A north Essex education trust has added another school to its organisation – as a £1.1million investment to overhaul its building is made.

The Sigma Trust, which was set up in 2016 and currently has six schools, welcomed Harwich and Dovercourt High School to its partnership on June 1.

An investment of £1.1m will be made to enhance the school’s building, including replacement windows, following a successful bid for the cash.

The school, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted last year, will also benefit from the arrival of four additional senior members of staff as a result of being the seventh school to join the trust.

The Sigma Trust currently consists of Clacton County High School, The Stanway School, The Thomas Lord Audley School, St Helena School, Monkwick Infant School and Nursery and Monkwick Junior School.

Jeff Brindle, chief executive of the trust, said: “Our mission with Harwich and Dovercourt High School is to retain its ‘Good’ rating and make sure all outcomes are above the national average.

“That is our aim for all trust schools, with a view to all becoming outstanding education providers in the future.”

Last year, Clacton County High School was among the top 40 performing schools in the country and Mr Brindle says the aim is to build on this to raise achievement at Harwich and Dovercourt.

Mr Brindle said: “Going forward, there will be significant links between these two schools, in particular.

“By creating collaborations between the two, we also hope to strengthen the sixth form provision at Harwich.

“The culture of each of our schools remains down to the individual teams. The focus of Sigma is on teaching and learning, outcomes and governance of the schools.”

Mr Brindle said the multi-academy trust set-up gives staff within it opportunities to further their careers without moving outside of the family of schools.

He said: “All schools across the country are having to cut costs so providing career progression opportunities within the trust is a great way of retaining great staff and helping to further develop their careers”