Installing new toilets, redecorating classrooms and corridors and improving outside areas for students are some of the ‘immediate investments’ being made to Ely College over the summer.

The improvements come nearly three months after the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust started working with the college aiming to rapidly improve the school.

Another change being introduced is three-year GCSEs. It means that Year 8 students will begin some of their GCSE courses in September.

County and local councillors, business leaders, primary school headteachers and other stakeholders have been invited to a briefing to find out more about the transfer on July 1.

Mark Woods, chief executive of CMAT, which currently operate six schools in the area, said: “We are hugely excited about Ely College’s transfer to the trust.

“There are a great many strengths to build upon, and a huge number of opportunities for growth.

“We are confident that our combined efforts, positivity and energy will secure those much-needed improvements rapidly.

“This journey won’t be easy as the college is currently in a very difficult position; results have been disappointing, pupils numbers have declined and many of the buildings do need some immediate attention.

“But we have a clear plan of action and have already started taking steps to improve both educational standards and the school site itself, including a national recruitment campaign to attract some high quality teaching staff in areas such as maths where they college has had shortages this year.

“We are looking forward to July 1, when we can fully begin work.

Additionally, to mark Ely College joining the trust on July 1 and as part of the new ‘house system’, more than 1,000 ties (red, gold, blue and green) will be handed out to students.

Ely students will be greeted by students from other CMAT schools across Cambridgeshire, and will each receive one of the four coloured ties to show which ‘house’ they are in.

County and local councillors, business leaders, primary school headteachers and other stakeholders have been invited to a briefing to find out more about the transfer on July 1.