A WIDNES head teacher has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s honour list.

Pamela Wright, who has worked at Wade Deacon High School since 1974, received the accolade for her service to local and national education.

She was instrumental in developing Wade Deacon as a high performing school, through a relentless focus on robust systems for monitoring and evaluating all aspects of teaching, learning and performance management.

The progress and behaviour of each pupil is tracked.

Her unique approach was so successful, she was appointed as one of only 40 heads across Britain to be a national leader of education, to use her skills to support struggling schools.

Pamela, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be included in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

“I feel very privileged to have my work in local and national education recognised in this way.”

Pamela is currently in China addressing a conference of Chinese head teachers, on behalf of the British Council.

In January, 2010, she was asked to take responsibility for Farnworth CE Primary School in Pit Lane, Widnes.

She supports another school in challenging circumstances in Manchester, and three more in the north west.

Pamela is chair of the north west regional head teacher’s steering group.

She is on the national head teachers’ group and a member of national technology head teachers’ steering group.

In all these roles, Pamela works to support other head teachers in school improvement by sharing good practice.