Four primary school headteachers have been awarded MBEs in the New Year Honours List. The serving heads are among 57 people working in or with schools who have been recognised in a list that included a knighthood for an academy trust chief executive and a damehood for a professor of social mobility. Remi Atoyebi, the head of Osmani Primary School in east London for 20 years, was 鈥済obsmacked鈥 when she found she had been awarded an MBE for services to education. Thirty-five per of pupils at her school are eligible for free school meals and 99 per cent speak English as a second language. Remi Atoyebi Atoyebi has worked hard to widen pupils鈥 horizons through programmes such as partnerships with City firms. The school also runs a range of classes for parents, including English and computing workshops, and a volunteer scheme to help parents gain work experience. As a member of the BAME community, Atoyebi is 鈥渄eeply committed to inclusive leadership” and has coached and supported more than 50 people from BAME backgrounds to reach senior leadership roles. News of her MBE 鈥渟till feels very surreal鈥. 鈥淚’m deeply grateful, and I’m humbled,鈥 she said, adding the recognition is 鈥渘ot just for me鈥 but for staff, pupils, parents, and Osmani鈥檚 governing body. Edison David, the executive headteacher of the 鈥榦utstanding鈥-rated Granton Primary in south London said he was 鈥渄eeply honoured鈥 to have received an MBE. ‘I share this honour with all teachers from overseas’ 鈥淚t has been a privilege to serve children, families and school communities in this country for nearly two decades鈥. He moved to the UK in 2001 and is believed to be the first person of Filipino heritage to receive an MBE for services to education. Edison David 鈥淚 share this honour with all overseas teachers and leaders who contribute so much to the fabric of British education,鈥 he said. Vanessa Langley, the head of Arbourthorne Community Primary School in Sheffield for 18 years, said she was 鈥渆lated鈥 to have received the honour, which she dedicated to the community. 鈥淕enuine inclusion for learning sits at the heart of what makes us special,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e’ve got 38 languages spoken here, 45 per cent of the children on the special education needs register, 70 per cent entitled to pupil premium and 44 per cent global majority. It’s a vibrant and energetic environment.鈥 Tackling hardship in wider community Ofsted described the school in 2022 as 鈥渁 place of joy, inclusivity and learning鈥 where 鈥渆veryone is valued鈥. Rebecca Bollands The school redistributes surplus food, grows produce on-site for families, and runs a community kitchen for parents. 鈥淧arents have some very challenging circumstances,鈥 said Langley. 鈥淯nless we address the needs of the community鈥t’s very difficult to get the outcomes that we’ve been looking for.鈥 John Francis Towers, the head of the private Barrow Hills School in Surrey, also received an MBE. Meanwhile Rebecca Bollands, head of Earlson Primary in Coventry, was made an MBE for services to cultural education. Vanessa Langley right with former pupil Ellie She has helped create cultural opportunities for thousands of young people, particularly those 鈥渨ho would not otherwise鈥 have them, through roles at the Coventry Cultural Education Partnership and the Royal Ballet and Opera. She described the 鈥渢ransformational鈥 effect of the arts, and importance of ensuring access for disadvantaged young people. 鈥淕oing into our heritage places, cultural places, theatres, that’s something that they have a right to as well. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about that accessibility 鈥 them realising actually I’ve got as much right to be in these buildings as all these people with tons of money and鈥dvantage.鈥 Knighthood for trust CEO Dr Stephen Taylor, the chief executive of the 35-school Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) and chair of the Queen Street Group of academy leaders, was knighted for services to education. He paid tribute to those at CLF and in the wider sector 鈥渨hose work and successes have inspired me over the years to strive to do my best for the children we serve鈥. He was 鈥渆xtremely grateful for this honour and look forward to sharing the news with colleagues and sharing the experience with my family, whose support I never take for granted鈥. Sonia Blandford, professor of social mobility at Plymouth Marjon University and founder of the school improvement charity Achievement for All, was made a dame. She thanked 鈥渁ll my colleagues, friends and family for your support and kindness throughout my career鈥, adding: 鈥淚 am proud to be a member of the teaching profession.鈥