This School was founded in 1513 by Dame Agnes Mellers, widow of Richard Mellers, sometime Mayor of Nottingham. The first Charter was given by Henry VIII, and supplementary Charters were given by Philip and Mary, and by Queen Elizabeth. The School, which remains independent, is now administered under the terms of a scheme issued by the Charity Commissioners.
Organisation. There are 1,187 day pupils, of whom 349 are in the Infant and Junior School (including Nursery) and 241 in the Sixth Form. Nearly all Junior School pupils go on to complete their education in the Senior School. (For further details about the Infant and Junior School, see entry in IAPS section.) From 2015, the school became co-educational in the Sixth Form and Infant School, followed by the other year groups from 2016. Curriculum. The Senior School curriculum leads to examinations at GCSE in the normal range of subjects. The Sixth Form are prepared for A levels. The range of subjects is wide: Drama and Theatre Studies, Modern Languages, English Literature, English Language, History, Economics, Politics, Design Engineering, Geography, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Music, Art, Philosophy, Religion & Ethics, Psychology, RS, Music, Physical Education and Computer Science.
Admission. Entrance Examinations and School Readiness sessions are held in January each year. Applicants for the Nursery should be 3 years old at time of entry, for Infant School between the ages of 4 and 7 years, for the Junior School between the ages of 7 and 11 years, and for the Senior School/Sixth Form between 11 and 16 years on 1 September of the year of entry, subject to places being available and a successful interview (entry to Sixth Form is also dependent upon a minimum of five 7s at GCSE).
Fees per term (2025-2026). Tuition: Senior School £7,461; Junior School £5,944; Lovell House Infant School £5,109 (all inclusive of VAT). Squirrels Nursery £80 per day (charged per term).
Bursary assistance. Nottingham High School has its own means-tested bursaries to be awarded to pupils entering the Senior School at age 11. All bursaries will be awarded at the Headmaster’s discretion and will normally continue until a pupil leaves the School.
Games. The playing fields, covering 20 acres, are situated about a mile and a half from the School with excellent pavilion facilities. There are also indoor cricket nets at the school. The School games, in which all pupils are expected to take part unless medically exempted, are hockey and cricket, as well as netball (for girls) and rugby (for boys). Other sports provided for seniors include athletics, cross country, squash, Association Football (Sixth Form), badminton, golf and basketball. Swimming forms part of the Physical Education programme (the School has its own 25-metre pool).
Combined Cadet Force. The School maintains a contingent of the CCF based on voluntary recruitment and consisting of Navy, Army and Air Force sections. There is a small bore range, and the School enters teams for various national competitions.
Societies. Individual interests and hobbies are catered for by a wide range of societies which meet in the lunch break or at the end of afternoon school. These include and are not limited to Drama, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Politics, Arts, Music and Debating Societies, the Chess Club, the Bridge Club, Christian Union, and the Scout Troop. Over 160 pupils a year participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. The Community Action Group and the Explorer Scouts are alternatives to this.
Music. Apart from elementary instruction in Music in the lower forms, and more advanced studies for GCSE and A level, tuition is offered by three full-time and 18 part-time teachers in the full range of orchestral instruments. There are two School orchestras of 50 and 30 players, two choirs, a concert band (wind) of 50, a Training Band and Big Band, and choral and orchestral concerts are given each year. There are a number of instrumental scholarships, covering fee tuition on one instrument, available to pupils enrolled in Year 7.
Wellbeing Centre. Nottingham High School opened its Wellbeing Centre in 2023, promoting a balanced, healthy experience for students’ academic and personal lives. Features include Oasis Room and Garden, a Spirituality Space, the School Counselling service, physiotherapy, and a Flexible space for activities such as yoga and pilates classes.
Honours. 12 Places at Oxford and Cambridge in 2024.
Charitable status. Nottingham High School is a Registered Charity, number 1104251. It exists to provide education for pupils between the ages of 3 and 18 years.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
The Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire
The Lord Mayor of Nottingham
Two Representatives of the City Council
One Representative of the Nottinghamshire County Council
Four Representatives of the Universities
Eleven Co-optative Members
Chairman of the Governors: Mr Steven Banks
Headmaster: Mr Andrew Holman
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr Paul Spedding
Deputy Head (Individuals): Miss Lisa Gritti
Deputy Head (International and Strategic Projects): Mrs Angharad Simpson
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular): Mr Richard Alexander
Assistant Head (Director of Studies): Mrs Emily Nelson
Assistant Head (Individuals Years 7–10): Mrs Michaela Smith
Assistant Head (Individuals Years 11–13): Mr David Gillett
Headmaster’s EA: Mrs Rebecca de Chenu
Head of Marketing: Mrs Rochelle Vazquez
Head of Admissions and Partnership: Mrs Ruth Boxer
Head of Infant and Junior School: Mrs Polly Bennett
Deputy Head (Academic): Miss Lucy Thorpe
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mr Christian Cordy