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Primary School class

Application window now open for sponsors to apply for new primary school in Cheshire East

4 February 2026

Cheshire East Council is inviting applications from academy trusts to run a new primary school which is being developed in Basford East, near Weston, Crewe, and  has a targeted opening date of September 2028.

Located within the Basford East development, a strategic site identified in the Cheshire East Local Plan – the new school will provide 210 primary places, helping to meet growing demand in the area. There will also be a nursery included within the school for up to 30 places.

This new provision aims to provide school places for children in the heart of the new community, lessening pressures on oversubscribed schools in the local area reducing the need to travel and alleviating the potential for additional traffic. 

Following the launch for applications from 2nd February, sponsors can  find further details on the Basford East Development page on the council’s website.

An online engagement event will be held on Thursday 12 February at 1pm providing an overview of the project, a briefing on the application process and offer the opportunity to ask any questions. This event is open to potential sponsors from academy trusts only.

Councillor Laura Crane, chair of Cheshire East’s children and families committee, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to have key involvement with a new eagerly anticipated school in Basford East, near Weston, Crewe, playing a pivotal role in integrating vital places for primary education into a new community.

“Selected sponsors will play a crucial role in the governance and management of the school, and through collaboration, will help us to ensure this new  primary school will provide, and maintain, high levels of teaching standards to enable our children and young people to excel.

We urge all academy trusts to submit their application before the deadline on 16 March.”

Email newschool@cheshireeast.gov.uk to register for this engagement event, highlighting the name of your Trust and details of attendees. This email address can also be used to contact for additional information, or to discuss any issues or further details regarding an application.

More information around sponsorship can be sought from the School Organisation and Capital Strategy team via newschool@cheshireeast.gov.uk.