Exmouth Community College is celebrating after being awarded a huge and much needed funding grant.

The school will be receiving �1.3 million from the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund, to be spent on the school’s infrastructure.

The grant is the first major cash injection the school has received since being granted academy status in April.

More than �700,000 will be spent on electrical work, �290,000 on a new boiler and �280,000 on providing new emergency lighting and lightening protection.

The school has experienced a series of problems with its heating system, after a boiler failure last year forced pupils to work in their outdoor coats to stay warm and the Green Close site was left without hot water.

School principal Tony Alexander said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this grant. Having this money to pay for repairs frees up our budget to do other things for the quality of teaching and learning in school.

“We have received a huge amount of money and it’s a real vindication of the decision to go for academy status.”

The school’s chair of governors, Liz Lee, said: “We needed this extra money badly, as since our boiler broke down, we have had to dig deep into our budget to subsidise repairs.

“I am delighted that our very competent bid was successful. This funding means we can be assured of the health and safety of our students and staff.