School Organisation in Cheshire East

As the Strategic Commissioner of school places the Local Authority has a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient places in its schools to meet the demands for residents in its area. 

Local authorities and schools can make proposals in relation to school organisation. Decisions on School Organisation changes proposed by the Local Authority for maintained provision will be made in accordance with the Local Authority’s agreed decision-making procedure. 

Decisions on school organisation proposals for academies/free schools will be made by the relevant Trust. The Local Authority will only support an expansion as identified and proposed through the pupil place planning procedures. The Local Authority will need to make the decision on capital funding to support the expansion so joint working is essential to ensure the best outcomes are achieved that meets the local need.

Current Consultations:

• Leighton Primary Academy- Proposal to include SEN Unit

Recent proposals

• Tytherington School - proposed physical expansion
• Proposed closure of St Gregory's Catholic Primary School
• Kingsbourne Academy, Nantwich - update 
• Basford East Development, Shavington - update

If you require information on any proposals prior to the ones listed above please contact SOCS@cheshireeast.gov.uk

School Capacity (SCAP return)

Every year the authority has a duty to submit the Primary, Secondary and Special Educational Needs & Disability forecasts to the DfE. Information is submitted via the annual SCAP return. An overview of the primary and secondary forecasts and information regarding SCAP was presented to the Children and Families Committee on 18 September 2023. 

Guidance on Developer Contributions for Education 

On the 11 March 2024 the Guidance on Developer Contributions for Education was approved as part of Cheshire East’s Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document, by the Council’s  Environment and Communities Committee. This is aligned with the Department for Education’s guidance for Securing Developer Contributions (August 2023) and Local Authority scorecards. 

The Guidance and Policy Guidance on Developer Contributions for Education has been implemented with immediate effect; any planning applications received by the Council after 11 March 2024 will be assessed using the new methodology and costings. Any applications that were assessed for contributions prior to the 11 March 2024 but have not yet been approved,  will not be re-assessed with the new yields and costs. However, should a variation or revision be made to the ongoing application and there is a need for the Education contributions to be revised then a new assessment will be carried out under the advice held in the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This is also the same for any applications that have already been approved; if a variation is received and a new assessment is required then this will be done in accordance with the SPD.

Schools in Cheshire East

• List of schools in Cheshire East (MS Excel, 502KB)

In Cheshire East we have 154 schools + 1 nursery; 123 primary schools; 25 secondary schools, and 6 special schools; consisting of:

72 primary academies; 27 community primary schools (inclusive of 1 federation); 1 primary foundation school; 6 voluntary controlled primary schools and 17 voluntary aided primary schools and 1 community nursery.

18 secondary academies; (inclusive of 1 alternative provision); 2 secondary free schools; 1 studio school (14-19); 2 community secondary schools; 1 foundation secondary school; 1 University Technical College (UTC) (14-18).

2 community special schools; 2 special academies and 2 special free schools.

Contact School Organisation in Cheshire East 

Page last reviewed: 24 April 2024