A SCHOOL that will close in four years has been awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds to enhance its art facilities.

Furtherwick Park School, Canvey, is celebrating after it was awarded specialist arts status by the Department for Children, Schools and Fam-ilies.

In September, it will receive £100,000 from the Government and an extra £129 per pupil - about £75,000 each year - for the next four years. It will also receive £50,000 from sponsors.

As part of the deal, Furtherwick Park is to work with other schools on Canvey to develop and share teaching, and become a centre for community-based work.

It will use the windfall to buy two hi-tech mobile multimedia centres known as "iBuses". They will contain computer equipment, DVD players, film-making equipment and internet access, bringing the arts to Canvey.

This comes despite the school being forced to close down in 2011 as a result of a re-organisation of secondary schooling on the island, which is seeing a fall in pupil numbers generally.

However, both the school and the Government have been keen to play down Furtherwick Park's impending closure and have stressed the investment will still be for the long-term benefit of Canvey pupils.

Headteacher Wendy Missons said: "This shows that the Government recognises the school's continued success and that they have confidence in us over the next four years.

"The pupils at Further-wick deserve every opportunity that is available. This project will also benefit the wider community in Canvey."

Lucy Allen, a spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families, said: "Further-wick Park has met the specialist schools criteria and will remain open until 2011.

"Every child deserves a high-quality education and the cash that Furtherwick will be given as part of the specialist schools programme will help ensure children attending the school over the next four years receive this.

"As an arts college, Furtherwick will be expected to raise attainment and achievement for all students both in the specialist subjects and across the whole curriculum.

"They will also be expected to share their expertise with partner schools, both primary and secondary."

Emily Banfield, spokeswoman for Essex County Council, which oversees Castle Point schools, said: "This is great news and demonstrates the continued commitment and dedication of the school to education on the island.

"Facilities such as this will continue to be used for the good of all children in the future, even when the nature of secondary provision on the island moves forward."