Nova Hreod Academy

What Nova Hreod Academy does

Nova Hreod Academy is a state-funded secondary academy in Swindon, Wiltshire (United Kingdom), serving students aged 11–16 across Years 7–11. The school is operated by United Learning, a national charitable multi-academy trust, and is led by Principal James Harding-Mbogo with a bench of two Senior Vice Principals, a Vice Principal, and six Assistant Principals covering behaviour & culture, quality of education, inclusion, Key Stage 4 pastoral, home study, and data & assessment. It was previously known as Hreod Burna School before rebranding under the United Learning umbrella.

The school's core offering is a standard secondary curriculum across English, mathematics, science, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational subjects, augmented by three differentiated programmes: the Catalyst STEM Stream (an accelerated STEM admissions track with its own intake funnel), the Whole School Reading Programme (three mornings per week of structured reciprocal reading during form time), and the Supernova enrichment club. Technology delivery is built on third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Arbor for parent communication and attendance management, Sparx Maths for digital learning, and a school management information system, supplemented by a virtual tour for prospective families.

The business model is predominantly government-funded: tuition is free, with revenue arriving as per-pupil grants via the Swindon Borough Council admissions process. Ancillary revenue is generated through facilities hire to external parties, catering via The Stellar Diner, and small optional paid services — but these are immaterial relative to core grant funding. Distribution is local and catchment-bound, with the Catalyst STEM Stream acting as the only meaningful out-of-catchment draw. Marketing runs through the school's website, open events, Nova News email newsletters, the Arbor Parent App, and community events such as the Interfaith Iftar.

Name

Nova Hreod Academy

Legal name

Nova Hreod Academy

Website

https://novahreodacademy.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nova Hreod Academy is a UK state-funded secondary academy in Swindon, Wiltshire, educating students aged 11–16 across Years 7–11 as part of the United Learning multi-academy trust, with ancillary revenue from facilities hire and catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gifted, Advanced & Acceleration Centers (Honors/AP/IB Enrichment) (EDANAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Advanced STEM & Competition Coaching (MathCounts/AMC/AIME/USAMO, Science Olympiad, Physics/Chem Olympiads) (EDANAKAF)

Keywords

• Secondary school education
• GCSE preparation programmes
• STEM academic stream
• School literacy programme
• State-funded academy

Headquarters

HQ city

Swindon

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nova Hreod Academy is a UK state-funded secondary school providing full-time education to students aged 11-16 across Years 7-11, covering Key Stages 3 and 4 and culminating in GCSE examinations. Core delivery includes a broad secondary curriculum across English, mathematics, science, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational subjects, supplemented by a specialised Catalyst STEM Stream for accelerated sciences and mathematics, a structured Whole School Reading Programme, extracurricular clubs such as Supernova, pastoral and SEND support, careers guidance, and ancillary paid services including facilities hire and The Stellar Diner catering.

Product overview

Nova Hreod Academy is a secondary school offering a comprehensive educational programme for students in Years 7-11. The school provides a standard curriculum across core and elective subjects, enhanced by specialized programmes including the Catalyst STEM Stream for accelerated STEM education, the Supernova club for extended enrichment, and a Whole School Reading Programme for literacy development. The school also offers Catalyst Stream Admissions for specialized STEM entry, Virtual Tours for prospective families, and various extracurricular clubs and activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Catalyst STEM Stream: A specialized STEM program offered by the academy for ambitious students to study sciences, technology, engineering and maths in greater depth.

Products and services

• Secondary Education (Years 7-11) Full-time state-funded secondary education programme for students aged 11-16 across Years 7-11, covering Key Stages 3 and 4 and culminating in GCSE qualifications, including curriculum subjects, pastoral care, and careers guidance.
• Catalyst STEM Stream A specialised academic stream for ambitious students to study sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics in greater depth and at an accelerated pace, with a separate admissions process attracting students from across the Swindon area interested in STEM careers and further education.
• Supernova Club Extracurricular club offering extended learning opportunities and enrichment activities for students at Nova Hreod Academy.
• Whole School Reading Programme A school-wide reading programme during form time where students read challenging texts three mornings per week, incorporating reciprocal reading strategies to improve literacy and critical thinking across all year groups.
• The Stellar Diner Catering School cafeteria and catering service providing meals to students, with catering services available for purchase by parents and the wider community.
• Facilities for Hire Hire of school facilities, including sports areas and other campus amenities, to external community and commercial users.

Quantifiable outcome

• 62% of students achieved grade 4 or above in both English and maths
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Paul Canoville TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026Partnership providing opportunities for students demonstrating excellent attendance to visit Stamford Bridge and meet former Chelsea FC players. Focus on promoting attendance excellence and character development through sports engagement.
• Royal Opera HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with United Learning on Magic Flute opera project involving 1,700 students from 53 schools. Students learned songs and performed alongside Royal Ballet & Opera Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall. Focus on creativity, confidence, and collaboration skills.
• Mendip Activity CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education provider for residential trips including archery, rock climbing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and team-building activities. Supports personal development through adventure education.
• Your Game PlanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual interview platform enabling Year 10 students to have practice interviews with industry professionals. Part of National Interview Month initiative preparing students for future employment.
• United LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational education charity and group of schools providing shared resources, curriculum frameworks, professional development, and governance support. Nova Hreod Academy is one of multiple schools in the group.
• PGL LiddingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor activity centre providing revision weekends and adventure activities for Year 11 students combining academic preparation with character development experiences.
• Network Rail, BMW, Colas, NHS, Royal Navy, Police, RAF, and local employersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployers participating in annual Futures Evening career fair, providing students with information about career pathways, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities across various sectors.
• Bath UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity campus visits for Year 11 students providing immersive experience of university life, facilities tours, and information about higher education pathways.
• Royal Holloway UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhD researcher-led history workshops during half term, giving students experience of university-level study and historical research methods.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Ark Schools: A large UK multi-academy trust operating multiple secondary academies with a strong STEM and academic enrichment focus. Comparable in structure to Nova Hreod Academy's relationship with United Learning, and competes for similar pupil demographics.
• United Learning: The parent multi-academy trust providing governance, curriculum frameworks, and shared services to Nova Hreod Academy. Establishes the broader operating context and offers scalability advantages as a wider UK MAT.
• Cognita Schools: An international K-12 education group managing schools across multiple countries. Comparable in operating model and focus on character education alongside academics, which mirrors Nova Hreod Academy's 'Education with Character' ethos.
• Harris Federation: A major UK multi-academy trust running a large portfolio of primary and secondary academies. Provides a benchmark for academy-scale operations, STEM enrichment, and career-readiness programmes similar to those available at Nova Hreod Academy.
• GEMS Education: A global K-12 education group operating premium schools across multiple markets. While fee-paying and international, it parallels the multi-school operating model and curriculum enrichment approach that Nova Hreod Academy follows within United Learning.

Direct peers

• Swindon Academy: A neighbouring Swindon secondary school and fellow United Learning member, operating within the same local market and governance structure. It receives Year 11 leavers from Nova Hreod Academy into its UCSF Sixth Form, making it a directly comparable and connected peer.
• Oasis Academy: A UK secondary academy with a Swindon presence, operating within the Oasis Community Learning MAT. Provides a direct comparison point for state-funded secondary academy operations in the same city.
• Churchfields Academy: A Swindon secondary school sharing the same local catchment and admission competition as Nova Hreod Academy. It serves a similar demographic and offers comparable GCSE and enrichment programmes.
• The Commonweal School: A state-funded secondary school in Swindon serving a similar 11-16 age cohort in the same local authority area. It competes directly with Nova Hreod Academy for student intake and operates on a comparable UK academy model.

Emerging players

• Reach Academy: A UK all-through academy with a strong focus on character development and employer partnerships. Shares Nova Hreod Academy's emphasis on holistic education and serves as a comparable case study for outcomes-driven UK academy operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/nova-hreod-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Hreod Academy