SOUTHEND High School for Boys will receive £3million of Government funding for a major new building.

The school, in Prittlewell Chase, has been included in a list of successful bids announced by the Minister for Schools.

The building will include a modern library, a careers centre, extra sixth form study areas and classrooms.

The money will also allow the school to extend its sixth form building and create two new science laboratories within the main school building.

Headteacher Robin Bevan and school governors had agreed expanding the school was the best way to ensure it was viable in the long term.

The school, rated outstanding by Ofsted, is heavily oversubscribed and expansion proposals were put forward requiring new buildings and classrooms.

Dr Bevan said: “It makes so much sense to invest in schools where the demand for places is high and the outcomes are so strong. Our parents and pupils are delighted and already we have been able to offer 30 more places for September.

“The school will expand, across the next few years, from 1,050 pupils to 1,300.

“It is a tribute to the whole staff team that the school’s strengths and potential have been recognised in this national funding award.”

Paul Richards, chairman of governors, said: “Increased pupil numbers are essential to secure viable future funding, year-by-year.

“We are pleased to announce we have just received a capital grant that will enable us to build new classrooms and other facilities.

“While this does not address the underlying annual funding difficulties that we, and similar schools, face, it does, in effect, enable us to set a budget for the year.

“Equally importantly, it enables us to open our gates to more pupils at a time when demand for places is high.”