The Nottingham Academy was founded in 2009 but formally opened during the year of 2011 when Greenwood Campus had completed construction, becoming the 'largest school in Europe', serving up to 3,780 pupils ages 3–19.

[2] Elliott Durham, was a deeply unpopular comprehensive which served one of Nottingham's poorest neighbourhoods, St Ann's.

Academically it had just 21% A* to C grades at GCSE in 2007, including maths and English, though that was a rise on the 7% two years previously; considerably down on the 47.6% average for secondary schools in England.

It was a classified as a "national challenge" school, ones where fewer than 30% of pupils achieve five GCSE passes including in maths and English, it had been told to rapidly improve or close down.

[2] Jesse Boot, a primary school in Bakersfield down the road, urgently needed to replace its 1930s classrooms and do something about its falling rolls.

[citation needed] The Nottingham Academy was one of the Government's most costly schools building projects.

[7] Michael Gove, former Secretary of State for Education, officially opened the new Greenwood Campus 1 building at Nottingham Academy on 22 September 2011.

Schoolsnet in 2003 described it as an 11 to 16 co-educational school, which is housed in excellent purpose-built accommodation on a very attractive site.

It emphasises the sports facilities, which include a sports hall with a full size of basketball court, four badminton courts and areas for gymnastics, indoor football, netball and hockey, and a small carpeted hall for dance and aerobics.

[1] Other changes consisted of an extended day for the Wells Academy Campus for additional pastoral support, academic revision and an improvement upon reading and new uniform policies which included the removal of the skirt for female students and the proposal to include a line of blazers.

[1] The proposal took complete effect after September 2020, with the Ransom Road campus becoming The Wells Academy.

[15] In early 2018, a Nottingham Academy year ten pupil presented the idea to run a series of educational events surrounded equality, diversity and the LGBTQ community to 10SGI tutor at Greenwood Campus.

As a result to the proposal, development was made on the student's idea and from 6 to 13 July 2018 the tutorial group, 10SGI led the Nottingham Academy Pride and LGBTQ+ Awareness Week campaign.

This assembly included her life, the science behind transgenderism and statistics with advice on bullying and abuse related issues.

[17] The non-uniform and face-painting or 'celebration' events allowed for students to come together and embrace their differences despite their race, religion, colour, creed or sexual orientation while showing support for those within the LGBTQ+ community and those affected by anti-LGBTQ abuse.

From 8 to 12 July 2019 Nottingham Academy, Greenwood Campus students participated within the second year of the school's pride, equality and diversity events with a series of new educational lessons and pride-themed fundraisers.

These educational lessons were backed with physical activities such as class discussions and worksheets, similar to the 2018 event.

[17][18] Nottingham Academy students from all secondary year groups across Greenwood Campus participated within pride-themed fundraisers and celebrations.

These fundraisers included colourful cake, biscuit and ice pole sales along with pride badges with all proceeds going to Stonewall UK, an LGBTQ+ charity.

[18] To end off the pride and LGBTQ+ Awareness and Acceptance events pupils from all secondary year groups stood together, supporting equality and diversity through a series of celebrations including face painting, colourful non-uniforms and more.