A MASSIVE rebuilding project, being granted Academy status and a stellar Ofsted inspection, all add up to exciting times for a Benfleet secondary school.

On the final day of the summer term at Appleton School, teachers reflected on a whirlwind year, which include moving outside local authority control in May after being rated outstanding in its most recent Ofsted report.

Academy status has given the secondary’s leadership greater control of spending and the curriculum, while it has also given staff an extra £540,000 to spend.

The bulk of the cash is set to go on refurbishing its ageing 1950s-era design and technology block, which includes textiles, cookery and wood work classrooms.

It has also received an additional £340,000 grant to update the whole school’s heating and electrics, which will see boilers replaced and piping overhauled.

Headteacher Karen Kerridge said: “It’s a very exciting time at the school at the moment.

“The secondary is an outstanding school and everything we do is about trying to make sure the children have the best possible standard of education.”

Mrs Kerridge had cause for personal celebration, as she has been appointed as a National Leader in Education for her role in the secondary’s outstanding Ofsted inspection.

The award is given out by the National College of School Leadership, which works to raise standards in education by working to inspire great school leaders.

Mrs Kerridge, who has been headteacher at Appleton for seven years, will now offer her advice and expertise to struggling secondaries.

She said: “Everybody in education wants all children to do as well as they possibly can, and I’m happy to give up a small portion of my time to assist other schools.”