The promoters behind plans to build a new academy primary school in Ellesmere Port have been revealed.

Directors of the North West Academies Trust, which runs the ‘outstanding’ St Martin’s Academy in Chester and Oak View Academy in Winsford, have now welcomed confirmation their application to establish the new free school has had approval from the department.

Parliamentary under secretary of state for schools Lord Nash previously informed Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders it had been decided the application should move through to the next stage in the free school process.

The trust has confirmed it will proceed to the pre-opening phase.

It says Ledsham Manor Academy will be the first free school to be established in the town.

A specific location and opening date have yet to be revealed, despite speculation from Mr Madders it could be built at the former Gorsthills School site.

It will provide places for up to 420 pupils over seven years, as well as bring capital investment to the area and create up to 60 new jobs.

St Martin's Academy in Hoole. Picture: Google Street View

The trust points out that four years ago it was given permission to open the new St Martin’s Academy, a primary free school in Chester, which after just 12 months was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

In their report, Ofsted commended St Martin’s, noting that, ‘no stone is left unturned in the drive to ensure children begin to develop into well rounded young people’.

Chief executive officer of the North West Academies Trust Steve Docking has welcomed the approval.

Mr Docking, who was born and educated in Ellesmere Port, has held three different headships and leadership roles across five schools.

'Challenging but very rewarding'

He is currently headteacher at the ‘outstanding’ Delamere CE Academy in mid Cheshire, which he converted into the first primary academy in the north west after leading the campaign to save the school from closure.

He said: “I am thrilled our application to open a new school in Ellesmere Port has been successful.

“Setting up a new school is challenging but very rewarding.

“We have seen how St Martin’s has gone from strength to strength from its first year with 25 pupils to now being five times oversubscribed and an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating.

“We believe that all children deserve a choice of outstanding educational provision.

'Raising standards'

“Ellesmere Port is seeing new investment, including brand new housing developments and there is a projected population increase which means more school places will be required. Ledsham Manor Academy will help to address that need.”

He continued: “We now have an exciting opportunity to take the St Martin’s Academy blueprint of success and build upon it to offer high quality education in Ellesmere Port and really make a difference.

“Our trust is focused on raising standards, narrowing the gap and ensuring that all children at our schools have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

“Ledsham Manor Academy will offer pupils academic excellence as well as an enrichment programme designed to enhance the general curriculum and open children’s eyes to the wonderful world of possibility.

“We look forward to working with established schools and other local stakeholders as the vision for the school is developed and we move to the pre-opening phase.”

Ledsham Manor Academy is being built in Ellesmere Port in response to housing developments such as the 2,000-home Redrow plan for Little Sutton
Ledsham Manor Academy is being built in Ellesmere Port in response to housing developments such as the 2,000-home Redrow plan for Little Sutton

The site and opening date of the new school will be confirmed by the Department for Education.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “We are currently working in partnership with the local authority to determine the best location for the school, in order that we meet the growing demand for places in the area.

“This growing demand is a result of oversubscription at existing schools and the projected population increase from new housing developments which will increase pressure on existing school places.”

The trust says it is made up of educators and people from commercial backgrounds with a proven track record.

The former headteacher of Sutton Green Primary School, Michael Forber, is vice chairman of the trust.

The Ledsham Manor Academy was announced by former prime minister David Cameron in a list of 30 other similar schools shortly before he left office.

But civil servants at the Department for Education in Westminster, unlike previous occasions when free schools were announced, did not provide any further details at the time of the announcement.