Super headteacher Dr George Berwick is to be made a CBE for services to education.

Mr Berwick, 58, of Leigh Cliff Road, Leigh, began his career in the 1970s as a geography and PE teacher at Deanes School, Thundersley.

He then moved on to Hassenbrook School, in Stanford-le-Hope, Epping Forest High School, eventually becoming headteacher at Ravens Wood School, in Bromley, London.

He developed an impressive reputation when his school achieved virtually unprecedented "outstanding" ratings in Ofsted reports in 1994 and 1999, then again in 2004.

Mr Berwick is also director of the London Leadership Strategy, a project which it is hoped will radically improve the overall standard of secondary education in the capital.

He said: "It is quite a radical idea. We work with schools in the most challenging areas of London and deploy 30 headteacher consultants to work alongside the existing heads to improve standards.

"We have already reduced the number of London schools in special measures from 40 to eight.

The idea is that by the 2012 Olympics, London will have the best urban education in the world."

Mr Berwick runs a similar schools' improvement program in Quebec, Canada.

He has also had two education-related books published - called Target Setting and Beyond and also Building Success.

He said: "I'm very proud, not just for me, but for all the people I have worked with over the years. These things are never just about you. They are for everyone who has helped you along the way."

Mr Berwick's wife Maria added: "It's really exciting and we still can't quite believe it. We are really looking forward to our trip up to Buckingham Palace."