A RETIRED headteacher says he is honoured and humbled to be handed an MBE for services to education.

John Baker, 75, has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list after working in special needs schools in Essex for 34 years.

Dr Baker spent most of his careers as headteacher of The Edith Borthwick School in Braintree, which helps youngsters with severe and complex learning difficulties.

As a former Ofsted inspector, he was an interim headteacher at other Essex special schools experiencing difficulties in Colchester, Witham and Harlow.

Dr Baker, who lives in Colchester, currently serves as a National Leader of Governance in supporting school governing bodies in our region and for many years was chairman of the governing body of St John's Church of England Primary School in Colchester which was rated outstanding by Ofsted during his time there.

He is also chairman of governors at Queen Boudica Primary School in Colchester and has been so since before the school was built in 2008 and remains the vice chairman of governors of The Edith Borthwick School.

Dr Baker said: “I feel extremely honoured and humbled to receive this award.

"I see it as a tribute to all those who work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, and to those who work tirelessly in a voluntary capacity as school governors.”