Nottingham High School

[abextra]

Does anyone have any experience of this school?

I am considering it for DS but am daunted by the admissions process. The school will only say that the entrance exam is at Level 4/5 but what sort of achievement are they looking for? How many applicants do they have for each place? Was it all worth the hoop jumping stress once your DS started and loved it?

Just bumping as I know there are Mners using the school.

DS is there. It is a fantastic school; it has far exceeded our expectations.

Pastoral care is fabulous and the boys they turn out are well-rounded with a lot of confidence but not arrogance.

Getting in actually seems fairly straightforward if your DS is able and enthusiastic. I can't comment on what level you need to be (but would hazard a guess at somewhere in the 5s but possibly very high 4A too....). However, the test seems designed to spot potential. The reasoning test that DS took didn't sound like the sort of thing you could be coached for. DS just did a couple of Bond 11+ reasoning books in preparation as I didn't want him to be phased, but said they were no help on the day!

I can't tell you what percentage of those that sit the exam are offered places but have never heard of a boy who wasn't offered a place when his school expected that he would be....

It is a really lovely school with a fabulous range of extra-curricular opportunities that increase as boys move up the school, and superb teaching. Despite the fact that it is clearly an academic school, DS has never felt stressed or over-worked (unlike his peers at the local comp....).

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

Thanks MarshmallowFarm.

Your comment about school expectations is interesting, but DS attends a state primary and I have been wary of discussing it with them as I thought they might be a bit sniffy about it. I suppose I do need to talk to them, as the last thing I want is to set him up to fail or pass narrowly and struggle.

I don't even know what NC level he is working at right now (reports due soon though) but he was secure 4s at the end of Y4 so I would hope he would be achieving L5s before the entrance test if not now, although there are certainly some cleverer boys at his school.

He is attending a Taster Day on Wednesday so I may well PM you with questions after that, thank you.

but have never heard of a boy who wasn't offered a place when his school expected that he would be....

Says a lot about how much the school's academic standards have declined since the heyday of the scholarship boys.

There was a time when competition for places was so keen the school didn't need to advertize. Now they take space on the back of a bus. Ugh.

NickL I really don't think they have lowered their standards, that seems to be a myth. In DS' year they definitely didn't offer places to everyone who applied, and indeed didn't fill all the places in Y7. What I meant was that in general, if a boy is perceived by his teachers to be bright and to have plenty to offer the school, it would be very unusual for that boy not to get in. This is only from my very limited experience but as far as I am aware there have been no nasty surprises in terms of boys who should get in, not getting in, if you see what I mean.

abextra at those levels am sure he will be just fine..... By all means PM me if you have any more questions.

You might be right NickL, or it could be that fewer people are willing or able to pay for education nowadays, or an increase in competition from other independent schools, or an increase in capacity that allows them to take more children. Anyway, their results suggest that they still only take capable boys so I don't think that you need to be too concerned.

X post MarshmallowFarm, hope you are right about his levels, might ask on Wednesday if the opportunity presents itself. You may yet regret suggesting I PM you, am sure I will come away with loads of questions!