A new generation of excellence

PA 272/10 - The first intake of pupils into an all new Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) will enjoy a transition day with a difference at The University of Nottingham on Wednesday July 7 2010. NUSA opened in September 2009, but will unveil its brand new £24m facilities on the William Sharp site in Bilborough in September this year. Its sponsors are The University of Nottingham and retired businessman and philanthropist David Samworth. NUSA Project Director Professor Diane Birch said: "This is the time of year when all the children who start secondary school in September visit their new schools. At NUSA, we want to show the new intake that theirs is a school with a difference because the University is one of its sponsors. "So their transition programme is a collaboration between NUSA staff working with University of Nottingham staff and students, culminating in this day of activities with a South African theme on campus." The organisers have chosen the South Africa theme partly because of the interest in the World Cup, but also because a group of trainee teachers from The University of Nottingham travels to South Africa every year to teach in township schools in Pretoria. "All 22 of this year's volunteers are helping with the NUSA transition," Professor Birch added.