Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to remove University Church of England Academy from its current sponsors.

The Education and Adoption Act 2016 gives Regional Schools Commissioners, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, the power to terminate the funding agreement of any academy judged Inadequate by Ofsted. This is a power rather than a duty, and there is no requirement to rebroker an inadequate academy. We will continue to monitor the overall effectiveness of the academy and the rate of improvement and will consider, as we do with all Ofsted-rated inadequate academies, whether rebrokerage is the right approach in order to improve standards.

If rebrokerage of an inadequate academy is the most appropriate course of action, we will identify a strong multi-academy trust with the relevant experience and capacity and work with it to enable as swift a transition to the new trust as possible. Until any rebrokerage or transfer takes place, University of Chester CE Academy UCEA remains the responsibility of the existing trust (UCAT).

The department has continued to work closely with UCAT to support improvements at UCEA. The Cheshire Vale Teaching School Alliance and their secondary school, Tarporley High School (rated Outstanding by Ofsted), are providing additional support which has been funded through an emergency Strategic School Improvement Funding grant.

A decision has already been made to rebroker four of the other academies in the trust which will help focus efforts to improve standards at UCEA. These four schools are University Primary Academy Weaverham, University Primary Academy Kidsgrove, University Academy Kidsgrove and University of Chester Academy Northwich.