A Rayleigh head has been named the best headteacher in the East of England.

Jim Fuller, head of The Fitzwimarc School in Hockley Road, Rayleigh, won the award after impressing judges from The Teaching Awards.

It means he will now go on to the national finals to compete to be best head in the country.

After their visit, judges wrote: "This headteacher is a man who commands great commitment and respect from both the school and the wider community."

Mr Fuller has been head of the school for 11 years and boosted its standards to the point where it was judged "outstanding" in its last Ofsted report.

*FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S ECHO.