Another Medway secondary school is set to become an independent academy.

The Thomas Aveling School, in Arethusa Road, Rochester, has received official confirmation from the education secretary to convert to an academy. Its new status will come into force on the first day of the new term, on Thursday.

The school, which teaches pupils aged 11 to 19, will no longer be under the control of Medway Council and it will have more freedom and flexibility. As an academy it will have power over its own budgets, curriculum and admissions.

Head teacher Paul Jackson said: "It is great to be shown the trust by the Department for Education to run the school more independently and continue in our upward drive to raise standards."

Last week, pupils at Thomas Aveling improved their GCSE results for the 11th year in a row, with 83% achieving A*-C grades.

The school follows a wave of secondaries across the Towns which have become ‘new style’ academies, including Rochester Grammar School and Rainham School for Girls.

Many schools have chosen to convert because of the financial benefits. As academies, schools can keep money they would previously have handed to Medway Council for education support services.

Under the Labour government, secondary schools converted to ‘old style’ academies when the focus was on improving under-performing schools.