HAMFORD Primary Academy principal Benedick Ashmore-Short said his school had improved rapidly thanks to the Academies Enterprise Trust.

The principal defended the trust after it was criticised by education watchdog Ofsted.

Inspectors say the trust is not providing to all of its 30 schools - a number that includes Hamford Primary Academy, Tendring Technology College and Clacton Coastal Academy - with effective support.

But Mr Ashmore-Short said: “We have managed to bring the school to ‘good’ within 18 months – the first time in at least 20 years the school has been graded good.

“This transformation has been down to the fantastic support I have received from the trust and my regional director.

“I have had freedom and autonomy when it was needed, but also rigorous accountability that has helped the academy make the rapid progress that was needed.

“We will be outstanding in the very near future and this has would not have been achieved without the trust.”