Education for future generations at Castle Community College in Deal has been secured, with its bid for academy status now granted.

That is the message from principal Christine Chapman, who has sent full details of the announcement to parents with the school's weekly newsletter.

The move follows the collapse of proposals for Castle Community College, Mill Road, and Walmer Science College, Salisbury Road, to become one school.

Mrs Chapman said: "We are delighted to become an academy, which means we are now funded by central government rather than by the county council. This means for us we get an extra £200,000 a year.

"It also gives us a 125-year lease on our grounds, so we have total control over those grounds.

"The school welcomes this new status. We are protecting our land for the people of Deal and the education of a future generation.

"Gaining this academy status gives us peace of mind and secures our future."

Castle Community College, which has 670 pupils, was given the opportunity to apply for academy status in June after being judged twice by Ofsted as 'outstanding'.

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