THURROCK'S recently-elected mayor has paid a visit to two schools in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham to see how the students are settling in after half-term.

Mayor Cllr Sue Shinnick was first taken on an extensive tour of Ortu Gable Hall School by headteacher Ceri Evans and saw some of the students at work. They were both accompanied by Dr Sophina Asong, CEO of the Ortu Federation, Steve Nash, Chairman of the Trust Board, and Georgina Clark, Vice Chair of the Trust and Chair of Ortu Gable Hall.

During the tour, Cllr Shinnick commented on how calm the school felt despite the large number of pupils there, and how glad she was to see a wide variety of subjects being taught, adding: "I am glad to see that alongside the long list of traditional subjects, there is also a vast array of vocational subjects. We need the skills to build all these houses and I am happy that these subjects are still taught in your school."

Later that morning, the mayor was shown around Ortu Hassenbrook Academy to see the upgrades in infrastructure and environment there. She was toured by Dr Asong, newly appointed headteacher Sally Feeney and Joanne Williams, the previous head of Ortu Hassenbrook Academy.

Following her tour around the academy, the mayor spoke about the strong reputation the school has within the community and local area, as well as how interested the students were in getting back to learning, saying: "It makes me happy to see children at both schools are happy, settled. They know the worth of being in school with their teachers and friends."