Nottingham University Samworth Academy opens its doors

PA 224/09 A milestone in The University of Nottingham's plan to improve the educational achievements of local children will be marked on Friday September 4 2009 with the opening of the Nottingham University Samworth Academy (NUSA) - the country's first 'university academy'. Wearing their distinctive new black and green uniform, 150 year seven pupils will be introduced to their new surroundings along with 50 year 12s, who will be attending the new sixth form. The rest of the pupils will start at the academy the following Monday. Nottingham University Samworth Academy opens its doors on the site of the refurbished William Sharp School in the shadow of the brand-new £24m building which is under construction and due for completion in September 2010. Once the new facility is complete the academy will be home to 950 pupils. NUSA will serve the Bilborough area of Nottingham — an area of dwindling educational achievement with one of the lowest rates of participation in higher education in the country. Professor Di Birch, Academy Project Director, said: "A university academy should be a school in which obstacles to achievement are anticipated and overcome, as well as a place where learning is fun and brings its own rewards.