A SECONDARY school will get new-look classrooms, workshops and laboratories after the Government agreed to fund its revamp.

The Department for Education has agreed to fund the final stage of the refurbishment of Deanes School, in Thundersley, which is already going through a £2million overhaul.

The funding will complete an extraordinary revival for the secondary school, which was saved from closure after an Echo campaign.

Vice-principal Desi McKeown, who will take over as headteacher when principal Jan Atkinson leaves after Easter, said: “We are exceptionally pleased.

“The school has moved forward into a new chapter in its history.

“As we move forward, it’s good to see the physical fabric of the building being made fit for purpose.

“The main building has been refurbished to a good standard.

"If the remaining block is rebuilt or refurbished, it will ensure it is in a good state for the 21st century.”

The school hopes to revamp its science, ICT, food technology and art block with the Whitehall grant. A Government inspector will visit the school between April and July to assess what work needs to be done, including whether the block should be completely rebuilt or simply refurbished.

The level of funding will depend on what work is needed, but the department has agreed to cover it under its Priority School Building Programme.

Mr McKeown said the refurbishment programme is already helping the school attract more pupils and it is nownear its reset capacity of 600.

He said: “One of the concerns of parents in the past has been the tired condition of the building.

“What parents are telling us now is they see a significant improvement in the building.

“They are happy with the standard of education, so we are attracting more pupils.”

Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris, who campaigned to save the school alongside the Echo, said: “The Deanes thoroughly deserves this grant from the Government.

“It is almost a year to the day since, as a community, we won our fight to keep the Deanes open and the school is going from strength to strength.

“Jan, Desi, and all the staff and governors deserve a massive well done for their work on the bid. It is a fantastic high point for Jan to finish her time at the Deanes with.”