A school which has "transformed the lives of its families" in Westcliff has been recognised as one of the eight top secondaries in the country.

Chase High School has been shortlisted in the Secondary School of the Year category of this year’s TES School Awards.

The awards bring together state and independent schools to create a national event to celebrate excellence.

The school was recently given a Good grading by Ofsted inspectors for the first time in its history, having been graded as Inadequate and Requires Improvement previously.

In the school’s application for the awards, headteacher Jamie Foster said: “Chase High School has been nominated for Secondary School of the Year because of the transformative effect it has had on its community, changing lives for families by bringing hope and opportunity for the young people it serves.

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“This wasn’t always the case; the school has undergone a rapid improvement in the past 18 months.

“With high levels of disadvantage in the community and many students who do not speak English as a first language, we have embraced diversity and created a place where students can develop as individuals to achieve their potential. Our sixth form gives many students a route to university that has been undreamt of by previous generations of their families.

“As well as excellent care, students are well taught and results in external examinations are set to be the school’s best ever this year.

“All schools have faced challenges in the past year, but Chase has managed to grow and flourish rather than just survive in this time. Parents and students alike are fulsome in their praise of the school.

“Staff are immensely proud to have created a school that can make the community hold up its head and say ‘I go to Chase’.”

The panel of awards judges include school leaders, inspectors and education researchers.

TES editor and chief judge Jon Severs said: “This year has seen an incredibly high standard of entries to the TES Schools Awards.

“Every teacher and school who has been nominated should be incredibly proud – it’s a fantastic achievement.”

The winners will be announced on Friday, June 17 at London’s Grosvenor Park Hotel.