A struggling Canvey primary school is to become an academy in a bid to get out of special measures.

Winter Gardens Primary School, in Hilton Road, was branded inadequate by Ofsted inspectors last November.

Now, the school wants to team up with Westwood Academy, in Hadleigh, and become part of the South Essex Academy Trust.

The Hadleigh academy will provide support and help Winter Gardens boost standards.

Westwood Academy’s deputy headteacher Catherine Stalham is serving as acting headteacher at the Hilton Road school while headteacher Chris Hayes is absent on sick leave.

Mrs Stalham initially joined the school to provide leadership support prior to Mr Hayes’ absence.

She said: “Because the school is in special measures and needs a hand, I have stepped in and I am here as long as the school needs me.

“There’s a lot of joint working.

Because the school is in special measures it has to become an academy.”

Last month the school sacked its entire board of governors and replaced them with a team of expert former headteachers and inspectors.

The new interim board held a meeting on Monday to outline the academy conversion plan to parents.

Mrs Stalham said: “The parents were very passionate and it was warming to see that.

“I think by the end of the meeting there were some clear messages being given about the academy trust’s view of dealing with Winter Gardens in respect of making sure we have got good consistent teaching.”

A follow-up visit by Ofsted in January revealed the school was struggling to recruit teachers at a time when there were two vacancies and two staff on longterm sick leave.

Mrs Stalham added: “We have got a plan in place to ensure during the summer term we have one teacher in each class and we are confident with our plans going forward."

The academy conversion is supported by both Essex County Council and the Department for Education.

Subject to final approval from schools minister Lord Nash, the school will become an academy on July 1.