Decisions made: August 2026
Updated 30 September 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regions-group-school-decisions-north-west/decisions-made-august-2026
This is a list of decisions made by the North West region in August 2026.
Greater Manchester
Converter academy orders
Project
An application from St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary School (URN 106359), Trafford local authority, to convert and become an academy and join Corpus Christi Catholic Academy Trust.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
An application from the following schools to convert and become academies and join Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust:
- Sacred Heart RC Primary School (URN 134479), Manchester local authority
- St Richard’s RC Primary School (URN 105544), Manchester local authority
- St Willibrord’s RC Primary School (URN 105540), Manchester local authority
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
An application from the following schools to convert and become academies and join Vantage CE Academies Trust:
- Stockbridge Village Primary School (URN 136222), Knowsley local authority
- St Thomas’ CofE Primary School, Leigh (URN 106448), Wigan local authority
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Sponsored academy orders
Project
A proposal for Northern Education Trust to sponsor Westhoughton High School (URN 105252), Bolton local authority.
Representations received
Yes and considered as part of the decision-making process.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
A proposal for Connect Alliance Trust to sponsor Ravensbury Community School (URN 105449), Manchester local authority.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Significant changes to an open academy
Project
An application for Camberwell Park Specialist Support School (URN 151378), Prospere Learning Trust, Manchester local authority, to make the following change: Special school expansion by 50 planned places.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust. Trust to share outcome of planned external review of governance.
Project
An application for Orchard House Specialist High School (URN 151726), Prospere Learning Trust, Manchester local authority, to make the following change: Special school expansion by 100 planned places.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust. Trust to share outcome of planned external review of governance.
Project
An application for Grange School (URN 145845), Prospere Learning Trust, Manchester local authority, to make the following change: Special school expansion by 50 planned places.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust. Trust to share outcome of planned external review of governance.
Project
An application for Bolton Muslim Girls School (URN 142340), Prosper Multi Academy Trust, to make the following change: Increase capacity by more than 30.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
An application for Chatsworth High School and Community College (URN 143602), The Sovereign Trust, to make the following change: Expansion of a special or alternative provision academy by more than 21 pupils.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
An application for New Park Academy (URN 145850), The Sovereign Trust, to make the following change: Removing a satellite site.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness
Sponsored academy orders
Project
A proposal for Chester Diocesan Learning Trust to sponsor Eccleston CofE Primary School (URN 111349), Cheshire West and Chester local authority.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Significant changes to an open academy
Project
An application for The Fermain Academy (URN 141935), Youth Engagement Schools Trust, Cheshire East local authority, to make the following change: School expansion onto satellite site for 48 places.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
An application for Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio (URN 139924), Aldridge Education Trust, Blackburn with Darwen local authority, to make the following change: Change from studio school to a UTC.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
An application for Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy (URN 149032), St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Halton local authority, to make the following change: Change from studio school to a UTC.
Representations received
No.
Decision
Approve.
Conflicts of interest
Not applicable.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Projects listed on the published decisions to be taken that were removed before a decision was taken
Converter academy orders
Project
An application from the following schools to convert and become academies and join Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust:
- St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School (URN 104936), Sefton local authority
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School (URN 134598), Lancashire local authority
- St John’s Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale (URN 119586), Lancashire local authority
- St James Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale (URN 119588), Lancashire local authority
- St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Scarisbrick (URN 119683), Lancashire local authority
- Great Crosby Catholic Primary School (URN 104926), Sefton local authority
- St Jerome’s Catholic Primary School (URN 104938), Sefton local authority
- St John’s Catholic Primary School, Burscough (URN 119681), Lancashire local authority
Reason for removal
The project has been deferred to a later date.
Project
An application from the following schools to convert and become academies and join St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust:
- Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School (URN 104814), St Helens local authority
- Holy Cross Catholic Primary School (URN 104804), St Helens local authority
- Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (URN 132188), St Helens local authority
- St Anne’s Catholic Primary School (URN 104805), St Helens local authority
- St Mary’s Blackbrook Catholic Primary School (URN 104802), St Helens local authority
- St Peter and St Paul’s Primary School (URN 104810), St Helens local authority
Reason for removal
The project has been deferred to a later date.
Sponsored academy orders
Project
A proposal for Wade Deacon Trust to sponsor Alsop High School (URN 148226), Liverpool local authority.
Reason for removal
The project was published in error and will not proceed as it stands.