A Medway school chief has pledged to make 20 jobs for local people.

Colin Boxall, principal of the Bishop of Rochester Academy in Chatham, said he wants the roles to go to people in the community served by the school.

With unemployment rising in the Medway Towns, especially among young people - the latest figures are released tomorrow - Mr Boxall said: "Local jobs for local people.

"The Bishop of Rochester Academy is a community secondary school and one of the ways we intend to demonstrate that it is at the heart of the local community is by employing people from the local community."

The academy has already started to recruit exam invigilators for its West Campus site on Letchworth Avenue, and also needs mid-day assistants, sports coaches, activity leaders and supervisors of after-school classes and activities such as arts, crafts, technology and sports.

A £23million building is under construction at the academy's Magpie Hall Road East Campus and due to open in spring 2013.