What Nova Education Trust does

Nova Education Trust is a cross-phase Multi Academy Trust headquartered at the University of Nottingham Innovation Park, incorporated in 2004 as an exempt charitable company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (company number 07635510). The trust operates 17 schools — six primaries, 12 secondaries, and one sixth form college — across Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire, educating over 11,000 pupils with more than 1,500 staff. It additionally operates the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT, providing Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework provision across 40+ partnership schools, and partners with the Madani Schools Federation (two faith schools in Leicester). Revenue is not commercially disclosed; the trust is funded primarily through the Department for Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency via the national funding formula, supplemented by grants including pupil premium and PE/sport premium.

The trust's operating technology is composed of mainstream EdTech — Microsoft-based systems, Apple iPads for 1:1 device programs in KS2, IRIS Connect for teaching platforms, Edurio for stakeholder surveys, and Google Analytics — augmented by two internal assets: the Nova Gateway digital platform (cross-trust network communications and resource sharing) and the Nova Networks (internal professional learning networks covering achievement, attendance, behaviour, careers, literacy, SEND, safeguarding, and operational functions such as finance, IT, and data). Its go-to-market motion is community-led — direct school enrollment serving local families, regional SCITT recruitment of aspiring teachers, school-to-school improvement support offered externally on a DfE-funded project basis, and stakeholder engagement via annual Edurio voice surveys across pupils, staff, and parents.

The trust differentiates on centralized back-office functions (finance, IT, HR, governance, compliance) that produce scale economies while preserving school-level community identity via local governing bodies — a "trust informed, school driven" operating model. Quantified outcomes include 87% of academies rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, a 2023 External Review of Governance assessed as highly effective, a 2020 NASBTT Innovative Practice Award for the SCITT, Progress 8 outcomes among the highest in the East Midlands region in 2022, and a 2025-2030 strategic plan signaling continued cross-phase expansion. Leadership is headed by CEO Ashfaq Rahman OBE (since 2021) with Margaret Monckton as Chair of Trustees.

Name

Nova Education Trust

Legal name

Nova Education Trust

Website

https://novaeducationtrust.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Nova Education Trust is a UK cross-phase Multi Academy Trust operating 17 schools across the East Midlands, educating over 11,000 pupils with 1,500+ staff and running the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT for teacher training, funded primarily through DfE/ESFA government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education (Multi Academy Trust)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• Multi academy trust
• Primary and secondary education
• Initial teacher training
• School improvement services
• Early career framework

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a Multi Academy Trust, Nova Education Trust receives funding from the Department for Education through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Funding is primarily pupil-led through the national funding formula and includes additional grants for specific purposes such as the pupil premium, catch-up premium, and PE/sport premium.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Nova Education Trust operates a cross-phase Multi Academy Trust running 17 schools (6 primary, 12 secondary, 1 sixth form college) and 2 partner faith schools, educating over 11,000 pupils with more than 1,500 staff across the East Midlands. It delivers centralized school improvement, back-office shared services (finance, IT, HR, governance, compliance), Initial Teacher Training via the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT, and an Early Career Framework provision for newly qualified teachers.

Product overview

Nova Education Trust is a Multi Academy Trust that operates a network of schools rather than offering a technology product or software platform. The organization provides educational services through 19 academies (6 primary, 12 secondary, 1 sixth form college) and operates the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) programme. The trust's online presence consists of informational websites for its schools and trust operations, without a unified software product offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT: Innovation award-winning Initial Teacher Training provider operated by Nova Education Trust, offering teacher training programs including international partnerships with Finland and European international schools.

Products and services

• Primary and Secondary School Education (17 schools network)
• Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT (Initial Teacher Training)
• Early Career Framework (ECF) Provision
• Nova Perks Staff Benefits Package
• School-to-School Improvement Support
• Transformational Awards Ceremony

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of academies are judged by Ofsted as Good or Outstanding
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022The trust's headquarters is located at the University of Nottingham Innovation Park. The trust has relationships with the university for various educational initiatives and partnerships.
• University of Nottingham (School of Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for PGCE volunteering project in South African primary and secondary Mamelodi township schools, and for educational outreach projects for academy-sponsored schools.
• Confederation of School Trusts (CST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNova Education Trust is a member of CST and all governance members receive professional development through this membership. CST provides support and advocacy for academy trusts.
• Ambition InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal partner providing professional development courses and opportunities for staff within the trust, including teacher training and leadership development.
• NASBTT (National Association for School-Based Teacher Trainers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational body supporting school-based teacher training. The trust's SCITT is part of this network and won their Innovative Practice Award.
• The Key for GovernorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernance professional development provider used by trust governance members.
• National Governance AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernance professional development provider used by trust governance members.
• Jyvaskyla University (Finland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational teacher training partnership with Jyvaskyla University in Finland, providing overseas training experiences for trainee teachers.
• COBIS (Council of British International Schools)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through European international schools network for teacher training experiences overseas, including schools in Italy, Belgium, and Czech Republic.
• Guerilla EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal partner working with Primary Curriculum Development network led by Jonathon Lear for curriculum design across all subjects.
• Arthur Terry Learning PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichard Anderton from this partnership supports the Innovators ILP Leads Network for 1:1 device rollout in Primary schools.
• Retinue SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeadline sponsor for Nova Education Trust's Transformational Awards 2026 ceremony.
• SES Engineering ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward sponsor in partnership with Retinue Solutions for Nova Education Trust's Transformational Awards 2026 ceremony.
• AspensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward sponsor for Nova Education Trust's Transformational Awards 2026 ceremony.
• Commando Joe'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward sponsor for Nova Education Trust's Transformational Awards 2026 ceremony.
• PineappleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward sponsor for Nova Education Trust's Transformational Awards 2026 ceremony.
• Zen EducateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward sponsor for Nova Education Trust's Transformational Awards 2026 ceremony.
• Link3 RecruitmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward supporter for Nova Education Trust's Transformational Awards 2026 ceremony.
• DfE East Midlands Regional GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment for Education regional body that supported the trust's External Review of Governance in April-May 2023.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Academy Transformation Trust: Mid-sized multi-academy trust with schools across the Midlands and East of England, focused on school improvement turnarounds and using a comparable cross-phase operating model.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of the largest UK multi-academy trusts operating a network of primary and secondary academies across Yorkshire, the East Midlands and the North East, with a similar centralised school-improvement model and strong focus on measurable attainment outcomes.
• L.E.A.D. Academy Trust: Nottingham-headquartered multi-academy trust with a strong East Midlands primary and secondary footprint and a similar 'school-led improvement' ethos, making it a close direct regional peer.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: East Midlands-based multi-academy trust operating multiple primary and secondary academies, with overlapping geographic footprint in Nottinghamshire and a comparable model of central school improvement support.

Broad incumbents

• Star Academies: National multi-academy trust known for school improvement turnarounds and a faith-inclusive admissions policy, operating an analogous centralised improvement and back-office model across regions.
• United Learning: Large national multi-academy trust running both independent and state-funded schools across England, with comparable cross-phase provision and shared central services; broader scale and remit than Nova.
• Oasis Community Learning: National multi-academy trust operating 50+ academies across England with strong inclusion and community-hub operating principles; comparable cross-phase model and emphasis on character education.
• Harris Federation: Large London-centric multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies with a strong attainment-improvement record and central services model paralleling Nova's structure.
• Reach Academy Trust (formerly Academies Enterprise Trust): Large national multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary academies in multiple regions, with a comparable centralised services and school-improvement approach.

Regional players

• The Priory Federation of Academies: Lincolnshire-based multi-academy trust with a similar mix of primary, secondary and sixth-form provision and a comparable regional East Midlands focus; CEO Ashfaq Rahman is currently vice-chair, indicating operational overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nova Education Trust