A CANVEY school is considering setting up a Sixth Form and possibly expanding, the outgoing headteacher has revealed.

Carol Skewes, is leaving Cornelius Vermuyden School, in Dinant Avenue, at the end of the year.

She told the Echo the school was now in an exciting place for the future and it was time to step aside.

Mrs Skewes, who was the first female head of the school and is the longest serving headteacher, said: “We are the first choice on the island and that is due to our fantastic results and really good teachers.

“In one way it is really good to go out on a high.

“I have been here for 16 years and have seen so many changes at the school.

“It was a challenging school, not doing particularly well when I took it on.

“It was doing OK - but now we have gone above the national average. The school is currently a good platform for someone to take it on.

“We are now so oversubscribed that we see more appeals every year and it is quite unfortunate that we have to reject people but it is very positive that they want to come here. With a new headteacher they can start to think whether we want to expand, build a new building, have a Sixth Form.”

There are currently no Sixth Forms on the island.

Mrs Skewes, who has previously taught in London and at Mayflower School and Billericay School, added: “I don’t want to put down other schools, but there is something unique and special about Canvey students. They are polite and courteous and want to learn.”

She also praised the £20million grant from the Government’s now axed building schools for the future programme which saw 90 per cent of the school rebuilt.

She said she will be taking a gap year to go travelling before looking for other opportunities within education.

Chairman of governors, Jeffrey Stanley, said: “The whole school will be sorry to hear of the retirement of Mrs Skewes. Cornelius Vermuyden School has improved immeasurably under her headship.

“She leaves it in a very strong position. The governors have already started to seek a new headteacher. We are confident the replacement head will be able to continue to improve the school and provide an outstanding education for pupils.

“We are planning to have the new head in post by the time Mrs Skewes leaves to maintain continuity of leadership.”