{"id":247585,"date":"2026-06-12T22:30:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=247585"},"modified":"2026-06-12T22:50:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:50:21","slug":"kings-birthday-honours-recognise-school-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/kings-birthday-honours-recognise-school-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"King’s birthday honours recognise school leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Headteachers, academy leaders, trustees, school support staff and charity leaders are among those recognised for their services to education in the King’s birthday honours.<\/p>\n

Sixty people who work in or with schools in England have been named on the list.<\/p>\n

Thomas Attwood, chair of trustees at the Attwood Academy Trust, has received the CBE, as has former Tory special adviser Jon Yates<\/a>, now executive director of the Youth Endowment Fund.<\/p>\n

\"Jon
Jon Yates<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yates said he was \u201chonoured and almost lost for words to receive this award”.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the last two decades, I have had the immense privilege of leading and working with remarkable colleagues who are passionate about changing things for children, whether at the Youth Endowment Fund, Ofsted, the Department for Education or The Challenge Network.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese days, it is easy to be down-heartened, but – when I turn off the screen – I all too often find that I am in fact surrounded by good and dedicated people in our charities, schools, colleges, children\u2019s services, youth services and nurseries working to improve things for children and young people. I am delighted to be associated with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also receiving the CBE for services to education are Department for Education finance chief Tom Goldman<\/a>, Coventry children’s services boss Sukriti Sen and former National Holocaust Centre and Museum chair Henry Grunwald.<\/p>\n

Sen said she was \u201cdelighted and honoured\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very grateful to those who have recognised my work, and to the fantastic colleagues and partners I have worked alongside over the years to improve the outcomes for all children and families.\u201d<\/p>\n

MAT CEOs get OBEs<\/h2>\n

Sixteen people associated with England\u2019s schools have received the OBE.<\/p>\n

They include Bernie Green, CEO of Preston Primary Academy Trust in Yeovil.<\/p>\n

She said she was \u201coverwhelmed and extremely grateful to be awarded this prestigious honour\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am also speechless, as I have always felt privileged to work within our wonderful education system, which has been so rewarding over many years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jonathan Taylor, the chief executive of Sapientia Education Trust and an adviser to the government\u2019s RISE school improvement programme, has also been recognised.<\/p>\n

He said the award of an OBE was \u201ca delightful surprise”.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have had the privilege of working with so many great people at Sapientia and this award is recognition of our collective work, creating opportunities and transforming the lives of the pupils we educate.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy more recent RISE role has extended this work, working with a great DfE team in the eastern region. I am hugely appreciative of everyone who has supported me and the award is for them all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ashfaq
Ashfaq Rahman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nova Education Trust CEO Ashfaq Rahman has also received the OBE.<\/p>\n

He said he was \u201cdeeply honoured and humbled to receive this recognition”.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhilst the award bears my name, it reflects the work, dedication and commitment of countless people who have shaped my career and who continue to make a difference to the lives of children and young people every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost importantly, I would like to recognise the children and young people we serve. Their ambition, character, creativity and determination inspire us every day. They are the reason we do this work and remain at the heart of every decision we make.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rob Haring, CEO of the Westcountry Schools Trust in Devon said he felt \u201cdeeply privileged to have been awarded an OBE”.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been fortunate to work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues who have brought their collective expertise to the benefit of the children we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Headteachers honoured<\/h2>\n

The list also includes 34 MBEs.<\/p>\n

One has gone to Fiona Booth, headteacher of St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Boston.<\/p>\n

She said receiving a letter from Buckingham Palace was \u201cincredible. It made a change to flyers.<\/p>\n

\u201cReceiving an MBE is a tremendous honour. I know it is a clich\u00e9, but this isn\u2019t about me. What we have achieved as a school reflects the strength, support, and dedication of the incredible community around me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fiona
Fiona Booth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also among the recipients is Neerasha Singh, headteacher of Northfleet Nursery School, Kent.<\/p>\n

She said she was \u201ctruly overwhelmed and deeply honoured\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition means so much because our youngest children – their joy, their potential, their limitless futures – have always been at the heart of everything I do.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis honour is not mine alone. It belongs to the profession I love, to the colleagues who inspire me, and to the sector that continues to fight for every child\u2019s right to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charity and voluntary work recognised<\/h2>\n

Overall, the list names 12 current or former academy trust CEOs, nine headteachers, seven school governors or academy trustees, six civil servants or council officials, two other senior school leaders, two teachers or middle leaders and two support staff.<\/p>\n

A further 19 people were recognised for their contribution to the charity or third sectors or for their work as volunteers.<\/p>\n

Richard Sloan, a former adviser to the Confederation of School Trusts, has received the MBE.<\/p>\n

He said he was \u201chugely grateful for this award and would like to dedicate it to the thousands of trustees and governors who give freely their time to help ensure that all children get the best possible opportunity.”<\/p>\n

Nick Bent, chief executive of upReach, will also receive the MBE. He said he was \u201cgrateful to have had the chance to make a difference\u201d in his professional roles and through volunteering with Oasis academies and the children\u2019s commissioner\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, there is still so much more to do, as this country remains deeply unequal, with massive regional disparities in access to high-quality education and good jobs, and with young people across the country from working class or low income families still facing all sorts of unjust barriers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The full schools list<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Commanders of the order of the British empire (CBE)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Thomas Roger ATTWOOD<\/td>\nChair of Trustees, Attwood Academy Trust<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thomas GOLDMAN<\/td>\nDeputy Director, Strategic Finance, Department for Education<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Henry Cyril GRUNWALD OBE KC<\/td>\nLately, Chair of the National Holocaust Centre and Museum, Newark<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sukriti Prova SEN<\/td>\nDirector of Children and Education Services, Coventry City Council<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jonathan YATES<\/td>\nExecutive Director, Youth Endowment Fund<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Officers of the order of the British empire (OBE)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Dr Andrea Jane ARLIDGE<\/td>\nFounder, Wellsway MAT and lately Chief Executive Officer, Futura Learning Partnership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thomas William BANHAM<\/td>\nChief Executive, Hoyland Common Academy Trust, Barnsley, South Yorkshire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Asif Jahangir BHATTI<\/td>\nHeadteacher, Town Farm Primary School and Nursery, Staines, Surrey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dr Lisa Marie CHERRY<\/td>\nFor services to Children, Young People and their Families across Education and Social Care<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dr Sharon CURTIS<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Emosi, Burngreave, Sheffield<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maria Anne DAWES<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Schools Alliance for Excellence, Surrey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tony DAY<\/td>\nPrincipal and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, Birmingham<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bernadette Anne GREEN<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Preston Primary Academy Trust, Yeovil, Somerset<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Robert Edward HARING<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Westcountry Schools Trust, Devon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diane Margaret HERITAGE<\/td>\nChair of Trustees, New Collaborative Learning Trust<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simon William Temple JAMES<\/td>\nFor services to Education and to Music<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ashfaq Ahmed RAHMAN<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Nova Education Trust, Nottingham<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rachael ROSS MBE<\/td>\nFounding Officer, National Down Syndrome Policy Group<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jonathan Stuart TAYLOR<\/td>\nRISE adviser and lately Chief Executive Officer, Sapientia Education Trust, Norfolk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alice WITHEROW<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Cheviot Learning Trust, Northumberlan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lyn Alison WRIGHT<\/td>\nLately Chief Executive Officer, The Sigma Trust, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Members of the order of the British empire (MBE)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Michael Richard Kelvin AKERS<\/td>\nFounder, Mikey’s Wish Foundation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elisabeth Jane BAINES<\/td>\nSenior Manager, 16-19 Funding Policy Implementation, Department for Education<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stuart James BALNAVES<\/td>\nDeputy Director, Customer Service Enterprise Operations, Department for Education<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nicholas John BENT<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, upReach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Richard David BERNARD<\/td>\nHeadteacher, Northampton School for Boys.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiona Beth BOOTH<\/td>\nHead Teacher and SENDCo, St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy, Boston, Lincolnshire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Susan BROWNSON<\/td>\nLately Deputy Headteacher, Laycock Primary School, London Borough of Islington<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nathalie BULL<\/td>\nChief Executive Headteacher, The BeDifferent Federation, London<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Krystyna Stefania BUTWILOWSKA<\/td>\nLately Chair of Governors, Portsmouth High School, Hampshire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nicola Margaret COLLETT<\/td>\nLately Partnership Development Manager, Leicester City School Sport Partnership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Raegan Nina DELANEY BARNES<\/td>\nLately Headteacher, Nayland Primary School, Suffolk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Victoria Hannah Arnott EADIE<\/td>\nChair, Bolder Academy, Isleworth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
David Charles EURIDGE<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Inclusive Education Trust<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alloysius Jonathan FREDERICK<\/td>\nChair of Trustees, All Saints’ Multi-Academy Trust, London<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tom HOOPER<\/td>\nHead of Sport, Bristol Metropolitan Academy, Fishponds, Bristol<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eric George Henry JONES<\/td>\nRetired and Volunteer Teacher<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marian KENNEDY<\/td>\nLately Headteacher, Crampton Primary School, London Borough of Southwark<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adrian Phillip KNEESHAW<\/td>\nChief Executive Officer, Carlton Academy Trust, Bradford<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nicholas KNIGHT<\/td>\nFor services to Education and to the community in Hampshire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Michael Howard LEVY<\/td>\nVolunteer Educator and Author<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joy Alison MADEIROS<\/td>\nGroup Chief Executive Officer, Oasis Charitable Trust and Founding Member, Women’s Faith Forum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alex MAWS<\/td>\nHead of Education and Heritage, Association of Jewish Refugees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sally Jane MINER<\/td>\nMember, Primary Learning Trust and former Executive Headteacher, Ryders Hayes School, Walsall<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Penelope Anne PATTERSON<\/td>\nSenior Inspector, Havering School Improvement Services<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shekeila Adina Courtnie SCARLETT<\/td>\nLately Governor, Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abigail SHAPIRO<\/td>\nCo-Founder, The Tutor Trust<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neerasha SINGH<\/td>\nHeadteacher, Northfleet Nursery School, Kent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anne Margaret SLADE<\/td>\nChief Operational Officer, The Pioneer Academy, Keston<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Richard William SLOAN<\/td>\nEducation Advisor, Confederation of School Trust<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amy Lauren WAGNER<\/td>\nDirector, Tackling Antisemitism in Education Programme, Palace Yard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dawn WATERMAN<\/td>\nEducation and Heritage Adviser, Board of Deputies of British Jews<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Emma WHITFIELD<\/td>\nMember, National Autistic Society<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lucille Elizabeth WINDLE<\/td>\nExecutive Headteacher, Abbey School, Rotherham, South Yorkshire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simon Arthur WOOD<\/td>\nExecutive Headteacher, Sir Martin Frobisher Academy, Clacton-on-Sea<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Medallists of the order of the British empire (BEM)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The Reverend Cassandra HOWES<\/td>\nFor services to Education and to Inter-Faith Relations in Bedfordshire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eleanor KEELEY<\/td>\nSchool Cook and Catering Manager, Linden Lodge School, London Borough of Wandsworth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professor Fiona Sarah Winifred MCCULLOUGH<\/td>\nFor services to Education and Outreach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Caroline TYERMAN<\/td>\nLately Lead Practitioner, SEND and Inclusion, Brougham Primary School Hartlepool<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diane Kathleen WILLSON<\/td>\nFor services to the Education Community in Bognor Regis, West Sussex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sixty people who work in or with schools in England have been honoured<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":247565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[2042,890],"post-theme":[2398],"class_list":["post-247585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-honours","tag-schools","post-theme-schools"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t