by Graham Tutthill

Approval has been given for Archers Court Maths and Computing College to be replaced by a new academy.

Schools and learners minister Vernon Coaker has announced that the plans for Dover Christ Church Academy will be funded by the government.

Sponsors include Canterbury Christ Church University, and the Dover Grammar Schools.

The academy is due to open in September in the Archers Court buildings, with new buildings being constructed ready for September 2013.

It will cater for 950 11 to 18 year olds as well as 40 students with profound, severe and complex special needs in a specialist unit. The academy will specialise in maths, computing and music.

Welcoming the decision, MP Gwyn Prosser said: "Labour’s new academies are being created all over the country and they are proving very popular with parents and pupils because they allow schools to make a fresh start, they attract lots of extra funding and they benefit from pulling in support and expertise from collaborating schools and sponsors.

"There’s massive investment coming into education in my constituency – in addition to the conversion of Archers Court into an academy, the Government is also helping the creation of two further new academies – one on the Castle Community School site in Deal and another on the Duke of York’s Military School site in Dover."