MILLIONS of pounds worth of improvements were carried out at south Essex schools over the summer break.

The area's biggest spender was the former Cecil Jones High School - now Cecil Jones Specialist Business College - in Eastern Avenue, Southend.

There, £3.5million is being spent on a three-stage development including a new business centre, social care department and reception area.

Another of the biggest spenders was under-fire Thorpe Bay High School, where £2million has been spent on a new sports hall and classroom block for its Year 7 students.

Despite the prospect of a merger with nearby Prittlewell Technology College in three years' time, the school has shelled out for the new facilities.

At Mayflower High School, Billericay, students were given an extra three days holiday while work was completed on the specialist science college's new £750,000 science block.

In Basildon, Barstable School has spent £500,000 on a new gymnasium, which opened in May.

At King John School, Thundersley, a huge amount of work has been done to improve facilities for students.

The specialist maths and computing college has demolished a gym and other old classrooms to make way for a new library, as well as a science and design technology suite including three new labs and a food technology studio.