The Department for Education announced on Friday, July 13, that North West Academy Trust (NWAT) have been approved to bring two Northwich schools into their Trust.

The University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN) and University Primary Academy Weaverham (UPAW) have both have been run by the University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT) in recent years, but the transition to NWAT will get under way early in the next academic year.

NWAT, one of the country’s highest-performing trusts with a superb record of improving schools and getting results, will lead the way after their bid was approved by the Department of Education.

CEO Steve Docking said: “This is an exciting time for all involved with the trust and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with both schools. It is important to us that the schools are the best they can be, are forward thinking, with the highest possible standards and open children’s eyes to the world of possibility.

“We will make sure that these schools become centres of excellence and are the first choice for parents who want the best education for their children. We are looking forward to the challenges ahead and putting the schools back at the heart of their communities.”

UCAT took the reins at the former Rudheath Community High in 2011 and renamed the school University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN).

The same trust was handed charge of Wallerscote Primary three years later, and it became University Primary Academy Weaverham (UPAW).

NWAT currently operates four schools across Cheshire and Shropshire, with another free school in pre-opening.

Delamere Academy, near Northwich, was recently named one of the top 10 non-fee paying primary schools in the country by Tatler magazine, for consistently featuring in the top 1% of schools in Government’s School Performance Tables.

The Trust also includes Oak View Academy, in Winsford, which was named as the most improved primary in Cheshire West and Chester for progress in reading.