A SECONDARY school has been earmarked for a £600,000 Government cash windfall to boost its performance.

Torquay Community College is one of only 10 schools in the UK to receive a slice of £7million set aside by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of the School Improvement Plan.

Schools minister Vernon Coaker said the extra funding would help secure progress at the 10 schools as they become National Challenge Trust Schools or National Challenge Federations.

Headteacher Gill Battye said the £603,436 was like a 'pat on the back' to further school improvement and ensure its transformation into a trust school is done smoothly.

Ms Battye said: "It is to say well done for the work we have done with our new partners and help get things moving."

The headteacher said the cash would help ensure there is an appropriate staffing level at the school and the school makes use of its new facilities.

She added: "This is money to support the move into the new school and support our transformation changes."

A National Challenge Federation involves two or more schools coming together under one governing body and sharing the benefits of partnership, including shared teachers, resources and economies of scale.

Torquay Community College's trust partners include the University College Plymouth St Mark and St John, Torbay Care Trust, Torquay Boys' Grammar School, South Devon College and Interserve Projects Ltd.

Ministers have now approved 54 National Challenge Trusts and six National Challenge Federations, while £65million of the total £400million National Challenge funding has been allocated to support National Challenge structural solutions to help raise attainment.