School organisation in Cheshire East

Cheshire East Council has a legal duty to make sure there are enough school places for children and young people who live in the borough.

This includes places for children of compulsory school age, children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), early years and childcare, post‑16 education, and children who need alternative provision because they cannot attend school due to illness, exclusion or other reasons.

How school places are planned

We work with schools, academy trusts and other local partners to plan school places across Cheshire East.

Our role is to balance how many places are available with how many are needed. As local populations change, we may need to increase school places in some areas or reduce or reuse space where places are no longer required.

When we make decisions about school organisation, we look carefully at local factors. This includes the quality and accessibility of schools, the range of education available, and likely demand in the future. We also consider parental choice and the financial pressures faced by individual schools, so that decisions are sustainable in the long term.

School organisation proposals

There are currently no school organisation proposals open for consultation.

From time to time, proposals may be published about new schools, changes to existing schools, or the use of school land. These are shared publicly when formal consultation is required.

Recent proposals and updates

Recent school organisation proposals and updates include:

• Kingsbourne Academy, Nantwich - update
• Basford East development - New primary school
• Proposed disposal of playing land at Wilmslow High School

If you need information about proposals that are not listed here, you can contact the School Organisation and Capital Strategy team.

Email:  SOCS@cheshireeast.gov.uk.

Planning for future school places (SCAP)

Each year, Cheshire East Council must submit forecasts to the Department for Education (DfE) showing how many school places are likely to be needed in the future. This covers primary, secondary and SEND provision.

This process is known as the School Capacity (SCAP) return.

The most recent return was submitted in July 2025 and was signed off by the Department for Education in December 2025.

Guidance on developer contributions for education

New housing developments can increase the demand for school places. In some cases, developers are required to contribute towards the cost of providing education places.

On 11 March 2024, the council approved updated guidance on developer contributions for education. This sits within the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and follows national Department for Education guidance.

The guidance applies to planning applications received after this date. Applications submitted earlier are not reassessed unless changes are made that require a new education assessment.

Contact School Organisation in Cheshire East