Nottingham University Samworth Academy

What Nottingham University Samworth Academy does

Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) is a state-funded secondary school academy located in Bilborough, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Founded in 2011 as a member of the Nova Education Trust multi-academy trust, the school serves approximately 900-1,050 students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, with a published annual Year 7 intake (PAN) of 150 students. Its product set spans a Key Stage 3 broad curriculum, a Key Stage 4 GCSE programme, a Sixth Form offering A Levels and BTEC Extended Diplomas (Business, Health and Social Care, Sport), a Personal Development programme built on NUSA24/7 values, and a specialist Focused Provision Unit for the Deaf that integrates deaf students into mainstream classes with BSL instruction, SmiLE therapy, FM transmitter radio aids, and alternative pathway qualifications.

NUSA's underlying technology is conventional educational delivery augmented by assistive specialism; there is no proprietary software platform, API, or app product. Core technology consists of mainstream teaching infrastructure and deaf-specific accessibility tools such as FM transmitter systems (radio aids) and the externally developed SmiLE (Strategic and Measurable Interaction in Live English) therapy programme, delivered by trained Communication Support Workers. The school holds Cyber Essentials certification, uses MCAS for parent communications, and operates a website, prospectus, and social channels (including a Twitter account) as its primary digital surface.

The business model is that of a UK state-funded academy: there are no tuition fees, and 100% of revenue is sourced from government channels - principally the Education and Skills Funding Agency per-pupil grant, the Pupil Premium Grant (approximately 60% of students qualify, roughly four times the national average), and the 16-19 Tuition Fund. Go-to-market is community-led via annual Open Evenings, prospectus distribution, and direct visits managed through the Nottingham City Council School Admissions process. The school benefits from founding sponsorship by the University of Nottingham and the Samworth Trust, sits within the Nova Education Trust network for shared governance and services, and was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023.

Name

Nottingham University Samworth Academy

Legal name

Nottingham University Samworth Academy

Website

https://nusa.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nottingham University Samworth Academy is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form academy in Nottingham, UK, serving around 900-1,050 students aged 11-18, including a specialist Focused Provision Unit for the Deaf, funded entirely through ESFA per-pupil grants and the Pupil Premium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Inclusive Classroom Support Platforms (EDAFAKAI), Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support) (EDAJALAD)

Keywords

• Secondary education
• Sixth form programs
• Deaf education services
• Special educational needs
• Academy school

Headquarters

HQ city

Bilbrough

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: NUSA operates as a state-funded academy receiving per-pupil government funding through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Revenue is allocated based on student enrollment numbers and specific needs.
2. Pupil Premium Grant: Additional government funding allocated to support students from low-income families eligible for free school meals, service personnel children, and looked-after children. Approximately 60% of students qualify for this additional funding.
3. 16-19 Tuition Fund: Government funding for 16-19 students, prioritising those who have not achieved grade 5 or above in GCSE English and/or Maths, SEND pupils, and those who have significantly underachieved. Used for small-group tuition sessions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form academy delivering education to students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. The school provides a broad curriculum including GCSEs, A Levels, and BTEC Extended Diplomas, alongside a specialised Focused Provision Unit for the Deaf offering British Sign Language instruction, SmiLE therapy, and alternative pathway qualifications. Education is delivered free at point of use to students, funded through government per-pupil allocations and Pupil Premium grants.

Product overview

Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) is a secondary school offering a broad, ambitious and inclusive curriculum from Key Stage 3 through to Sixth Form. The school's core educational products include the Focused Provision Unit for the Deaf (Deaf Base), which provides specialized support for deaf students with BSL lessons and alternative pathway qualifications, and the NUSA Sixth Form offering Level 3 BTEC and A Level courses. The school also operates a Personal Development Programme built around NUSA24/7 Values (Integrity, Accountability, Resilience, Ambition) and provides Pupil Premium Support for disadvantaged students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nova Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUSA is a member academy of the Nova Education Trust, a multi-academy trust. The trust provides governance, shared resources, and collaborative opportunities across its network of schools. The trust handles strategic direction, policies, and centralised functions while allowing academies to maintain their local identity.
• University of NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of NUSA providing ongoing support and partnership links. The university connection provides academic expertise and potential pathways for students.
• Samworth TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of NUSA providing charitable support and governance oversight as part of the academy's establishment.
• UCL Centre for Holocaust EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUSA is designated as a UCL Beacon School for Holocaust Education, collaborating on curriculum development and best practices for Holocaust education. The school has developed cross-curricular links and shares best practice within the trust network.
• Nottinghamshire Deaf SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charity serving the Deaf Community in Nottinghamshire. Collaborates with NUSA's Focused Provision Unit for the Deaf, including joint work on BSL lexicons for Holocaust education and community events.
• Hear TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charity supporting Deaf Young People in Nottingham. Provides events, social gatherings, and support for deaf teenagers. Works with NUSA's FPU to provide aspirational role models and community connections.
• National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity supporting deaf children, teenagers, and young adults. NDCS provides resources, campaigns, and support for deaf awareness initiatives at NUSA.
• National Justice MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing enrichment opportunities. NUSA pupils have become museum exhibitionists and participated in national events. History department works with museum on inclusivity initiatives.
• Nottingham CastleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNUSA was first secondary school invited to trial new castle facilities, providing unique heritage experiences and contributing to city's cultural provisions.
• Torch SCITTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial Teacher Training provider for Nottingham area. NUSA promotes teaching career opportunities and redirects interested individuals to Torch SCITT for teacher training information.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Deaf Children's Society: NDCS is a UK charity supporting deaf children, families, and professionals, listed as a partner of NUSA's FPU. It is adjacent rather than competitive, supplying resources, campaigns, and best-practice frameworks that support NUSA's deaf provision.
• Nottinghamshire Deaf Society: Nottinghamshire Deaf Society is a local charity serving the Deaf community in Nottinghamshire and an explicit partner of NUSA's FPU, collaborating on BSL lexicons and community events. It is an ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor.

Regional players

• The Becket School: The Becket School is a larger Catholic voluntary-aided secondary school serving the Nottingham area. It competes with NUSA for pupils across the same Nottingham catchment, making it a relevant same-geography secondary competitor.
• Nottingham Free School: Nottingham Free School is a non-selective secondary free school in the Nottingham city area. It is comparable to NUSA as an alternative Nottingham-based secondary provider competing for the same local pupil pool.
• Rushcliffe Spencer Academy: Rushcliffe Spencer is a secondary academy in the East Midlands and part of the Spencer Academies Trust network. It competes for pupils across the broader Nottingham catchment and operates under a comparable multi-academy trust structure.
• Djanogly City Academy: Djanogly City Academy is a Nottingham secondary academy also part of a multi-academy trust structure serving a broadly urban catchment. It is a directly comparable academy-format secondary competitor within Nottingham.

Direct peers

• Mary Hare School: Mary Hare is the UK's largest specialist residential school for deaf children, offering specialist teaching, assistive technology, and BSL provision. NUSA's Focused Provision Unit for the Deaf shares the same specialised deaf-education focus, assistive technology stack, and Communication Support Worker model.
• Hamilton Lodge School: Hamilton Lodge is an independent school in Brighton for deaf and hearing-impaired children, with structured communication support and BSL-led teaching. NUSA's FPU mirrors this specialist cohort, dedicated staffing ratio, and alternative-pathway qualifications approach.
• Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children: Frank Barnes is a Camden-based primary specialist school for deaf children, offering BSL-rich teaching and therapy support. It is comparable to NUSA's FPU on assistive tech, specialist teaching, and BSL curriculum delivery, though at primary rather than secondary level.
• The Royal School: The Royal School (formerly Royal School for Deaf Children, Derby) is a specialist day and residential school in the East Midlands serving deaf/HoH pupils. Its East Midlands location makes it a particularly close geographic peer to NUSA's FPU, with overlapping local-authority referral pools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/officialNUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nottingham-university-samworth-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nottingham University Samworth Academy