Labour councillors are concerned at a decision by the Department for Education to bar the University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT) from taking on new school projects because of worries about performance.

UCAT currently sponsors nine schools, including academies at Ellesmere Port and Northwich, as well as the recently opened free school in Chester.

In a statement issued this afternoon, UCAT stressed academic performance was “of paramount importance” and said all five of its secondary UCAT academies could demonstrate improvements in their GCSE grades or equivalent level.

The restriction on future expansion emerged following a Parliamentary Question to the Children’s Minister in the House of Commons on March 18.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson MP responded to a question about which academy chains had been restricted by listing UCAT and 13 others.

He said: “When we do have concerns about the performance of academy sponsors, we act quickly by stopping them from taking on new projects, so that they focus on their existing schools and ensure that pupils receive a good education.”

Cllr Justin Madders, Labour opposition leader on Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “This is worrying news for local families attending schools under the control of the UCAT chain.

“It is clear that at this time the Department for Education do not consider UCAT to be fit for future expansion. So does the Department for Education consider them fit to run their existing schools?

“UCAT needs to engage with Cheshire West and Chester Council to provide real reassurance. Currently, they are not accountable to local communities and this gives me considerable cause for concern,” concluded Cllr Madders.

Responding to this week’s news, a UCAT spokeswoman said: “Academic performance is of paramount importance to the University of Chester Academies Trust  (UCAT), which is committed to supporting students in achieving their full learning potential, whatever their starting points. This is why UCAT deliberately welcomed schools into its family which had been experiencing major educational, social and organisational challenges.

“All five secondary UCAT academies in the North West can demonstrate improvements in the proportion of students achieving five A*s -C grades (including English and Maths) at GCSE or equivalent level. At some schools, this number has risen significantly since they were first under UCAT’s auspices.

“Although this journey has been relatively slow in some cases, it is ongoing and heading in the right direction, with the upward trend predicted to continue this summer. In academies where progress has not been at the pace required by both UCAT and by the Government, UCAT has implemented a coordinated, robust, longer-term and sustainable strategy of challenge and support.

“UCAT is constantly reviewing educational approaches, to ensure they take account of the best practice available.”

News about UCAT follows hard on the heels of withdrawal of the right for academy chain E-Act to run the Winsford Academy earlier this month.

Labour’s education spokesperson Cllr David Armstrong said: “Every child in Cheshire West deserves a first rate education. The Labour Group is very concerned about the future for the academies in this borough and for the children attending them. We will work hard with our communities to ensure the best education for our children.”