NISHKAM SCHOOL TRUST

What NISHKAM SCHOOL TRUST does

Nishkam Schools Multi-Academy Trust (NSMAT), trading as Nishkam School Trust, is a UK charitable Multi-Academy Trust (Company No. 7522245, registered in England) operating a network of Sikh ethos, multi-faith, virtues-led schools, nurseries and a vocational college. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Birmingham, the trust grew from the first wave of UK free schools in 2011 and now educates more than 3,000 students across five schools (West Midlands, West London, Leeds, Derbyshire), three nurseries (West Midlands and Leeds), and one vocational college in Kericho, Kenya. Its core educational offering spans the full age pipeline from nursery through sixth form, delivering the standard UK curricula (EYFS, Key Stages 1-3, GCSE, A-Levels) within a distinctive 'multi-faith, virtues-led' framework.

The trust's underlying pedagogical technology is The Virtues Programme ('Honour the Spirit'), introduced in 2016, which embeds a 'Language of Virtues' approach across all staff and teaching. This proprietary framework guides staff in using language to awaken innate virtues in pupils and is documented across eight NSMAT Journals. Recent product and ecosystem additions include the '100 Things to Do Before You Leave Nishkam' personal development programme, partnerships with the Wolves Foundation, Ingestre Hall Arts Residential Centre, the University of Hertfordshire (Primary Science Quality Mark), and the National Association for Able Children in Education. Marketing and admissions operate through a coordinated mix of websites, social media, monthly Microsoft Sway newsletters, open events, published prospectuses, and Local Authority admissions processes, with a 50/50 split between faith-category and open places.

NSMAT's revenue model is government-funded per-pupil state education funding distributed across multiple Local Authority admissions authorities, supplemented by fee-paying wraparound services (breakfast club, after-school care) and ancillary income. As a charitable trust there is no equity funding history and no parent company; ownership and control rest with the trust board and members. Recent growth has been executed through acquisition rather than greenfield expansion, most notably the December 2023 absorption of Akaal Primary School Derby and the 2025 opening of new nursery provision at that site, signalling continued geographic and product line extension within the public-sector funding envelope.

Name

NISHKAM SCHOOL TRUST

Legal name

Nishkam Schools Multi-Academy Trust

Website

https://nishkamschooltrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nishkam School Trust is a UK charitable Multi-Academy Trust operating five Sikh ethos, multi-faith, virtues-led schools and three nurseries across the West Midlands, West London, Leeds and Derbyshire, plus a vocational college in Kenya, educating more than 3,000 students from nursery through sixth form on government per-pupil funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary and Secondary Education (Multi-Academy Trust)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAC

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDACADAH

Faith-Based Early Learning Academies

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Learning Academies & Montessori/Reggio/Steiner Programs

Keywords

• Multi-academy trust
• Virtues-led education
• Faith-based schooling
• Primary secondary education
• Early years nursery

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a Multi-Academy Trust, NSMAT receives state funding for educating students. The trust operates academies which are government-funded schools.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nishkam School Trust operates a multi-academy trust of state-funded Sikh-ethos, multi-faith, virtues-led schools and nurseries across the West Midlands, West London, Derbyshire, and Leeds, plus a vocational college in Kenya. It delivers UK national curricula from EYFS through A-Level alongside a proprietary Virtues Programme ("Honour the Spirit") and the "Language of Virtues" character-education framework to more than 3,000 pupils across 5 schools and 3 nurseries.

Product overview

Nishkam Schools Multi-Academy Trust (NSMAT) operates a portfolio of Sikh faith schools with a multi-faith ethos across the UK and Kenya. The Trust encompasses 5 schools in the West Midlands, West London, Leeds, and Derbyshire serving over 3000 students, plus 3 nurseries. The portfolio includes primary schools, secondary schools, an all-through school (primary and secondary), vocational college, and nursery provisions. All schools follow a virtues-led approach to education based on Sikh principles, emphasizing compassion, humility, service, and other virtues. The schools are supported by The Virtues Programme ('Honour the Spirit') introduced in 2016. Schools offer standard UK curricula (EYFS, KS1-3, GCSE, A-Levels) with religious education that teaches from faith rather than just about faith. Admissions use a dual-track system with 50% faith category and 50% open places.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nishkam High School Birmingham State-funded secondary school serving years 7-13 with approximately 660 pupils, offering GCSE and A-Level qualifications within the trust's virtues-led, multi-faith framework. Holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating across all areas.
• Nishkam Primary School Birmingham State-funded primary school for boys and girls aged 4-11 delivering EYFS and Key Stage 1-2 curriculum with multi-faith ethos and virtues-led education. Holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating.
• Nishkam Primary School Wolverhampton State-funded primary school for boys and girls aged 4-11 in Wolverhampton, ranked in the top 2% of Wolverhampton schools for academic results.
• Nishkam School West London All-through state-funded school (primary and secondary) in Osterley, Hounslow, serving pupils from EYFS through Year 13 with primary results in the top 5% nationally.
• Akaal Primary School and Nursery Derby Primary school with nursery provision in Derby operating under a faith-inspired virtues-led curriculum within the trust.
• Primley Wood Primary School and Nursery Leeds Primary school with nursery provision in Leeds operating as part of the multi-academy trust network.
• Nishkam Nursery Birmingham State-funded nursery provision for early years children located in Handsworth, Birmingham.
• Nishkam Nursery Wolverhampton State-funded nursery provision for early years children located in Wolverhampton.
• Nishkam Nursery Leeds State-funded nursery provision for early years children located in Leeds.
• NSPSI College Kenya Vocational college operated in Kericho, Kenya (P.O. Box 276, 20200), providing further education opportunities under the NSMAT umbrella.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of Reception pupils achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD) at NSWL, 13% above national average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wolves Foundation (Wolverhampton Wanders Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2021Partnership providing invaluable support to families and wider Wolves community. Wolves Foundation has selflessly supported Nishkam Primary School Wolverhampton families and extended support with initiatives including food bank support through 'Feed Our Pack' programme.
• Ingestre Hall Arts Residential CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018Annual 3-night residential visits bringing together pupils from all Nishkam primaries. In 2018, a record-breaking 96 pupils joined for arts enrichment focused on the virtue of Forgiveness. Ingestre Hall hosts schools from all over the world and is the only Arts Residential Centre in the UK.
• University of HertfordshirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) in collaboration with Primary Science Teaching Trust. Provides professional development for new and experienced subject leaders each year, resulting in improvement in science teaching across awarded schools.
• Primary Science Teaching TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with University of Hertfordshire on PSQM programme enabling confident, knowledgeable, reflective leadership in science education.
• National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE)minorOthersAwarded NACE Challenge Award to Nishkam School West London recognizing exceptional provision for able learners.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Learning Trust: Large UK multi-academy trust operating a diverse portfolio of state-funded primary, secondary and all-through schools. Comparable as a K-12 MAT with a strong academic ethos and significant geographic spread across England.
• Star Academies: One of the UK's largest multi-academy trusts operating faith-based (Muslim ethos) primary and secondary schools. Highly comparable to NSMAT as a faith-rooted, values-led MAT delivering K-12 education across multiple UK regions with strong Ofsted track record.
• Harris Federation: UK multi-academy trust running a large portfolio of primary and secondary academies across London and southern England, including faith schools. Comparable to NSMAT in operating a multi-region K-12 MAT with high Ofsted standards.
• Ark Schools: Large UK multi-academy trust operating a network of primary and secondary schools across England with a distinct educational philosophy. Comparable to NSMAT in scale, K-12 portfolio, and central-trust governance model operating across multiple regions.
• Greenwood Academies Trust: UK multi-academy trust running multiple primary and secondary academies, particularly across the Midlands including Birmingham and Nottingham regions. Directly comparable to NSMAT's West Midlands concentration and K-12 MAT structure.
• Outwood Grange Academies Trust: One of England's largest multi-academy trusts operating a large network of primary and secondary schools. Comparable to NSMAT's MAT-led operating model, multi-region K-12 portfolio, and growth through acquisitions.
• Oasis Academy Trust (Oasis Community Learning): UK multi-academy trust founded on a distinctive community- and values-led ethos (Christian heritage, multi-faith welcome), running nurseries, primary and secondary academies nationally. Closely comparable to NSMAT's multi-faith values-led education model.

Regional players

• Diocesan Multi-Academy Trusts (e.g., Birmingham Diocesan MAT): Regional UK faith-rooted multi-academy trusts operating Church of England primary and secondary schools, often concentrated in specific dioceses. Comparable as geographically focused faith-based K-12 MATs operating in overlapping UK regions to NSMAT.
• Severn Academies Education Trust: A UK regional multi-academy trust operating a portfolio of primary and secondary schools across the West Midlands and surrounding counties. Comparable as a Midlands-region K-12 MAT serving similar communities to NSMAT.
• LDBS (London Diocesan Board for Schools) Academies Trust: UK faith-rooted multi-academy trust operating Church of England schools primarily in the London region. Comparable as a faith-based K-12 MAT with similar governance structure and faith-led admissions to NSMAT's West London operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nishkamschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/nishkamprimarywolves
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nishkam-school-trust

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries10 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 NISHKAM SCHOOL TRUST