International and independent school headteachers have been recognised in the New Year Honours list, along with other leaders from the state sector.
Ann Haydon, head of Harrow International School, Hong Kong was made an MBE for services to British education in the UK and Hong Kong.
She was joined by Nigel James Fossey, principal of The Sultan’s School, Oman, and formerly headmaster of King´s College School, Panama for services to British education overseas.
Back in the UK, Colin Morrison, founder and chair of Boarding School Partnerships was made a CBE for services to education.
Elsewhere, Andrew Day, headteacher at The Unicorn School, a special school in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, was made an MBE in recognition of his services to education.
The school for 7 to 16 year olds with Specific Learning Differences including dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) is a member of the Independent Schools Association.
Mr Day told The Oxford Mail: “I am truly honoured to receive this award, but I share it with all the inspirational, highly skilled and dedicated teachers and staff at The Unicorn School. They transform the lives of our pupils daily.”
He said that when pupils joined the school their learning difficulties were often exacerbated by the anxiety of struggling to cope with large classes and insufficient one-to-one provision
“Due to the specialist knowledge, experience and understanding of our staff we can provide them with an environment in which they feel safe and understood.”
Academy leaders were also represented in the honours list, including Vanessa Ogden, the chief executive of Mulberry Schools Trust, a seven-school trust in London, who was appointed CBE.
Jayne Clarke, executive principal at The Pinnacle Learning Trust in West Yorkshire; Jonathan McGoh, chair and co-founder of The Reach Foundation and co-founder and trustee at Reach Academy Feltham; and Beryce Nixon, chief executive of the Exceed Learning Partnership in South Yorkshire, were also appointed OBE.
Phonics expert Ruth Miskin, a former headteacher who developed the Read Write Inc programme has been appointed Dame for services to education.