A TRUST that manages a primary school in Barton has been backed to run the new school that will be built as part of the Barton Park development.

Residents have welcomed news that The Cheney School Academy Trust was recommended by Oxfordshire County Council officers to be the provider for a new 315-place primary school in the estate west of Barton.

On Monday cabinet member for children, education and families, Melinda Tilley, will decide if the trust should be put forward to the Regional Schools Commissioner for final agreement.

The school is part of a 885-home development and work started last week on a new A40 junction, which will be the main access to the estate.

A previous cabinet meeting in September 2012 approved plans to identify potential sponsors for the new academy, which will be built in a “community hub”.

Barton resident Jem Todd said he supported the academy trust being recommended to control the Barton Park school, because it already provided for the existing primary school in Barton.

The father-of-two said: “For me it makes sense to have the same people controlling both the schools in Barton so that the quality of teaching is consistent across the estate and there is no rivalry.

“Obviously being a parent to two very young children I do not know a lot of detail about them, but I hear Cheney has a good track record.”

Mr Todd, who lives on the Barton estate, is father to one-year-old twins Noah and Isabelle and added that he would not be put off sending his children to a school run by the academy trust.

The 28-year-old added: “I think it’s exciting if both schools are both linked and managed by the same entity so there is going to be more cohesion between the existing estate and the newest estate.

“My biggest fear is the community could become divided if the new estate becomes a separate thing with the same identification.

“I want it to be a part of the existing Barton.”

The Cheney School Academy Trust and GLF Schools were two providers shortlisted for selection and had to submit an application and present in front of a panel that included Mrs Tilley.

The Cheney School Academy Trust manages The Cheney School in Headington and Bayard’s Hill Primary School in Barton.

In a report to Mrs Tilley, county council officers recommended The Cheney School Academy Trust because it was the “highest scoring provider” after the application and presentation process.

Van Coulter, city councillor for Barton, said: “I feel that the current relationship between Cheney and Bayard’s School places an importance on Cheney being selected to support the new school.

“This is to ensure consistency and to encourage integration of the new development within Barton.”