A HEADTEACHER who won national praise for improving her schools has pleaded not guilty to historic indecent assault charges on a boy.

Anne Lakey, 55, from Stanley, County Durham, appeared briefly at Teesside Crown Court today, and denied seven counts.

Mrs Lakey as given bail by the judge, Recorder Martin Bethel, QC, until a trial is expected to start at the court in early June.

The teacher was lauded nationally for her work as chief executive of the Durham Federation of Schools after overseeing the biggest improvement in GCSE results in the country.

The organisation includes Durham Community Business College in Ushaw Moor, and Fyndoune Community College in nearby Sacriston.

Fyndoune has previously been named the country's most improved secondary school after the number of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs, including maths and English, rose from 26 per cent to 80 per cent.

Both colleges were judged "outstanding" by Ofsted school inspectors in 2011, and Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw praised Mrs Lakey's "inspiring leadership".