Transparency data

Decisions to be taken: August 2026

Updated 31 July 2026

Applies to England

These decisions will be taken in August 2026.

This list of decisions may change before the decision is taken. We will provide an explanation in the ‘decisions made’ template if this happens.

Submit a comment about an item on this list of decisions

If you have any comments about this list of decisions to be taken, email rg.nw@education.gov.uk .

Comments must be submitted by email by 7 August 2026. Any comments submitted after this deadline may not be considered.

Your email should include:

• the school or academy name (and where this is about a ‘trust change’, also state the name of the recipient trust), and the local authority area of the school or academy
• your relationship to the school or academy
• your comments on the proposal
• any alternative proposals you may have
• any other comments on the school’s or academy’s future

Note that we will not respond to emails. Any representations received via email may be required to be released if a Freedom of Information (FOI) request is received by the Department for Education.

Greater Manchester

Converter academy orders

An application from St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary School (106359), Trafford local authority, to convert and become an academy and join Corpus Christi Catholic Academy Trust.

An application from the following schools to convert and become academies and join Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust:

• Sacred Heart RC Primary School (134479), Manchester local authority
• St Richard’s Rc Primary School (105544), Manchester local authority
• St Willibrord’s Rc Primary School (105540), Manchester local authority

An application from the following schools to convert and become academies and join Vantage CE Academies Trust:

• Stockbridge Village Primary School (136222), Knowsley local authority
• St Thomas’ CofE Primary School, Leigh (106448), Wigan local authority

Sponsored academy orders

A proposal for Northern Education Trust to sponsor Westhoughton High School (105252), Bolton local authority.

A proposal for Connect Alliance Trust to sponsor Ravensbury Community School (105449), Manchester local authority.

Significant changes to an open academy

An application for Camberwell Park Specialist Support School (151378), Prospere Learning Trust, Manchester local authority, to expand the special school by 50 planned places.

An application for Bolton Muslim Girls School (142340), Prosper Multi Academy Trust, to increase capacity by more than 30.

Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester and Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool and Lancashire and Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness

Converter academy orders

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 (104936), Sefton local authority
• St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School (134598), Lancashire local authority
• St John’s Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale (119586), Lancashire local authority
• St James Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale (119588), Lancashire local authority
• St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Scarisbrick (119683), Lancashire local authority
• Great Crosby Catholic Primary School (104926), Sefton local authority
• St Jerome’s Catholic Primary School (104938), Sefton local authority
• St John’s Catholic Primary School, Burscough (119681), Lancashire local authority

An application from the following schools to convert and become academies and join St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust:

• Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School (104814) St Helens local authority
• Holy Cross Catholic Primary School (104804), St Helens local authority
• Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (132188), St Helens local authority
• St Anne’s Catholic Primary School (104805), St Helens local authority
• St Mary’s Blackbrook Catholic Primary School (104802), St Helens local authority
• St Peter and St Paul’s Primary School, (104810) St Helens local authority

Sponsored academy orders

A proposal for Wade Deacon Trust to sponsor Alsop High School (148226), Liverpool local authority.

A proposal for Chester Diocesan Learning Trust to sponsor Eccleston CofE Primary School (111349), Chester West and Chester local authority.

Significant changes to an open academy

An application for The Fermain Academy (141935), Youth Engagement Schools Trust, Cheshire East local authority, to expand the school onto satellite site for 48 places.

An application for Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio (139924), Aldridge Education Trust, Blackburn with Darwen local authority, to change from a studio school to a UTC.

Project types

See the glossary of project types for information on the different types of project.