles up for dry activities.

The School has seven well-equipped Science Laboratories for the specialist teaching of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and a specialist Music Centre, as well as a modern, well resourced gymnasium and fitness centre.

In 2009 the 5,000 sq ft Gloucester Wing was opened, by HRH The Duke of Gloucester on 6th May, providing extra classrooms, seminar rooms, a performance area, for music, drama and theatre studies and a fourth art studio. (The Gloucester Wing was formally an historic pub called The Gloucester Arms which dates back to the late eighteenth century.)

The School is adjacent to Regent's Park and makes full use of the extensive outdoor recreational facilities available there. There is close liaison with St Cyprian's Church opposite the school, and services and concerts are regularly held in this fine Ninian Comper building.

The history of the school can be explored further in two books: ‘Polished Corners 1878-1978' by Susan Hicklin, and ‘Francis Holland School' by E. Moberley Bell.