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Set in the village of Plumtree, south of Nottingham, this small independent day school educates children from age 3 to 11. It is family-run, with Mr Phil Simpson serving as Head Teacher and proprietor.
The most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection (14 to 16 March 2023) judged both pupils’ academic and wider achievements, and their personal development, as excellent. That combination matters for a prep because it signals not only strong classroom habits but also confident, responsible pupils who are prepared for selective senior school processes.
Parents considering Plumtree should view it as a deliberately small setting with an outward-facing approach, lots of learning happens beyond the site using local facilities such as Burnside Hall for indoor PE and performances, and Keyworth Leisure Centre for swimming.
Plumtree’s identity is tightly bound to being a small, family-run school where children are treated as individuals and taught in small groups, particularly in English and mathematics. The inspection report also describes close monitoring of teaching and tailored support and challenge, which is the kind of operational detail parents tend to notice in a well-managed prep.
The Early Years offer is a genuine entry point rather than a bolt-on. The school is structured into EYFS for ages three to five, infants for ages five to seven, and juniors for ages seven to eleven. Since the previous inspection, leadership was restructured and a new Head of EYFS was appointed in September 2021, an indicator that Early Years is treated as its own phase with specialist oversight.
Pastoral tone is also visible in how responsibility and community contribution are framed. Pupils are described as self-aware and socially aware, taking their roles seriously and contributing to school life through responsibilities and school council activity. The school council itself is run with formal class representative speeches and pupil voting from Year 1 to Year 6, a small but telling signal that leadership and voice are practised, not merely talked about.
Nursery is part of the school’s all-through prep pathway (rather than a separate nursery brand). The fees document notes the school is a registered provider under the Government Nursery Certificate Scheme for three and four year olds, offering a weekly total of 15 free hours taken within standard teaching sessions. This matters because it affects how families can blend funded hours with the school day.
In admissions terms, EYFS entry, including Reception, uses a play session and a focus activity. That is consistent with a non-selective prep approach where the priority is fit and readiness, not tutoring.
For independent preps, the most useful “results” are not league-table style rankings but the quality signals that sit behind outcomes, classroom expectations, progress, and senior school readiness.
The latest ISI inspection judged the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements as excellent, noting strong progress across ages and abilities, high numeracy, and confident communication, including speaking and listening, advanced reading and writing used across the curriculum.
There is also a clear development point, pupils’ information and communication technology skills were an area for improvement, with inspectors recommending increased use of ICT to enhance learning across the curriculum. Parents who want a heavily tech-integrated prep day should ask how this recommendation has been addressed since 2023.
Teaching at Plumtree is described as being supported by small teaching groups and close monitoring that helps staff adapt support and stretch to individual needs. In practice, this is the mechanism that allows a small prep to keep standards consistent across mixed ability intakes.
The inspection report contains unusually specific curriculum examples for a small primary setting, children using advanced vocabulary in Reception, younger pupils collaborating during a science experiment and role play tasks, and older pupils analysing topic work and presenting findings in multiple formats. That kind of description suggests teaching that blends core knowledge with structured talk, explanation, and presentation.
English and communication are a standout. Pupils are described as articulate and confident speakers in lessons, conversation and performance, and as reading above age-related expectations. Independent writing is mentioned explicitly, with weekly independent writing sessions referenced in the report.
Mathematics is also a clear strength. Pupils are described as highly numerate, approaching open-ended challenges and developing problem-solving skills as they move through the school. For families with children who enjoy maths, this is a strong fit; for children who find maths more effortful, it is worth asking how scaffolding and confidence-building are handled in the early years.
Because Plumtree ends at Year 6, “next steps” is central to evaluating fit.
The school publishes 11+ destination outcomes year by year. For 2025, the list includes Nottingham High (3), Loughborough Grammar (3, including one academic scholarship and one sports award), and Hollygirt (3, including one music scholarship), alongside Trent College (2, with scholarships noted), Loughborough Girls’ High (1, with awards noted), Ratcliffe (1), and Shrewsbury International School (1).
Two practical implications follow from this:
This is a prep that actively supports selective senior school processes, and not only for one destination type. Families aiming at local independent schools, selective grammar-style schools, and larger boarding-style options will find the pathway language familiar.
Outcomes appear to include scholarships and awards at senior schools in multiple categories (academic, music, sport), which typically reflects both preparation and breadth of opportunity during Years 3 to 6.
Plumtree accepts applications throughout the school year, with places offered based on availability. The admissions policy states that the school is non-selective as long as it can meet a child’s needs, after making any necessary reasonable adjustments.
Assessment is age-appropriate:
EYFS entry, including Reception, involves a play session and a focus activity.
Older pupils seeking entry complete an informal written assessment in Reading, English and Mathematics, used to establish current level and plan an appropriate programme.
For parents comparing several preps, this approach usually indicates a school that values smooth integration and realistic placement over competitive filtering.
A useful practical step is to ask early about year-group capacity and availability, because small schools can feel “open” on paper while having limited space in key cohorts.
The inspection report’s strongest pastoral signal is the description of pupils’ personal development as excellent, including confidence, self-awareness, positive relationships, and a strong sense of community. Pupils are described as having an excellent understanding of how to improve their work and of their strengths and challenges, which is a meaningful proxy for good feedback culture and psychologically safe learning routines.
Safeguarding roles are clearly set out on the school website, with Mrs Tess Slight named as Designated Safeguarding Lead, including Early Years, and Mr Phil Simpson as Head Teacher.
The best indicator of extracurricular depth is specificity, and Plumtree provides it.
Competitive sports listed include tag rugby, football, netball, hockey, cricket, rounders, athletics, cross-country and swimming, with juniors able to represent the school in fixtures and tournaments.
Facilities are also clearly described, with Burnside Hall used for PE, and local venues including Plumtree Cricket Field for games lessons and Sports Day, Keyworth Leisure Centre for swimming, and West Bridgford Tennis Centre for tennis.
Music tuition is broad for a small prep, with teachers offering instruments including clarinet, saxophone, piano, guitar, flute, keyboard, trumpet or cornet, trombone, French horn, tuba, drums (from Reception), and strings, with some children invited into school ensembles.
Burnside Hall is also used for drama, play rehearsals, concert rehearsals and productions, and Plumtree Church is used for curriculum visits plus services and concerts or rehearsals, which gives a clear picture of how performance work is staged even without large on-site facilities.
The clubs programme runs termly sign-ups, and leadership development is reinforced through the school council election process from Year 1 to Year 6.
For September 2025 (the 2025 to 2026 fee year), the school publishes full-time fees of £2,832 per term, plus VAT. Across three terms, the annual tuition estimate is £8,496 plus VAT, labelled here as an estimate because the school publishes fees on a termly basis.
The same published document also references a Fees in Advance Scheme and the Tax-Free Government scheme for eligible childcare and after-school care costs, which may be relevant for families blending Nursery and wraparound arrangements.
The school does not present bursaries or scholarships as a standard fee-reduction mechanism in the materials reviewed. Families seeking help with affordability should ask directly what support, if any, is available, and what is meant in practice by the Fees in Advance Scheme.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per term
Lessons commence at 8:50am. The school offers wraparound care for children from Nursery to Year 6, with Breakfast Club from 7:35am and After School Care running until 6pm Monday to Thursday and 5:30pm on Fridays.
Wraparound costs published by the school include £230 per term for Breakfast Club and £300 per term for full-time After School Care, with session-based options also available.
Travel-wise, this is a village setting south of Nottingham, and most families are likely to be commuting from surrounding areas.
Small-school fit. The close-knit benefit is real, but it can feel limiting for children who want very large peer groups or lots of parallel classes.
Senior school planning starts early. The published 11+ destinations and awards show strong preparation, but families who strongly prefer non-selective local secondary routes should ask how that pathway is supported alongside selective preparation.
Use of local facilities. Sport, swimming and performances lean on venues such as Keyworth Leisure Centre and Burnside Hall. That can be a strength, but it also means parts of the week involve off-site travel and permissions.
ICT development point. The 2023 inspection recommended strengthening ICT use to enhance learning. Parents who prioritise digital learning should ask what has changed since then.
Plumtree School suits families who want a small independent prep with strong communication, clear maths development, and a well-evidenced pathway into selective senior schools. The 2023 ISI outcome, excellent in both academic achievement and personal development, backs up the picture of a school that expects pupils to work hard and to contribute confidently.
Who it suits most is a child who benefits from being known well by staff, enjoys a structured day, and will make the most of music, sport, and pupil leadership opportunities alongside senior school preparation.
The most recent ISI inspection (March 2023) judged pupils’ academic and other achievements as excellent, and their personal development as excellent. It also highlights strong communication skills, high numeracy, and confident attitudes to learning.
For September 2025 (the 2025 to 2026 fee year), full-time fees are £2,832 per term, plus VAT. The school also publishes separate wraparound care costs for breakfast and after-school provision.
The school accepts applications throughout the year and offers places based on availability. EYFS entry uses a play session and focus activity, while older entrants complete an informal written assessment in Reading, English and Mathematics.
Yes. Breakfast Club runs from 7:35am, and After School Care runs until 6pm Monday to Thursday and 5:30pm on Fridays, with both termly and sessional pricing published.
The school publishes 11+ destination outcomes each year. The 2025 list includes Nottingham High, Loughborough Grammar, Hollygirt, Trent College, Loughborough Girls’ High, Ratcliffe, and Shrewsbury International School, with scholarships and awards noted for some pupils.
Get in touch with the school directly
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