MORE than £750,000 is set to give a new lease of life to a South Somerset school.

A huge grant has been handed to Maiden Beech Academy, in Crewkerne, to replace the facility’s life-expired doors and windows.

The school had to remain persistent for over five years and through several failed funding bids before they hit the jackpot in April.

Maiden Beech, which became an Academy in 2011, will receive £754,391 of Condition Improvement Funding from the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

Carl Winch, Maiden beech Academy’s headteacher, said: “This is fantastic news.

“The core business of any school is teaching and learning, and we are very lucky at the academy to have a hard working and dedicated team of teachers and support staff, who do a great job on a daily basis.

“However, it is important that our children are taught in an environment that is conducive to learning, and the funding we have received will allow us to further enhance our facilities and provide an excellent environment to help our children reach their full potential.

“This is an exciting time for the school, and we are exploring how we can further develop as an institution in the future.”

Last year the academy was also successful in securing more than £500,000 of grant funding to install a new heating system, replacing all the boilers, radiators and pipe work in the school, including installing air conditioning units in some classrooms.

Over the past six years, Maiden Beech has received £1.8 million to develop the school site and improve existing facilities.

This includes £327,500 towards the new humanities building in 2014, and £105,747 for flat roof replacement in 2015.

Jo Manuel, business manager at Maiden Beech, said: “To say we’re pleased is an understatement.

“This is a very large project, as anyone who knows the school will know, as we have a vast amount of glazing which dates back to the point when the school was built in the 1950’s.

“The project also includes new soffits, fascia, external boarding, and guttering, which will transform the physical appearance of the school.

“The project will start later this term, and continue through next academic year.”

For more information about the school, visit www.maidenbeech.net.