The minutes of the Education Committee in 1947 tell us that, "The Development Plan provides for a Nursery School for 90 children to be established on the Princes Plain site." A few months later, they accepted a proposal to extend the site of the school for the proposed Nursery School. ("The land in question forms part of the Corporation Golf Course.") Unfortunately, the plan was later dropped. It was not until 1997 that the school finally got a nursery class.

The nursery, built in 1997 on the site of the old canteen.

Rise and Fall and Rise 
in the School Roll

In the 1950s and 60s, there was a big increase in the number of children in the two schools so they erected six temporary classrooms. There were three on the field for the senior girls and three behind the primary school for the younger children. (See the plan above.) The girls’ school also used the old National School (the Church Rooms) as an annexe for art lessons. 

Unfortunately, after all this expansion, the number of pupils started to fall again. In due course, the senior girls’ school amalgamated with Aylesbury School near Bromley South and became Elmfield Lower School; Aylsbury became Elmfield Upper. This was only a temporary solution and it was not long before both the Elmfield Schools closed.

In 1983, Princes Plain Primary School moved into the vacated building. 

The 1990s was a time of expansion. 1994 saw the the addition of a Special Infant Unit for children with severe learning difficulties and 1997 saw the opening of the nursery. The decade also saw a fifty percent increase in the school roll.  Once again, the school was thriving.

OFSTED Inspection - 1999

Evidence of the healthy state of the school came in the official summary of the 1999 OFSTED inspectors' report which said:-

•  The ethos of the school is excellent.

•  The quality of teaching is good overall. Teaching in nearly 20 per cent of lessons was very good or excellent.

•   Relationships within the school are very good.

•   Pupils make good progress overall. The school surpassed its targets for improvement in the 1999 National tests in English, mathematics and science for eleven year olds.

•  The management and provision for special education needs are very good, and pupils with learning difficulties make very good progress, especially in English and mathematics.

•  Children in the Nursery receive a broad curriculum and make a positive start to their education.

•   Pupils have good attitudes to their learning, and behaviour is good.

•  There are very good procedures to monitor progress, personal development, discipline, behaviour and attendance.

•  Teaching and support staff are deployed very effectively.

•   Leadership and management are very good. The Headteacher is a very effective leader.

•   Financial control and school administration are excellent.