SOUTHEND’S most effective headteachers and school governors have lauded at a special conference in the town.

Southend Council organised the event for heads and governors at the Holiday Inn, near Southend Airport.

The evening, focused on governance and leadership in schools, with the aim of ultimately seeing every school in the borough graded either “good”

or “outstanding” by Ofsted.

Lynn Hicks, from Heycroft Primary School, in Benvenue Avenue, Eastwood, was named Chair of Govenors of the Year, while Niki Lamont from Milton Hall Primary School, in Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff, won the title, Governor of the Year.

Keynote speakers included representatives fromOfsted and the National Governors’ Association.

Labour councillor Anne Jones, who is responsible for education and lifelong learning, said: “We are very proud of our school governors and headteachers, whose vital teamwork leads our schools to great success.

“We owe it to the borough’s children and young people to make Southend schools the very best that they can be.”