Hollygirt School

Located on the leafy fringes of Nottingham city centre, Hollygirt School provides an educational experience that feels more like a community than a corporation. For nearly 150 years, this independent all-through school has occupied a series of converted Victorian villas on Elm Avenue, creating a domestic, human-scaled environment that immediately distinguishes it from more institutional competitors.

With a capacity of 350 pupils spanning ages 3 to 16, Hollygirt is defined by its small class sizes and a visible commitment to individual personality over raw data. Since 2021, the school has been led by the Head, Dr Helen Barsham, who focuses on maintaining the school's historical reputation for pastoral care while modernising the curriculum.

The physical layout of Hollygirt is central to its identity. Rather than one monolithic block, the school is spread across several charming Victorian buildings. This architectural quirk means the atmosphere is naturally intimate; students move between houses in a way that mirrors a professional or university campus rather than a standard school corridor.

The school motto, Memini (I remember), is a quiet nod to the lasting bonds formed here. Historically a girls' school, Hollygirt successfully transitioned to a fully co-educational model in recent years, though it has carefully preserved the nurturing, supportive ethos that defined its founding in 1877.

Inside, the halls are lined with student artwork and photographs of community events. There is a palpable lack of the high-pressure "exam factory" hum often found in urban independent schools. Instead, the tone is one of calm, purposeful activity. Staff know every student across the phases, and the mixed-age environment allows younger pupils to see older students as approachable role models rather than distant figures.

Academic outcomes at Hollygirt are best understood through the lens of value-added progress rather than raw league table positions. As a non-selective school, Hollygirt welcomes a broad range of abilities, including students who may have felt overlooked in larger, more competitive environments.

In the secondary phase, FindMySchool does not currently publish a ranked GCSE outcome for Hollygirt. Small class sizes, often averaging 12 to 15 students, allow for a level of bespoke intervention that supports students who arrive with different learning profiles.

The latest ISI inspection in March 2025 confirmed that the school meets all Independent School Standards. Inspectors found that staff forge positive relationships with pupils in a supportive atmosphere, enabling them to achieve both academically and personally.

The curriculum at Hollygirt is designed to be accessible yet challenging. In the Junior School, the focus is on the mastery of core literacy and numeracy, enriched by specialist teaching in Music, Modern Foreign Languages, and Physical Education from an early age.

As students move into the Senior School, the curriculum widens to include a broad GCSE offer. A clear strength is the school's ability to offer a personalised timetable; because of the small cohort sizes, the school can often accommodate niche subject combinations that larger schools might struggle to timetable.

Teachers are responsive to the needs of the pupils in the classroom. Lessons are interactive, with a heavy emphasis on discussion and verbal feedback, ensuring no student can "hide" in the back of a classroom.

Nursery Provision

The nursery at Hollygirt serves as the gentle entry point into the school's all-through journey, accepting children from age 3. The environment is designed to feel like a "home from home," with a strong focus on outdoor play and social development.

Practitioners in the nursery work closely with Reception staff to ensure that the transition to formal schooling is almost invisible to the child. The setting benefits from the wider school facilities, with nursery children regularly using the school hall for movement and the dining room for communal lunches, which helps build confidence in the larger school environment.

For current nursery fee details, parents should visit the school website. Government-funded hours are available for eligible families; see our guide to nursery funding for further information on how these credits are applied at Hollygirt.

Hollygirt currently operates as an all-through school up to age 16. Consequently, the Year 11 leavers' transition is a major focus. While the school has historically had a small sixth-form presence, the majority of students progress to local FE colleges or larger sixth-form providers in Nottinghamshire to access a wider range of A-level or vocational pathways.

Common destinations include Nottingham High School for those seeking a highly academic post-16 environment, or Bilborough College and The Nottingham Confederation for a broader range of A-levels. The school provides robust careers guidance from Year 9 onwards, helping students identify the specific environments that will suit their post-GCSE ambitions.

As an independent school, Hollygirt manages its own admissions process. It is a non-selective school, meaning there is no high-stakes 11-plus entrance exam. Instead, admission is typically based on an interview with the Head and a "taster day," where the school assesses whether the child will thrive in their small, community-focused environment.

For Year 7 entry, the school publishes Senior School Entrance Day arrangements as part of its admissions cycle. Entry can occur at any stage, provided there is space in the relevant year group.

Pastoral care is the undisputed crown jewel of the Hollygirt experience. The school's small size is its greatest asset here; it is virtually impossible for a student to struggle unnoticed.

The school uses a house-based system that encourages interaction across year groups. Older students often act as mentors to younger pupils, particularly during the transition into Senior School. There is a strong emphasis on mental health, with a dedicated pastoral lead and a culture that encourages students to speak openly about their wellbeing.

Despite its urban location, Hollygirt makes excellent use of local facilities to bolster its extracurricular offer. While the Elm Avenue site provides the intimate day-to-day base, the school utilises local sports centres for its physical education programme.

STEM Excellence

The school runs popular science and mathematics enrichment days.

Creative Arts

Drama is a significant pillar of school life, with annual productions that involve a high percentage of the student body. Creative Scholarships are available to support imaginative pupils in various disciplines.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

This is a popular pathway for Senior students, encouraging independence and resilience through expeditions.

The school day typically runs from 8:40am to 3:30pm. To support working families, Hollygirt offers wraparound care including a Breakfast Club from 7:30am and an after-school club that provides a supervised space for homework until 6:00pm.

Located near Mapperley Park, the school is well-served by Nottingham's bus network. While on-site parking is limited due to the residential nature of Elm Avenue, the school operates a drop and go system to manage morning traffic.

Fees & Financial Aid

Fees are published by year group and are inclusive of VAT where applicable. Families should check the school’s current fee schedule for the latest Senior School and Junior School termly amounts.

Hollygirt offers a limited number of means-tested bursaries to support families who might not otherwise be able to afford an independent education. Academic and Creative scholarships are also available for entry into Year 7, with scholarship dates published by the school for each admissions cycle.

• Non-selective environment: Unlike some Nottingham independents, Hollygirt does not filter for the highest academic ability. This creates a wonderfully diverse classroom but means the raw GCSE averages may appear lower than those of highly selective neighbours.
• Urban campus: The school is housed in beautiful Victorian villas, but this means it lacks the sprawling playing fields of a rural school. Students travel to off-site local facilities for major sports fixtures.
• All-through transition: For many, the move from Hollygirt Junior to Senior is automatic, which provides great stability. However, families should consider if their child might eventually crave a larger environment for their GCSE years.

Hollygirt School is an ideal choice for parents who value the individual over the system. It is a school that excels at building confidence in children who might feel overwhelmed by the scale of a large state secondary or a high-pressure independent. Best suited to families seeking a nurturing, all-through education where their child will be known, heard, and supported through every developmental milestone.