Dear Parent/Carer,
This term has been a very busy and productive one for students and staff at NUAST.
Our staff and students are working incredibly hard, especially those who are in the final weeks before exams start. We are extremely proud of our Year 11 and 13 students who have shown great resilience and aspiration in their mocks and are currently revising well; this will continue throughout the holidays both in and out of school. We all wish them well and look forward to celebrating their success in the Summer.
Over the last term we have been speaking with students about pursuit of excellence in their work. It has been great to hear from student council and our year reps as we work towards empowering our students to understand why their teachers use specific methods to check their understanding at various points in the lesson and how teachers respond to this information.
Whilst incredible things continue to happen in the classroom, students have been benefiting from the range of opportunities that are available beyond the classroom. This includes inspirational speakers, great sporting achievements, a student led STEM Fair, World Book Day, various trips, charity fundraising and cultural events such as preparing for Lent, Ramadan and Eid.
I hope that you enjoy reading about the achievements at NUAST in this newsletter and thank you for your continued support.
Kind Regards
Dave Thompson
Headteacher
The spring term kicked off with a fantastic afternoon with our attendance prize winners from the autumn term at the Theatre Royal's Peter Pan performance!
We continue to be above the national averages for attendance, and it is great to see so many students with 100% attendance for the year. We have also introduced our new Family Support Worker to students , Miss Akhtar, who will be conducting home visits and working with parents/carers where their child’s attendance is below where it should be.
We celebrate good attendance as we know that:
Missed days at school result in missed learning and gaps in knowledge, skills and understanding.
These can be hard to address over time and can result in increased anxiety, as well as other potential issues.
Crucially, days off school and missed learning results in lower assessment and examination grades, leading to a child not achieving their full potential by the end of their time with us.
Everyone attends, every day
We continue to be incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support parents and carers have given to ensure that our culture of “Everyone attends, every day” is embedded. This has meant that we have rapidly established a culture where our students value education, have a sense of ‘belonging’, and understand that every day there will be unmissable learning opportunities that they need to experience. New prizes and incentives for last half term included the chance to be in a draw for an Apple iPad, and all students with 100% attendance being entered into our weekly prize draw for Feed a Family Friday. Every Friday afternoon, students with 100% attendance for the week will continue to be in a draw for one of two £30 Just Eat Vouchers as part of the ‘Feed a Family Friday’.
We will of course continue to also work with our local authority partners and agencies to remove barriers to attendance – particularly for students who are below the government expectations, as well as those who fall into the category definition of ‘persistent absentee’. If you have received a letter with regards to your child and attendance concerns, please read this carefully and don’t hesitate to contact should you have any questions or queries.
Part of the Nottingham Attendance Strategy
We were proud to be part of the attendance strategy for Nottingham and our students featured in their film projects around the importance of attending every day...
ClassCharts.
We use a Parent App called ClassCharts, This is available from both the Apple App Store and Google Play. It has come to our attention that whilst the vast majority of parents/carers have signed up to the app, not all are logging in. This could mean that some parents/carers are missing out on valuable information to do with their child including attendance information and behaviour updates. We also use this app for letters, school events, homework and emergency notices. Please ensure that you access this app on a regular basis to support your child. We would highly recommend enabling notifications for this app on your device too.
We look forward to continuing to celebrate the achievements and attendance of our students with recognition and rewards throughout the summer term!
This term, our students have been considering excellence in the classroom, especially in relation to our school values of Respect, Aspiration and Resilience. It has been brilliant to drop into lesson to see the excellent work that our students are producing, including collaborative work, uplifting pieces of writing and identifying and correcting mistakes.
At NUAST, we think excellent work is not necessarily ‘beautiful’ but is always:
Work that is of high quality and has been achieved by hard work and determination
Work that inspires others to aim for high standards
Work that allows us to celebrate excellence instead of hiding it away
Work that demonstrates the culture of NUAST, that aiming for excellence is absolutely the usual approach of our students.
Nottingham University Academy of Science & Technology (NUAST) has achieved a remarkable leap in the prestigious Fairer Schools Index, climbing an impressive 523 places in the third edition published by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Developed by the University of Bristol, this index transcends traditional academic metrics like Progress 8, focusing on schools that are truly levelling the playing field for students from diverse backgrounds.
The Fairer Schools Index takes a comprehensive approach, considering factors beyond raw exam results. It examines pupil demographics, ethnicity, deprivation levels, and academic performance to paint a nuanced picture of a school’s impact on all its students, particularly those facing unique challenges.
By acknowledging the socio-economic realities that students navigate, the index highlights the exceptional work of schools like NUAST, where educators are dedicated to overcoming significant barriers and ensuring every student realises their full potential.
This recognition underscores the unwavering commitment and tireless efforts of the entire NUAST community.
“We are immensely proud to see NUAST ranked third in Nottingham by the Fairer Schools Index,” said Dave Thompson, Headteacher of NUAST.
“This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our staff to providing an exceptional education for every single student, regardless of their background.”
Ash Rahman, CEO of Nova Education Trust, added: “The Fairer Schools Index provides a valuable framework for understanding true school effectiveness.
“It emphasises the crucial role schools play, alongside parents, carers, and governors, in ensuring that all young people have an equal opportunity to succeed, irrespective of their circumstances.”
NUAST consistently ranks among the city’s top schools for GCSE attainment, with 15 per cent more students achieving Grade 5 or higher in English and mathematics than the city average, surpassing national benchmarks. Its OutstandingSixth Form provides a launchpad to prestigious universities and competitive apprenticeships.
A highly sought-after and oversubscribed city school, NUAST operates with a strong academic foundation, further solidified by its ambitious five-year strategic plan, developed in collaboration with other schools within the Nova Education Trust.
This shared vision prioritises holistic child development, nurturing students through eight life-enriching experiences that cultivate essential skills and resilience to help transform the lives of its children and young people.
The Fairer Schools Index is gaining significant traction as a more equitable measure of school performance. By spotlighting schools that are truly making a difference, it empowers parents to make informed decisions about their child’s education and fosters a deeper understanding of what constitutes genuine school success.
This term has seen a massive improvement in the standards of uniform across all year groups and your support with this is really appreciated. As a result, the need for staff to remind students of the expectations has been massively reduced and we have been able to have space for far more positive conversations to take place. We will of course continue our drive for excellence in all that we do at NUAST, that includes all students wearing our uniform with pride.
Additionally, thank you for your help in ensuring that all KS3/4 students are wearing all items of uniform (ties, shoes and blazers) prior to entering the school gate, this has resulted in students being settled more quickly. Please note that our uniform policy states that shoes should be 'Smart, polished flat shoes with a sturdy sole that can have up to a one inch heel'. This remains unchanged from previous years and any shoes which can't be polished are not permitted, nor are boots.
All academy staff are aware of the expectations so that we can consistently apply these across the academy in line with policy. For more information on our uniform policy, including the standards expected for 6th form students, please see - https://www.nuast.org.uk/page.php?p=uniform
Equipment:
In order to get your child off to the best possible start, please ensure they have the following equipment for their first day back in September:
As part of our drive towards excellence, we run "The Brilliant Club" as an enrichment opportunity.
The Brilliant Club is an inspiring university-style course, taught by a world-class PhD researcher through a series of seven tutorials, culminating in a challenging final assignment. This course gives our students a chance to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply to the most competitive universities.
An example of excellent work is below and you can Read the full article written by Lana Al Taie on this link.
Brilliant Club for 2025 has been launched!
We have fourteen Year 7 students who are working with a PHD student from Nottingham University regarding how computer science is shaping our futures. The students have been participating in face-to-face tutorial sessions and are working towards their assignment which will be finalised in June 2025.
Personal Development
At NUAST, we deliberately teach our Personal Development Curriculum, including broad enrichment provision, which enables students to learn new experiences, deepen relationships and develop aspirations and resilience. Our enrichment provision is specifically designed to ignite the enthusiasm of students and enable young people to be creative, critical and have the knowledge and skills required to leave their legacy within our ever-evolving world.
During this term, students have participated in the following enrichment activities:
This term has seen a number of great external speakers, the most recent being Councillor Neghat Khan (Leader of Nottingham City Council) and Jonny Coleman who is a Specialist Pharmacist at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.
The speakers that we have are truly inspirational and have given our staff and students an insight into their fields of expertise. In some cases, students have secured work experience too as well as getting answers to lots of wonderful questions.
We look forward to the speakers that we have lined up next term.
Your child may be entitled to Free School Meals if you get any of the following:
Applications
To apply for Free School Meals and/or School Uniform allowance you will need to complete the application form below and provide some supporting evidence.
Once the application form is completed it needs to be sent to Nottingham City Council along with your supporting evidence.
You can do this by:
Help and Assistance
We understand that completing the form might be confusing or difficult, particularly if English is not your first language. If you would like some help completing it, just contact school and we can arrange some support to help you complete it.
You can also get more information on the Nottingham City Council website: Support and Benefits for Children at School - Nottingham City Council
We had a fantastic time celebrating World Book Day on 6th March. Traditionally, staff dress up as book characters and this year we had a brilliant variety of stories represented, including Harry Potter, The Mr Men books and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Students enjoyed a book-themed treasure hunt and the winners each received a £10 book voucher.
During tutor time, students created their own six-word short stories. These were the winning stories from each year group:
7.1: One Death, Two Murderers, Three Leftover.
8.5: The wheels turned but he didn't.
9.3: I gave up and still won.
10.2: Perfect. Not you. Not me. Her.
11.3: Empty room, echoing laughter, love remains.
Six-word Short Stories Overall Winner
11.3: Empty room, echoing laughter, love remains.
Finally, we enjoyed a Readathon on the specially-created Reading Throne (thanks to Mr Musson!) Students and staff took it in turn to read aloud Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone throughout the day. It was amazing to hear the story being read non-stop. By the end of the day, we got to Page 168. A super effort!
Pet Poetry Competition for 5-18 year-olds | Young Writers
https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/all-ages/pet-poetry
Deadline 30th May. Please see Mrs Ryce for more details.
British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths that takes place between 7-16 March 2025
Here is some of the fabulous work and activities which took place both in school and at Nottingham University. Students and colleagues throughout the week have been having great fun exploring all things STEM and displaying fantastic work and knowledge around STEM subjects. Many thanks to our colleagues at the University of Nottingham for their support too. So much to be proud of and opportunities for our students to learn interesting topics/research.
#aspiration #respect #resilience
Comic Relief 2025
This was a real success! Students were encouraged to wear red as part of the non-uniform day. During break times, students were able to purchase cakes in the breakout area and donate money towards a good cause. During this day, we raised a massive £503.75 for this great cause. Thank you for your support with Comic Relief 2025.
NUAST is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for pupils and promoting a climate where children will feel confident about sharing any concerns which they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.
Adults and students are clear about how to report safeguarding concerns which can be done in a variety of ways. Our safeguarding team consists of:
During the holidays, we are opening the school at the times below for any student who feels they would like to drop in and talk to a member of staff or just want to catch up.
Wednesday 9th April 2025 - 10am to 12pm
Wednesday 16th April 2025 - 10am to 12pm
Safeguarding: Web links for parents/carers
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/nspcc-helpline
https://www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/parents/the-parents-guide-to-teaching-your-teen-online-safety/
NCSCB Staying Safe Online Information for Parents/Carers
http://familytime.io/?gclid=CKHxztni0cwCFbYK0wodAcIAFQ
If a child is experiencing online bullying or something else online that has worried them, they should speak to an appropriate trusted adult, or they can talk to Childline at any time on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk.
A huge amount of work has been happening this term towards preparing our examination cohorts for the summer exams - we wish our students all the very best for the examinations taking place when we return from the break!
Students have been extremely resilient and have worked hard to ensure they perform at their best. Over the Easter break, we look forward to welcoming the many students who have already signed up to attend the revision workshops for a range of subjects. Please see details below for when these sessions are taking place:
Please use the links below for examination timetables and Year 11 revision tips to support your child prepare at home:
Student Leadership
At Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology, all students have an opportunity to use their voice to positively, articulately and respectfully connect with all members of our school community. We promote talk by deliberately teaching our young people to build confidence in their opinions, express their feelings, shape school improvement, whilst igniting their enthusiasm and courage to make a difference.
We have developed the role this term of our different ambassadors. As a result, we have now provided a clear overview of the roles and responsibilities of the different ambassadors.
Head Students
They articulately use their voice to significantly shape school improvement at NUAST. They communicate and feedback regularly with the Senior Leadership Team to increase the sense of belonging for all students. They provide ideas and solutions and represent themselves in the local community to help a wide range of stakeholders connect with NUAST.
NUAST 16 Student Council
They articulately use their voice to connect Years 7 to 11 and NUAST 16. They lead their peers to express and articulate school improvement whilst igniting their passion to bring positive change.
Year Group Ambassadors
They represent their Year Group Voice in discussions with the Senior Leadership Team.
Tutor Group Ambassadors
They represent their tutor group voice in discussions with their Head of Year.
All students
They use their voice on specific topics and get to vote to shape school improvement at NUAST.
Subject Ambassadors
They use their voice to shape the improvements made in subject areas. They are also involved in school events and in the recruitment process for teaching staff. Finally, they communicate with Heads of Department to shape the learning experience for students.
Sports Ambassadors
They use their voice to lead other young people in PE lessons, extra-curricular opportunities and represent themselves and NUAST in Nottingham, East Midlands and United Kingdom.
Anti-Bullying Ambassadors
They use their voice to drive school improvement to make sure students feel safe. They are role models to their peers and value the importance of kindness in every interaction.
Firstly, all students have had the opportunity this term to use their voice to shape their NUAST experience. All students have engaged in discussions regarding rewards and recognition and how they would like the school to continue to celebrate the successes of our students. In addition to this, we have discussed teaching and learning. Students have had the opportunity to provide feedback about their educational experience and provided valuable suggestions for the next steps for the school. The ambassadors have been involved in the following:
Anti-Bullying Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness of bullying of young people, with an emphasis on prevention and effective responses to bullying. It began in 2002 and is coordinated by the charity Anti-Bullying Alliance.
Anti-Bullying Week 2024 took place on Monday 11th - Friday 15th November. The theme was Choose Respect and NUAST actively promoted this through 'Odd Socks Day'
Whilst incidents of bullying are uncommon at NUAST, the academy takes bullying seriously and will work with parents/carers and students to resolve any concerns around bullying.
Bullying can take a number of forms:
Physical bullying involves hitting, shoving, pushing, tripping, and other kinds of force.
Verbal bullying involves hurtful comments, name-calling, teasing.
Social bullying involves using relationships to hurt someone.
Cyberbullying happens over phones or through social media and the internet.
We would ask that concerns are raised as quickly as possible with the Head of Year or Form Tutor as soon as you suspect bullying. Students can speak to any member of staff to report concerns.
The links below will take you to external websites that offer support to both students and parents who are concerned about bullying.
http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Bullying/Pages/Bullyinghome.aspx
Across the NOVA Education Trust we have celebrated the loyalty of our incredible staff. Staff who have worked within the trust have been recognised and thanked for their on going contribution to the students at NUAST and other NOVA schools.
Thank you to all of these dedicated staff for their commitment to our schools.
7 Girls Mega Fest:
Miss Watson took 8 Year 7 girls to Harvey Hadden for the 7 Girls Mega Fest, where they played brilliantly, winning the majority of their games against Oakwood and Bulwell Academy. It was an inspiring day of teamwork and skill!
Year 8 Football Championship:
Our Year 8 football team finished an impressive 3rd in the championship, with Miles Bailey being named Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performance. A fantastic achievement for the team!
U15 Football Championship:
Our U15 football team came away with the bronze medal in the football championship, narrowly losing to Bulwell in a thrilling match. Hassan Hussain was named Player of the Tournament for his exceptional effort and skill on the field.
First Sixth Form Football Match:
Our Sixth Form football team have their first match against Nest FC, marking a historic moment for the school. We're excited to see how they continue to develop in the future.
Year 9 Dodgeball:
Our Year 9 dodgeball team were crowned City Dodgeball Champions! Their teamwork and quick reflexes were key to their success, and we couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and determination.
Sports Leaders Running Competitions:
Our fantastic Sports Leaders have been busy running a range of exciting competitions during lunch breaks, including penalty shootouts and rowing challenges. They’ve done a brilliant job in engaging and motivating other students!
KS3 Football:
Football is thriving at NUAST, with Year 7 students playing every Tuesday and Year 8 playing every Wednesday. Over 20 students have been attending these sessions each week, showing real dedication to improving their skills.
Thursdays Girl's Running Club:
Our Girls Running Club has also seen great success, Mrs Powell, Miss Munro and Miss Watson have lead up to 19 students joining the early morning sessions, starting at 7:30am. It’s fantastic to see so many students starting their day with some physical activity and enthusiasm!
Friday Boy's Running Club:
Every Friday, Mr. Powell and Mr Dodds lead the running club, with up to16 students attending, all focusing on improving their running technique and performance. It’s a great way for students to improve their fitness and challenge themselves!
Exciting Collaborations with Dunkirk Primary:
Looking ahead, we’re thrilled about the upcoming collaborations with Dunkirk Primary School in the summer term. Reception/Y1 and Y5 students will be joining us for some fun sporting activities, with our Sports Leaders playing a key role in organising and running the events. It’s a brilliant way to build connections with the local community!
We’re incredibly proud of all the sporting talent and teamwork at NUAST, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!
Year 13 Update
Most of our year 13 students have now received offers either from their choice of Universities or their Apprenticeship applications. In terms of our early entry students, fourteen students have received offers to study medicine so far. In addition, 18 of our students have secured offers to study Computer Science and 24 students for Engineering. We are also delighted that a number of students are currently going through tough recruitment rounds for companies such as Rolls Royce, BAE and Airbus.
Year 12 have also had a very busy term. In January, we took a group of our students on a visit to the University of Oxford. The students were given a tour of Magdalen college and lunch in the main hall. We have also hosted visits from a number of local companies including Rolls Royce.
Super-Curricular
The NUAST Super-Curricular has received a fantastic response from our year 12 students. Many of our students have been proactive in setting up new clubs and societies including the Aviation Society, Badminton and Volleyball. Year 12 have also presented themselves as great role models for our younger students as part of our Leave Your Legacy Friday programme through the mentoring of younger students and also raising money for charity. We already have a number of students who have demonstrated they are meeting the gold standard. 22 students have now completed the Grade 4 Public Speaking qualification. The students determination, ambition and vision for their futures is truly inspiring. We look forward to celebrating their success in the next academic year.
Key contacts
Please see below the most updated list of key contacts for the school
Year 13
Year 13 are working really hard in the final run up to the exams. Subject interventions are taking place after school which continue to be well attended.
We have had a focus on ‘Mindfulness for Study’ this half-term, to develop effective healthy study habits in the lead up to exams. Below are a few recommended strategies, if you’d like to refer to them when supporting with exam revision at home.
Power Hour
Starting this week, we have offered a ‘Power Hour’ (and a half) to students on Wednesdays and Fridays to maximise their study time. Students are able to work in the silent study area from 7.30am in the morning, until 9am (8.45am if they have a Villa lesson). They do not have to attend registration if they are working in 2.50, we will take names to ensure they receive a present mark. They can only access the room between 7.30-8am. If they arrive after that time, they will need to go to registration as normal. This has been very well received and many students are finding this additional time useful.
Study Leave
This will commence from Friday 23rd May, after the half-term break. If students have exams before this date, they may take the day off before the exam and the day of the exam. We would like to support students with their revision in lessons for as long as possible, so they can continue to be guided by our expert teaching staff. Following the May half term holidays, it will not be compulsory for students to attend their lessons, however, we would strongly advise them to do so where the exams have not yet been sat.
Students have been excited to receive their UCAS offers, and we are very proud of the range of proposed destinations. Now is the time to apply for student finances and start accepting places.
On the Horizon
Many of our Year 13 students are keen to continue their connection with NUAST16 as Alumni. Our first event is being planned for July, at the end of the exam season. We are most grateful for their continued commitment.
Celebrations
At the end of this term we will be celebrating student success. Staff will be sharing their appreciation of individuals within our talented cohort.
The Islamic Society celebrated Eid with a party on 2nd April too.
In lessons, students will be completing practice papers, revisiting the harder topics and receiving bespoke advice from their teachers on how to make those final grade gains. I know from many years of teaching A Level that those students who make the most of these opportunities are the ones who secure the strongest outcomes.
Y13 Prom
Bestwood Lodge has been booked for Thursday 26th June. We are really looking forward to celebrating the end of the examination season.
Year 12 Aspirations and Destinations
We have had a number of workshops delivered by local companies to support our professional programmes. To support our legal
programme, Sophie Clay, a lawyer from Carringtons Solicitors, delivered a workshop on applying for careers in law. Sophie will be returning to support students applying to study law at university. Rolls Royce also delivered an assembly to year 12 talking through career opportunities and what employers are looking for in potential applicants.
After Easter we will begin working with your child on making applications to university and/or apprenticeships. This work will be taking place during our morning personal development sessions which begin at 8.30 each morning. Our year 12 Progress Evening will be taking place on Thursday 1st May. The main purpose of the evening is for your child to meet individually with their teachers to reflect on their progress and agree specific subject targets to work on in the run up to the summer mocks and beyond. I will also be delivering a presentation on how to apply to university which will give guidance on how to support your child navigate the UCAS application process. Peterhouse Cambridge College and Nottingham University will be delivering workshops in school to support students as they start to make decisions regarding their post 18 plans. UCAS opens late May for applications to start, and applications can be sent by the school from September.
The prime time for higher apprenticeship applications tends to be a bit later, in January, although bigger companies may advertise from late October. We will also have a separate medicine and Oxbridge programme to support students who are applying for early entry courses as the application process is slightly different.
Reminder- Travelling between buildings
We have already implemented a rule that students should not travel between the buildings alone. Students should only travel in pairs, groups, or in sight of other pupils. Walking alone is fine, so long as other NUAST pupils are walking in near sight ahead or behind. Reception staff will attempt to challenge students moving between buildings on their own when no others have left within a couple of minutes or are following.
While we do not expect students to face any danger walking between buildings, we have been advised that this simple rule will overall improve student safety. We ask that, as parents, you support us by reinforcing this with your child.
Assessment
The next set of year 12 mock exams will start the week beginning the 23rd June. The final reports and predicted grades will be coming home before the end of the summer term.
Work experience
Unifrog is now up and running. A significant number of students have already secured placements. A reminder that the work experience week is the 14th-18th July. We are able to present some opportunities to students, but unfortunately cannot generate a whole host of work experience placements for students ourselves; part of the process is students reaching out to companies for themselves. This process launched in January. Students are asked to give 8 weeks notice at least for us to order health and safety checks.
Attendance in morning registration
Students are expected to attend morning registration, which is at 8.30am. We have a programme of activities each morning and we expect students to participate. For year 12, these activities will increasingly be focused on careers pathways, study skills, professional skills, personal development and safety. For year 13, the focus is currently on life skills and also positive study habits in the run up to the exams. These morning sessions focus on skills students will need for the next stage of their lives- how to pay bills, what to look out for when looking to rent, debit and credit cards, loans etc. We want students to attend these sessions- please encourage them to be on time and to do so.
The Sixth Form Leadership Team.
Our current student leadership team has continued to have a positive impact across the school. For example, the team organized a staff v students trivia challenge to raise money for charity. The team are also organizing an Alumni event in the summer term. As our year 13 students are now increasingly focused on the final examinations, the recruitment process has begun with year 12 to appoint our new Sixth Form student leadership team. We have been impressed with the quality of applications and we look forward to share with you the successful appointments we hope to have made in the near future.
Our breakfast club - free to all students!
Our breakfast club provision continues to be provided free of charge and with more activities on offer for students to engage with and socialise. The range of food on offer is varied and there is definitely something for everyone. A great start to each morning!
Join our X (formally known as Twitter) community for content and the latest news and announcements! We have had much to celebrate so far and our students should be proud of their achievements - click the image below to learn more of what has been going on in and out of NUAST! @NUASTUK
NUAST
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