Nottingham University Samworth Academy

The transformation from William Sharp School to Nottingham University Samworth Academy in 2009 marked a turning point for secondary education in Bilborough. A purpose-built campus on Bramhall Road now sits where an underperforming comprehensive once struggled. Sponsored jointly by the University of Nottingham and businessman Sir David Samworth, the academy has since established itself as a neighbourhood school with a broad intake and a small sixth form. The 921 students aged 11-18 benefit from modern facilities including a Science Block, Lecture-Drama Block, fully equipped radio studio, and dedicated Focused Provision Unit for students who are deaf. GCSE results remain below top-tier national performance, and the current A-level dataset is also modest, with 20% of A-level grades at A*-B and an A-level academic rank of 2,435th of 2,549 (FindMySchool ranking). Matthew Turton, appointed headteacher in 2024, has prioritised building on the school's established culture and pushing toward genuine excellence.

Students describe a school where they are known as individuals. Ofsted's 2023 Good rating noted that pupils feel safe, happy, and proud to be part of this inclusive community. The atmosphere is described as cheerful and friendly. Staff know students well and challenge them fairly. The school operates on twin pillars: students are expected to work hard and be kind. This is not abstract messaging; the system of 'green flags' for going above and beyond creates visible recognition, and pupils understand that staff will address disruption promptly to protect learning.

The modern buildings create an optimistic setting. Five distinct blocks, Main Teaching, Science, Lecture-Drama, Dining, and Sports, allow the curriculum to unfold across purpose-designed spaces. The recently renovated Tutin Library, named after Jackie Tutin, serves as a designated safe space. The radio studio invites creative expression. The Focused Provision Unit demonstrates genuine commitment to inclusion; the school has achieved pioneering work in Holocaust education, becoming a Quality Mark Beacon School through the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education in 2024. This involved developing Holocaust vocabulary in British Sign Language, enabling students who communicate chiefly through BSL to engage with historical concepts previously inaccessible to them.

Head Teacher Matthew Turton's appointment from a senior position within the Nova Education Trust signals confidence in his ability to consolidate gains and drive the school toward its stated ambition of being outstanding in every aspect. His background in educational leadership and trust-level school improvement brings expertise in sustainable change.

GCSE Results

The current GCSE cohort data shows an Attainment 8 score of 40.5. Progress 8 stands at -0.61, indicating that pupils made below-average progress from their starting points at the end of Key Stage 2. In English and maths, 60% achieved grade 4 or above and 35.2% achieved grade 5 or above.

These figures position the school outside the stronger national performance bands. The school ranks 2,135th of 3,895 in England for GCSE academic outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), with an overall secondary rank of 2,014th of 3,688. Locally, NUSA ranks 26th in Nottingham, reflecting mixed performance in comparison to nearby alternatives.

For families considering the school at Year 7, these metrics matter. Students entering NUSA should expect rigorous teaching but recognise that GCSE outcomes reflect the broad intake and challenges many pupils bring to secondary education.

A-Level & Sixth Form Performance

The sixth form picture is more modest in the current dataset. At A-level, 20% of entries achieved grades A*-B. Breaking this down further: 0% achieved A*, 0% achieved A, and 20% achieved B. This points to a small sixth form where results should be read carefully alongside cohort size and subject mix.

The school ranks 2,435th of 2,549 in England for A-level academic performance (FindMySchool ranking), with an overall sixth-form rank of 2,218th and a local sixth-form rank of 31st in Nottingham. This is a marked change from the previous top-tier wording and should be read as a modest current sixth-form profile.

The vocational sixth form offering, mentioned in the curriculum section below, helps explain both the high A*-B percentages and the strong university destinations. Students selecting academic A-levels appear carefully filtered for university-track study.

The curriculum balances traditional academic rigour with practical and vocational pathways. The school offers GCSEs and BTECs at Key Stage 4, ensuring students can pursue either university-preparatory qualifications or work-focused certifications. This flexibility is rare in secondary schools and reflects Sir David Samworth's business background; the school adopts his personal motto of 'people, quality, profit' as inspiration.

Reading is embedded throughout the curriculum. Inspectors noted that pupils develop the skills they need to thrive both academically and in life. The school's research partnership with the University of Nottingham extends to the Wonder Room, a dedicated space where Dr Matthew McFall, a Nottingham researcher in wonder and learning, works with pupils as an 'Agent of Wonder', using puzzles, illusions, and curiosity-driven activities to foster inquiry. This innovative approach, somewhat unusual in state secondary education, reflects the university partnership and positions learning as fundamentally playful.

Sixth form provision differs markedly. The small vocational sixth form allows bespoke timetabling around work-related courses. For academic A-level students, typical sizes hover around 20-30 per subject, enabling personalised teaching. The school's location in Bilborough, relatively accessible from central Nottingham, means some students travel from across the city specifically for NUSA's sixth form.

University Destinations

Sixth form destinations should be checked against the latest published leavers information. Families comparing the sixth form should ask for current university, apprenticeship and employment routes, plus any detailed lists of competitive university destinations.

The Focused Provision Unit and Holocaust Education Beacon School status may also explain student motivation. Students who enter sixth form have often developed strong interests in humanities and social sciences, with many pursuing teacher training, social work, nursing (as referenced in social media posts), or public service careers.

Post-GCSE Routes

The broader cohort follows a mix of routes after GCSE, including further education, college, apprenticeships and employment. Families should check the latest destinations data to understand how many students progress internally, move to Nottingham's sixth-form colleges, or choose vocational and employment routes.

Music & Performance

Music provision extends beyond formal curriculum. Students can learn recorder in Years 7-8 as part of the broader curriculum, with those demonstrating aptitude continuing to GCSE and A-level. The school operates a small choir and has invested in the radio studio, allowing musicians to develop presentation skills and produce recordings. The Mamelodi Trust partnership (evident in archived references to student recordings for South African educational projects) reflects a commitment to music as a vehicle for wider social engagement.

The Lecture-Drama Block provides a dedicated space for dramatic work. Schools performances happen in this venue, though specific production titles and cast sizes are not detailed on the publicly available website information. The modern facilities suggest students work with professional-standard staging.

Sports & Physical Education

The Sports Block houses multiple courts suitable for netball, badminton, volleyball, and basketball. Outdoor facilities include grass pitches for rugby and football. The school hires these facilities to external clubs and community groups outside school hours, suggesting good investment and maintenance. Gymnastics, trampolining, martial arts, dance, and mini-football all feature in the sports offering, indicating breadth across individual and team sports.

PE is compulsory at Key Stage 3 and 4, with GCSE PE available for option selection. Sixth formers can pursue A-level PE if qualified.

STEM & Technology

The School of Computer Science partnership with the University of Nottingham has resulted in computing activity days and integration of university research into classroom teaching. The Science Block provides separate laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, enabling practical investigation and hands-on experiment central to science pedagogy. The fully equipped radio studio also serves STEM purposes, as student-produced media often incorporates technical skills.

A dedicated careers programme and school-to-work partnerships feature prominently, reflecting the academy's commitment to apprenticeships and vocational routes. The Business Academy designation (evident in some references, though updated under Nova Education Trust governance) emphasises enterprise and entrepreneurial thinking.

Enrichment & Extended Opportunities

Students can access the nearby Nottingham Justice Museum as a learning partner, suggesting curriculum extensions into law and social studies. The partnership with the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education means some students engage in research-level historical inquiry, developing primary source analysis and academic writing skills.

Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is available, though specific details of gold-level completion rates are not publicly disclosed. Sports Day, Christmas productions, and residential experiences appear to feature in the school calendar, though the full range of off-site visits and enrichment trips is best confirmed by contacting the school directly.

Student Leadership & Democracy

The school operates a structured student council and house system (visible through various references to house identities). Sixth form students are positioned as role models and peer mentors to younger cohorts, building leadership capacity.

Oversubscription & Entry

The academy is oversubscribed, with 203 applications for 129 places in the most recent cycle. This 1.57 applications-to-offers ratio indicates genuine demand, particularly from the immediate Bilborough area and across Nottingham City Council's jurisdiction.

Entry at Year 7 is through Nottingham City Council's coordinated secondary admissions process. No entrance examination is required; selection is by distance from the school gates. Late applications are possible, though oversubscription means places are allocated in order of priority within the coordinated process.

Sixth Form Entry

Entry to the sixth form is not guaranteed from the main school. Students require GCSE grades that demonstrate capacity for A-level study. Specific entry requirements are not published in available sources; families should contact the school directly for subject-specific thresholds. The small sixth form size (roughly 100-150 students across two year groups) means external applicants compete seriously with internal progression.

The Focused Provision Unit specifically admits deaf students with EHCP naming the school, creating a hub within the sixth form for students with sensory needs who are capable of academic study.

Physical Infrastructure

The purpose-built 2009 campus was designed as five interconnected blocks. The Main Teaching Block houses English, humanities, and languages classrooms. The Science Block, as noted, provides three separate laboratories. The Lecture-Drama Block is equipped with a professional-standard 228-seater lecture theatre (available for hire to the community, suggesting regular use by visiting speakers, performances, and assemblies). The Dining Block manages meal provision and community functions. The Sports Block is the most heavily used by external hire partners.

Smartboards are installed in all classrooms, enabling interactive teaching. The radio studio is fully equipped with professional-grade microphones and editing software. The Tutin Library provides quiet study space. Outdoor courts, fields, and open areas complete the facilities.

Accessibility

The school is located on Bramhall Road in Bilborough, accessible by bus and served by local cycles routes. Parking for parents is available on-site, though drop-off may involve waiting time during peak periods.

School Hours & Wraparound

The standard school day operates 8:50am to 3:20pm. Detailed wraparound care (breakfast clubs, after-school provision) is not mentioned in the available research; families should contact the school directly for current arrangements.

A well-established culture of care is evident from inspection findings. Leaders provide regular staff training and updates in safeguarding. Staff understand their responsibilities and know what to do if they have concerns. Pupils know they can share worries with staff.

The school emphasises personal development alongside academic progress. Assemblies address themes of safety and mutual respect. The school celebrates diversity and pupils' individuality. Those requiring additional wellbeing support are identified early; leaders work with families to provide the right intervention. The Focused Provision Unit, whilst primarily serving deaf students, contributes to the school's broader commitment to personalised support.

A-level progression, not GCSE outcomes: Families should be realistic about GCSE results. The school sits outside the stronger national GCSE bands, with Attainment 8 at 40.5 and Progress 8 at -0.61. If your goal is strong GCSEs and a pathway to the most selective universities, NUSA's main school may present challenges. The sixth form should be assessed against the current subject offer, cohort size and latest destinations.

Oversubscribed sixth form: Internal progression is not automatic. Students aiming to stay must achieve sufficiently strong GCSEs. Competition for external sixth form places means students from outside the school require excellent prior qualifications.

Mixed GCSE cohort: The Attainment 8 of 40.5 reflects a broad intake, including students with additional needs, disadvantaged backgrounds, and English as an additional language. This inclusivity is a strength, but families prioritising league table position should acknowledge the composition of the intake.

Vocational sixth form character: The sixth form blends academic A-levels with vocational BTECs. This is a genuine choice pathway, not a deficit model, but families expecting a traditional academic sixth form should understand the distinct approach.

Nottingham University Samworth Academy is best understood as two schools functioning within one building. The main school provides inclusive, broad-based secondary education to a diverse Bilborough and Nottingham City cohort. It is rated Good by Ofsted, offers structured pastoral care, and does not cherry-pick its intake. For families in catchment seeking a safe, caring school focused on developing young people as individuals, NUSA delivers.

The sixth form is small and mixed, with academic and vocational routes accessed by internal students and external applicants from across Nottingham. In the current A-level dataset, 20% of grades are at A*-B and the school ranks 2,435th of 2,549 for A-level academic outcomes. The university partnership, particularly the Wonder Room innovation, remains distinctive, but families should read sixth-form outcomes against the latest cohort size, subject mix and destinations.

Oversubscription means entry at Year 7 is competitive, requiring proximity to the school gates. But for families within or close to the catchment, NUSA offers solid secondary education with a remarkable sixth form option. The transformation from William Sharp School is tangible; the school today is clean, modern, confident, and focused on student flourishing.