AN academy sponsor tipped to run a new primary school in Didcot has defended its record after concerns were raised.

The GEMS Learning Trust has been identified along with the Glyn Learning Foundation (GLF) as a preferred sponsor of schools on the town’s Great Western Park estate.

About 9,000 new homes are set to be built by 2026, creating a need for up to 4,000 school places.

A group is to be chosen in 2014 to run the schools – and Oxfordshire County Council has recommended to the Department for Education (DfE) that GEMS runs one primary school and the GLF runs another primary and a secondary school.

The GEMS Learning Trust is the not-for-profit arm of GEMS Education Solutions, which itself is a branch of GEMS Education.

Concerns have been raised about the situation after it was revealed GEMS Education UK and Europe chief executive, Sir Peter Birkett, had resigned following the launch of an investigation into another organisation he used to run.

Sir Peter stood down after the DfE and Skills Funding Agency launched an investigation into finances at the Barnfield Trust.

GEMS Education spokeswoman Patricia Vickers said: “GEMS Learning Trust is delighted to have been recommended as a preferred provider to run a primary school in Great Western Park, Didcot, subject to final approval from the council and by the DfE.

“We look forward to working with the council and the local community to develop a school which will bring our experience to meet the needs of local people.

“GEMS Learning Trust is a not-for-profit trust, established in line with DfE requirements, which received academy sponsorship status in September.

“It is a separate legal entity from the organisation running GEMS independent schools.

“It is chaired by Chris Kirk, who with his team has been leading the development of our proposal to the council since June 2013.

“In response to the concerns reportedly raised by some councillors, in relation to the resignation of Sir Peter Birkett, we would like to confirm that Sir Peter, who recently left GEMS, had no responsibility for or involvement in the GEMS Learning Trust, nor the proposal submitted to Oxfordshire.”

In a statement released on his resignation, Sir Peter said: “Over the past several weeks, the Department for Education investigation of the Barnfield Federation has achieved prominence in the press.

“In order that this issue does not become an undue distraction for my colleagues and the work of GEMS Education, I have decided to resign from my position.”