A NORTH-East schools network has appointed a new director.

Schools North East, the first and only UK regional network of schools, has appointed Mike Parker as director.

Mr Parker, a former business editor at The Northern Echo, has also worked in media and public relations and lives in Durham.

He said: “It’s a great privilege to lead the UK’s only regional schools network at a time of dynamic change in the education sector.

"Schools nationwide are under immense pressure to deliver at the highest level while facing challenges on many fronts. Against this backdrop, we cannot lose sight of the huge effort and fantastic achievements of our region’s schools in preparing and developing young people and offering them bright futures.

“The North-East is fortunate to have such committed head teachers that have engaged proactively for the past seven years in developing a regional network which is at the forefront of helping schools to improve and share knowledge. My team will continue its focus on ensuring schools get the support they need and help them to be recognised as exemplars in their sector.”