By Beth Robson

Thousands of Deal’s children will benefit from a new building at Castle Community College, thanks to new government cash.

Education Secretary Michael Gove made the announcement on Thursday, when the Mill Road school was named the only secondary school in Kent to be chosen in the Priority School Building Programme.

The extent of what Castle will receive is not yet known.

The school’s principal, Philip Bunn, said: "This is fantastic news for the college."

Two years ago, before the general election, Castle had been earmarked for a new school under the Labour government’s Building Schools for the Future programme.

When the coalition took over, the plans were scrapped despite thousands of pounds having been spent on planning and consultants across the county.

An application to the government’s new building programme was sent by Castle in September asking for top whack - a new school - and the school has been keenly awaiting a decision.

tell us your memories

elizabeth carter school for girls, central school, deal sec and now castle community, the high performing academy school...

it could be your first kiss behind the bike sheds or the smell of school dinners. we'd like to hear your memories of the building that has schooled generations of deal's kids

Mr Bunn and the governors will meet education chiefs in the next few weeks to discuss what the new building will consist of, the value and when construction will start.

Oversubscribed for September, the school’s roll has increased significantly in the past year.

Mr Bunn said the discussions with the Department for Education will take this expansion into account.