BELHUS Chase Secondary School will become an academy later this year.

Thurrock Council’s Cabinet approved the proposal to close the school in Aveley on August 31 and reopen the next day as an academy at the meeting on Wednesday.

The move means the school will be renamed and will no longer be maintained by Thurrock Council, but directly funded by the Government.

The council’s Director for Children Education and Families Robert McCulloch-Graham, emphasised that the school is not being turned into an academy because it is failing.

He said: “Belhus Chase is within the top three percent of schools in the country for value added scores.

“We are not talking about a failing school.”

Leader of the Council Garry Hague added: “Its been a fantastic success story.

“Becoming an academy is a big thing but people seem to be thinking its the right thing.”

The Ormiston Trust, who sponsor the Gateway Academy in Tilbury, will sponsor the new academy alongside South East Essex College, playing a major role in its operation and development.

While the academy will open in the current school building on Nethan Drive, Mr McCulloch-Graham revealed three sites are being looked at for a new building.

The decision to move to academy status comes after a public consultation which had 48 responses.

Of these 32 supported the proposal that Belhus Chase become an academy, 12 didn’t know and four were against.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Sue MacPherson, the cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Academy status will bring an additional dimension to the way in which the school can increase the life chances of the young people within the Aveley and Purfleet area.

“Academy status no longer has the stigma of being a ‘failing’ school.

“This decision will give young people in the far west of Thurrock the chance to have a purpose-built education facility closer to their homes.”