Nottingham High School
Independent Co-educational Day School · Est. 1513
Nottingham High is unapologetically academic but brilliantly grounded — the East Midlands' premier independent day school draws bright, confident children from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. Having recently completed a transition to full co-education, the atmosphere is modern, inclusive, and vibrant. Life here is fast-paced with a genuinely broad co-curricular programme. No room for coasting, but the pressure is healthy and deeply supported.
The East Midlands' top-ranked independent — National Rank 46 at A-Level, co-educational, city-centre campus with exceptional pastoral care and a hybrid 'tutor-proof' CEM Select assessment that rewards raw intellectual potential.
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Senior Fees
£7,461/term
Independent fee-paying school
A-Level Rank
#46=
National ranking 2024
GCSE Rank
#75
National ranking 2024
Total Pupils
~1,880
Infant, Junior & Senior
Exam Format
CEM Select + Written
Hybrid: digital + papers
Bursary Deadline
1 November
One month before standard deadline
Best For
A confident, intellectually curious child who wants to get stuck into everything — from algebra to rugby to the school play — in a modern, friendly East Midlands environment.
Watch Out For
The dossier and some third-party data wrongly classify this as a state school with £0 fees. It is a fee-paying independent at £7,461/term (Senior). The bursary deadline (1st November) is a full month earlier than the standard registration deadline.
Entry Points
- 4+ (Infant)
- 7+ (Junior)
- 11+ (Senior — main external entry)
- 13+
- 16+ (Sixth Form)
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: The bursary application deadline of 1st November is the most time-critical date in the process — a full month before the standard registration deadline of 1st December. Missing it forfeits all financial assistance. Assessment Day is in January, with one-on-one interviews in late January/February for shortlisted candidates. Offers go out in early March.
Results & League Table Position
Nottingham High consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
30.8%
National rank #46
A-Level A*/A Rate
69.9%
Use the narrative summary below.
GCSE Grade 9-7
84.9%
National rank #75.
A-Level A*-B Rate
92.4%
National Rank 46 (A-Level) and National Rank 75 (GCSE). The dominant academic force in the East Midlands, drawing from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire.
A-Level Results vs National Average
Nottingham High vs England average (%)
What this means: National Rank 46= — exceptional for a co-educational independent day school in the East Midlands. The 69.9% A*/A rate places Nottingham High firmly in the national elite.
GCSE Grade Distribution
Nottingham High vs National distribution (%)
What this means: 84.9% grades 9–7 at National Rank 75 — strong for a school with a genuinely broad co-educational intake rather than a hyper-selective one.
University Destinations
Where Nottingham High leavers go — % of cohort
Notable Academic Achievements
National Rank 46 (A-Level)
Top-50 nationally — the East Midlands' highest-ranked independent school
Co-educational leader
One of the few top-50 independents to be fully co-educational
1,880 pupils
Nottinghamshire's largest independent school, spanning Infant through Sixth Form
Regional magnet school
Draws pupils from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire
League Table Position: National Rank 46 (A-Level) and National Rank 75 (GCSE). The dominant academic force in the East Midlands, drawing from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire.
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 69+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
The school is NOT state-funded — fees are £7,461/term
Multiple data sources including the dossier incorrectly classify Nottingham High as state-funded with £0 fees. This is completely wrong. It is a fee-paying independent school. The £285 figure seen online is the Infant School lunch charge, not tuition.
Bursary deadline is 1 November — one month before standard registration
The standard registration deadline is 1st December, but bursary applications must be submitted by 1st November. Missing this date means losing financial assistance eligibility entirely. Calendar this immediately.
The ISEB claim is junk — CEM Select is the correct provider
Evidence attributing ISEB Common Pre-Test to Nottingham High School comes from a tutoring site listing for St Paul's School, London. This is a completely different school. The correct format is CEM Select (digital adaptive) + own written Maths and English papers.
The interview looks for 'spark' — not exam performance
A large number of candidates are invited back for interviews. The school explicitly states it is not trying to trick candidates — they want to see if a child is teachable, articulate, and genuinely passionate about interests outside academia. Rehearsed scripts backfire.
Taster Days are a genuine differentiator — take them seriously
Nottingham High offers Taster Days for Year 6 students to experience a typical school day before committing. These are genuinely observed opportunities. They also help parents and children assess if the fast-paced, ambitious culture suits them.
CEM Select cannot be gamed by past paper memorisation
The CEM Select component is adaptive and explicitly designed to be 'tutor-proof'. It adjusts difficulty in real time. Standard 11+ practice papers are irrelevant for this component. Build genuine cognitive flexibility through wide reading and unfamiliar problem-solving.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Nottingham High School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Believing it is a state school with zero fees
Multiple third-party data sources wrongly classify Nottingham High as state-funded with £0 fees. It is a fee-paying independent school at £7,461/term for Senior pupils. The £285 figure sometimes seen is the Infant School lunch charge.
Missing the 1 November bursary deadline
The bursary application closes a full month before the standard registration deadline. Families applying for financial assistance must submit by 1 November, not 1 December. This is the most time-critical date in the process.
Preparing for ISEB instead of CEM Select
Evidence attributing ISEB Common Pre-Test to Nottingham High comes from a tutoring site entry for St Paul's School, London — a completely different school. The correct digital component is CEM Select. ISEB preparation is wasted effort.
Trying to memorise past papers for the digital test
CEM Select is adaptive by design and explicitly 'tutor-proof'. It adjusts difficulty in real time based on performance. Rote learning past papers has no effect. Build genuine reasoning ability through wide reading and unfamiliar problem-solving instead.
Coaching the interview instead of nurturing genuine enthusiasm
The school invites a large number of candidates to interview and is explicitly looking for 'spark'. Rehearsed, polished answers are counterproductive. Help your child speak naturally about things they genuinely care about.
Nottingham High vs Competitor Schools
How does Nottingham High School compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
Important context: Families in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire often compare Nottingham High with local grammar schools and nearby independents. The co-educational model and CEM Select format are the key differentiators.
| Factor | FeaturedNottingham High | Nottingham Girls' High (GDST) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent | Independent | Academic Scholarship | Music Scholarship | Sport Scholarship | Means-Tested Bursary |
| Co-educational | ||||||
| VR in Exam | ||||||
| Annual Fee | ~£22,383 | ~£20,000 | ||||
| 11+ Difficulty | Competitive | Competitive | ||||
| Interview Style | 1:1 Interview (large cohort) | Interview |
Why Parents Choose Nottingham High
- National Rank 46 A-Level from a day schoolTop-50 results without boarding fees or London prices
- Fully co-educationalOne of the few top-50 independents to be fully co-ed — modern, inclusive, prepares for the real world
- CEM Select 'tutor-proof' assessmentRewards raw intellectual potential — not just how well a child has been coached
- City-centre campusWell-connected location draws from across three counties — school buses and public transport
- Strong bursary programmeMeans-tested support ensures raw talent is never priced out — though apply by 1 November
Points to Consider
- Often misclassified as state-fundedMultiple data sources wrongly show £0 fees. Fees are £7,461/term for Senior pupils.
- Bursary deadline is earlier than most schools1 November — a full month before standard registration. Missing it forfeits all assistance.
- CEM Select prep requires a different approachStandard 11+ coaching is largely irrelevant for the digital component. Genuine flexibility is what matters.
- Co-ed transition still bedding inThe move to full co-education is recent — culture and dynamics are still evolving.
Scholarships & Financial Support
Academic, music, sport, and all-rounder scholarships are available. Means-tested bursaries can cover a substantial portion of fees. Bursary applications must be submitted by 1 November.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|
* Scholarship and bursary details are updated annually. Contact admissions@nottinghamhigh.co.uk or visit the official financial assistance page for current awards and deadlines.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Nottingham High School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
January–August Year 5
- Read widely — quality fiction, non-fiction, newspapers
- Mental arithmetic and written Maths fluency drills
- CEM-style digital reasoning practice for interface familiarity
- Mathematical puzzles and problems in unfamiliar contexts
September–October Year 6
- Attend Open Morning (strongly recommended — tour the city-centre campus)
- Prepare bursary application — deadline is 1 November
- Register by 1 December for standard fee-paying place
- Intensify comprehension technique: quote + explain effect
November–December Year 6
- Full timed CEM Select digital practice sessions
- Timed written Maths papers — multi-step problems, show all working
- Weekly timed creative writing pieces with vocabulary focus
- Attend Taster Day if offered — a genuine opportunity to feel the school's culture
January Year 6 → Offers
- Assessment Day: CEM Select digital + written Maths + written English
- Interview prep: genuine interests, passions, favourite books — no rehearsed scripts
- One-on-one interview (late January/February): be articulate and show teachable enthusiasm
- Offer letters dispatched early March
You now know things about this school most applicant families never find out.
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Intelligence Score
Updated April 2026 · 69 sources
Coverage
Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
Freshness
This edition was last checked April 2026. Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
Use it well
Treat lower-scoring areas as prompts to verify with admissions, not as automatic red flags. The score is about evidence quality, not school quality.
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