By LIAM CARSON

THE new schools commissioner for the East of England is determined to see Thurrock's primary schools improve even further.

Dr Tim Coulson, a former Director for Education at Essex County Council, who was appointed as the new Regional Schools Commissioner for the East of England and North London in July and was asked his thoughts on the state of Thurrock's schools during a recent visit to Gable Hall, in Corringham.

He said: "[Thurrock's] secondary schools are doing better than the primary schools but I can see good improvement across primary schools.

"In terms of Ofsted reports for good and outstanding secondary schools in the Thurrock and its surrounding areas, Thurrock were top."

Regional schools commissioners (RSCs) are responsible for making important decisions about the academies and free schools in their area on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education - all the more important for Thurrock, given that 90 per cent of the borough's secondary schools now have academy status.

More and more primary schools are also opting to take the academy route.

Dr Coulson, a former teacher, was also quizzed on a report published in in September 2014 that suggested the amount of Corringham and Fobbing school leavers going on to University was one of the lowest in the country.

The study by England’s Higher Education Funding Council just 25.6 per cent of leavers from the area progressed to University over a five-year period, even though, based on academic performance, 43.4 per cent were expected to enter higher education.

He said: "Schools like Gable Hall are very focused on helping pupils not only do well with exam results but also to have clear ambitions and for these ambitions to have no limits.

"I was pleased to see the involvement of local employers interviewing pupils to help them realise expectations and see this as an important contribution to seeing many more going on to college and university."

And talking about the new role, set up by the Department of Education, Dr Coulson said he already has big plans to improve the region's education.

"I hope to do two things," he said. "See all academies and free schools be such that they are judged at least good by Ofsted and work with others across the region so that it moves from a region thought to have mediocre education to being seen as having the education as good as the best across the country."

The commissioner also reserved special praise for Gable Hall. He met with headteacher Dr Sophina Asong before being shown around the school's facilities.

He said: "It was very enjoyable visit where pupils and staff all gave an excellent impression. I was pleased to see the school's ambition for all its pupils.

"The developing trust between Gable Hall School, Corringham Primary School and the Stanford and Corringham Sixth Form is also a very exciting prospect."