Teachers and leaders all over the country have been recognised
for their work during the Covid 19 pandemic in the Queen’s
Birthday Honours.
Among those honoured are the headteachers of the pioneering Oak
National Academy, which provided online lessons to make sure
pupils did not miss out, and a head who made sure pupils with
special educational needs and disabilities could still attend
during lockdown.
98 people have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday
Honours List for their outstanding contributions to the education
and children’s services sectors. The list includes headteachers,
teachers, social workers, foster carers and many who work with
the most disadvantaged in society as well as those selected for
their efforts during the pandemic.
Education Secretary, said:
“The work that went into making sure pupils could
continue their education during lockdown and then make sure all
children could return to their classes was phenomenal, so it is
fantastic to see so many being recognised with some of the
highest honours this country can award”
“I would like to congratulate all the recipients on the Queen’s
Birthday Honours List because their work is so inspiring and
deserving of recognition.
“I would also like to offer a special thank you to those who
continue to contribute as part of the national effort during the
Covid-19 pandemic. This list highlights the many committed
professionals who are working tirelessly across education and
children’s services to deliver better outcomes for young people
and students across the country during this challenging
period.”
Social Worker, Manvir Hothi has been awarded an MBE due to her
work during the Covid-19 crisis. She sought and collected
essentially needed items and voluntarily mobilised a group of
volunteers close to where she lives to prepare and distribute
care packs for key workers. These were then delivered to
hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes across the country.
Matthew Hood and David Thomas, Principal and Curriculum Director
at the Oak National Academy in London have been given OBE’s for
their services to education during the pandemic. When it was
announced that all schools would be closed, except for vulnerable
children and the children of key workers, Matthew and David were
at the forefront of innovative and fast-paced work to develop
resources to make remote education the best it can be for both
pupils and teachers
Similarly, Jane Davenport, headteacher at Reynalds Cross School
has received an MBE for her services to young people with special
educational needs and disabilities during the crisis. As
headteacher at the school, Jane, with the help of her committed
staff, made sure that she supported not only keyworkers' children
but also enabled those pupils and families who are most
vulnerable to attend school during the coronavirus pandemic. Many
of these children have very complex learning, physical,
behavioural, and medical needs which makes keeping them safe
increasingly harder in the current crisis.
A number of non-Covid – 19 related nominees also feature on this
year’s honours list. Yvonne Conolly, the first black headteacher
in the UK has been awarded a CBE for her services to education.
At 23 years old, Yvonne arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1963 as
a qualified teacher, having taught at a boarding school in
Jamaica. Yvonne faced many challenges in finding a job at that
time and with the help of a friend she started as a Supply
teacher in Camden where she lived, and her first temporary
assignment at George Eliot became permanent. Her first step into
teaching in the UK became a giant leap when in 1969 she became
the first female black headteacher in the UK.
