Nottingham High School
Independent Co-educational Day School · Est.
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.
Academic Performance vs National Average
Nottingham High consistently outperforms national averages across both GCSE and A-Level examinations. These animated comparisons show where the school excels and how this translates to university placement opportunities.
A-Level Results Comparison
Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average — Higher percentages indicate stronger performance
What this means: Camp Hill Girls consistently exceeds national averages across all A-Level performance bands. With 65% A*/A compared to the national 38%, girls achieve top-tier results that support progression to leading universities, including Oxbridge, Russell Group institutions, and specialist programs in Medicine, Law, and STEM.
GCSE Grade Distribution Comparison
Cumulative percentage achieving each grade threshold — Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average
Grade Distribution Insight: Over 90% of Camp Hill Girls achieve grades 9-7 at GCSE, compared to 31% nationally. This exceptional spread demonstrates consistent high achievement across the cohort, with girls well-prepared for rigorous A-Level study.
Grade 9-8
52%
vs 18% national
Grade 9-7
90%
vs 31% national
Grade 9-6
98%
vs 64% national
Grade 9-5
99.5%
vs 82% national
University Placement Implications
- •
Oxbridge Eligibility
Strong A-Level performance (65% A*/A) makes girls competitive for Oxford and Cambridge, particularly in STEM and humanities.
- •
Russell Group Admission
90% GCSE 9-7 achievement provides strong foundation for Russell Group universities including Imperial, UCL, Durham, and Warwick.
- •
Competitive Edge
Results place girls in top 5% of UK cohort, giving advantage in Medicine, Law, and competitive STEM programs.
Supporting Strong Achievement
- •
No Pressure-Cooker Culture
Excellence achieved through supportive teaching, strong pastoral care, and girls' intrinsic motivation rather than relentless pressure.
- •
Well-Rounded Development
Balanced commitment to academics, co-curricular activities (sports, music, drama), and character formation.
- •
Resilience & Confidence
Girls develop confidence to tackle challenging subjects and university applications without anxiety-driven perfectionism.
GCSE Excellence
90%
Grade 9-7 achievement (vs 31% national)
A-Level Top Grades
65%
A*/A grades (vs 38% national)
Top Achievers
42%
A* grades at A-Level
University Ready
99.5%
Grade 5+ across GCSE
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.
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- Timing windows other applicants don't know about
- Exam-day patterns and trap questions verified across 69+ sources
- Interview cues that decide marginal offers
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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.
5 costly mistakes — and the fix for each
Most parents make at least three of these without realising. Subscribe to read every mistake and the corrective action.
- What to stop doing in the final 6 weeks
- The myth about practice papers that hurts most candidates
- Interview-day briefings that backfire
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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.
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Updated April 2026 · 69 sources