On Friday 9th May, UVI pupils, parents and teachers gathered in St Mary’s Church, Bourne Street, to celebrate the many extraordinary endeavours and amazing achievements of the year group over their seven years at FHS.

Led by our Chaplain, Revd van der Hart, the Service included poignant readings by students and staff, the giving of prizes for attainment and progress and a ceremonial “Welcome into the Alumni of Francis Holland School”, where girls were invited forward one by one to receive a gift and form tutors lit the candles held by the girls as a sign of our love and commitment to them as they journey forward. The service culminated in a moving performance of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know by the entire year group, before the Upper Sixth and their guests enjoyed a reception back at Graham Terrace.

We are so proud of all our UVI pupils, every one of whom as brought so much to life at FHS — whether it’s been on the stage in productions including Legally Blonde and Little Shop of Horrors, performing at concerts, delivering TEDx talks, leading whole-school assemblies, or demonstrating their creativity through their impressive EPQs. They have supported one another through the challenges of Sixth Form, including the increased workload, the pressure of mock exams, and the demands of Higher Education applications. Through it all, they have shown resilience, humour, and determination, and have left a real and lasting mark on the FHS community.

It has been an enormous privilege to watch these girls grow into such wonderful young women over the last seven years. We wish them the very best of luck in their upcoming A Levels and, wherever they are headed next — whether that’s a gap year, university, or straight into the world of work — we wish them every success and we look forward to hearing about their next adventures.