AN ACADEMY in Deal placed in special measures 15 years ago has completed a remarkable turnaround to being oversubscribed for places for the first time since that day.

Castle Community College in Mill Road has had more than 300 applications for only 120 places for September's intake to join the already rapidly expanding pupil numbers. The academy currently teaches about 700 pupils, and the sheer number of applications this year has left Principal Philip Bunn "amazed".

It recently received another outstanding OFSTED inspection, its third in succession, and was placed on the education watchdog's all-time outstanding schools list just before Christmas last year.

And to round off a very impressive record, the academy has experienced a 15 per cent increase in GCSE passes during the last three years.

Principal Bunn paid tribute to his predecessor, Christine Chapman, and to the hard work of both teachers and students for lifting the school out of trouble so that it now is one of the most sought-after academies in the county for places.

He said: "A lot of the credit goes to Christine – she came here in 1997 and started the change, and the school has gone from strength to strength.

"Year by year, the school has got better and better, but the Government is always raising the standards so we still have to work very hard to hit them.

"We are a high-performing academy, so students who join us know they will be getting the best chance of achieving their goals and ambitions.

"The students get an excellent level of teaching and therefore get excellent results.

"Our examination results across the board have gone up five per cent in each of the last three years as well, which is down to the hard work of the students who are now reaping the rewards for their efforts.

"Everyone at the school has put in a massive effort. We did this as a team – no individual has got us here.

"Considering the position that the school was in 15 years ago, this is a remarkable achievement, and everyone should be congratulated.

"I have only been principal around a year but the foundations set by Christine were fantastic."

Mr Bunn said he could not confirm if more spaces would be made available for September's student intake, but said: "One thing in our favour is that, as an academy, we can go above our numbers if we find ourselves in a position like this.

"We will consider increasing the intake if possible, but that does not mean we are definitely going to do it.

"We don't want to become too big and standards suffer."