The new headteacher of a school due to open next year is confident that it will be “outstanding”.

David Grant, headteacher of The Ongar Academy, will be working from January to prepare for the school’s opening in September 2015.

Mr Grant, who has twice been nominated for the national “Teacher of the Year” award, thinks that The Ongar Academy will be an essential addition to the area.

It will be the first secondary school in Ongar for 25 years.

“I think this particular school is absolutely right for the area”, he said.

“The key feature about education in this country is that it is quite diverse. I think anything that adds choice in an area is a particularly good thing.”

The main focus of the school will be the “STEM” subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths.

As a maths teacher, Mr Grant said he fully understood the importance of the academic subjects, and that Year Seven pupils would be studying maths every day.

“Strong roots lead to amazing things later”, said Mr Grant, saying that maths would form the foundation for students to succeed in other subjects.

Despite having never led a school before, Mr Grant has been a deputy head for several years, and he says that he has support from a number of headteachers.

He said: “I have a few colleagues now that I can talk to and compare notes with.

“I am quite keen to go and see other schools.”

From January, Mr Grant will be focussing on assuring parents that The Ongar Academy will be the right choice for local children before 120 year seven pupils start in September.

He said: “I know what outstanding education feels like, looks like and there is no reason why we cannot deliver this for the parents and students in Ongar.

“My vision is for every student to achieve success and go to their destination of choice in seven years.”