Nottingham University Samworth Academy

Nottingham University Samworth Academy is a good school that fosters an inclusive and supportive environment where pupils feel safe and valued. The atmosphere is positive, with strong relationships between staff and students. The school emphasizes hard work and kindness, motivating students through various initiatives. Particularly commendable is the school's focus on reading and personal development, which helps pupils thrive both academically and socially. The sixth form is expanding to offer more courses tailored to student needs, supporting their aspirations and career readiness.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on reading and literacy development.
• Inclusive pastoral support for students' well-being.
• Positive relationships between pupils and staff.
• High-quality training for staff to enhance curriculum delivery.
• Effective provision for pupils with SEND.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in curriculum delivery across different subjects.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Nottingham University Samworth Academy attended 86.6% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 34.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 18.1% of pupils at Nottingham University Samworth Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 9 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Nottingham University Samworth Academy had 15.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 19.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 12.1% of pupils at Nottingham University Samworth Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Nottingham University Samworth Academy received £9,101 and spent £8,696 for each of its 927 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £669,000 (£722 per pupil).

Across all 17 schools of Nova Education Trust, income was £7,436 and spending £7,228 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Nottingham · Nottingham local authority: places and applications

Nottingham University Samworth Academy is part of Nova Education Trust, which runs 17 schools. The nearest others:

• Firbeck Academy Nottingham
• Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology Nottingham
• Nottingham Free School Nottingham
• Kirk Hallam Community Academy Ilkeston
• Victoria Primary School Nottingham
• Westdale Junior School Nottingham
• Robert Miles Infant School Nottingham
• Toot Hill School Nottingham
• Forest Town Primary School Mansfield
• The Garibaldi School Mansfield

What is Nottingham University Samworth Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Nottingham University Samworth Academy is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Nottingham University Samworth Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Nottingham University Samworth Academy was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Nottingham University Samworth Academy have?

Nottingham University Samworth Academy has 841 pupils on roll.

What age range does Nottingham University Samworth Academy cover?

Nottingham University Samworth Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Nottingham University Samworth Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 39.9, and 41% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Nottingham University Samworth Academy?

Nottingham University Samworth Academy is at Bramhall Road, Bilborough, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG8 4HY.