The headteacher of a school that makes children attend a “behaviour boot camp” to teach them to walk faster is among the education leaders named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Katharine Birbalsingh, founder and head of Michaela Community School, in North London, a free school that has been described as Britain’s strictest school, has been made a CBE for services to education.

Ms Birbalsingh said the honour was a tribute to her staff and their traditional style of teaching. 

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She said: “I’m proud of the impact that we’ve had on the educational sphere from the ground, from the position of teachers, ordinary teachers and ordinary children doing an excellent job day in, day out and questioning the status quo in education.”

Queen’s Birthday Honours for headteachers

Also made a CBE for services to education is Yvonne Conolly, the UK’s first black female headteacher. She said: “I am delighted, and feel profoundly honoured to be receiving a CBE for the recognition of my work in education over many years. I am most grateful to my nominees and to the Honours Committee for this prestigious award which I am proud to share with my community. “

Among those being made OBEs are Matthew Hood and David Thomas, the architects of Oak National Academy, the online classroom that was created under lockdown.

Mr Hood, who is principal, said: “Oak National Academy was a huge, collective effort. This honour is really a recognition of the tireless work of the hundreds of teachers and colleagues who created it, in a matter of days. They showed the best of our profession - innovative, caring and dedicated to supporting children and their peers.”

Mr Thomas, who is curriculum director, said: “The real honour I’ve had was to work with the most incredible team of volunteers who dedicated their time to creating Oak National Academy. When the pandemic started, it became clear that there was a huge risk to our children’s futures as well as to our nation’s health.”

Shaun Fenton, headteacher of Reigate Grammar School, in Surrey, is also made an OBE. 

He said: “I will remember forever the moment I was able to share the news with my children.

“The most important thing is the positive experience of the children in our care every day and the impact of our partnership work on the local community. It is a great privilege to be a teacher. “

Meanwhile, Mike Green, chief operating officer at the Department for Education, receives a knighthood for services to education in recognition of the DfE’s School Building Programme.

He said it was “such an incredible honour,” adding: “In the eight years I’ve worked in the department, I’ve been continually blown away by the remarkable skills and talents of its people.”

England footballer and free school meals campaigner under lockdown Marcus Rashford is made an MBE “for services to vulnerable children in the UK during Covid-19”.

Among those receiving honours in the education sector are:

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Katharine Birbalsingh, founder and headmistress, Michaela Community School. For services to education (London, Greater London)
• Cecile Yvonne Conolly, former headteacher. For services to education (London, Greater London)
• Jonathan David Douglas, chief executive, National Literacy Trust. For services to education (London, Greater London)
• Richard Gill, chief executive officer, Arthur Terry Learning Partnership. For services toeducation (Lichfield, Staffordshire)
• Nicolette King OBE, lately chair, Greenacre Academy Trust. For services to education  (Rochester, Kent)
• Dr Deborah Catherine Morgan, director, Primary Mathematics, National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics. For services to education (Furzton, Buckinghamshire)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Matthew David Hood, principal, Oak National Academy, London. For services to education during Covid-19 (London, Greater London)
• David Mark Thomas, principal, Jane Austen College, and curriculum lead, Oak National Academy. For services to education, particularly during Covid-19 (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
• Steven Baker, executive Hheadteacher, Aspire Schools Federation. For services to education (Frodsham, Cheshire)
• Sandy Brown, national leader of education. For services to education (Barnstaple, Devon)
• Herminder Kaur Channa JP, principal, Ark Boulton Academy. For services to education (Birmingham, West Midlands)
• Adrienne Pamela Cherrywood, founder and headteacher, Cressey College, Croydon. For services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (Edenbridge, Kent)
• Lyn Dance, headteacher, The Milestone School, and chief executive officer, SAND Academies Trust. For services to education (Gloucester, Gloucestershire)
• Shaun Alan Fenton, headteacher, Reigate Grammar School, Surrey. For services to education (Reigate, Surrey)
• Marie Gentles, lately headteacher, Hawkswood Primary Pupil Referral Unit, London. For services to education (London, Greater London)
• Max William Von Furer Haimendorf, principal, Ark King Solomon Academy, Westminster. For services to rducation (London, Greater London)
• Caroline Hoddinott, lately executive headteacher, Haybridge School and Sixth Form, Hagley. For services to education (Worcester, Worcestershire)
• Muhammad Naveed Idrees, headteacher, Feversham Primary Academy, Bradford. For services to education (Halifax, West Yorkshire)
• Georgina Kate Jackson, development director, Sold Out. For services to education and diversity in the video games industry (Kingston, Surrey)
• Anita Johnson, headteacher, Loxford School of Science and Technology, and chief executive officer, Loxford School Trust. For services to education (London, Greater London)
• Rabbi David Meyer, executive director, Partnership for Jewish Schools. For services to education (London, Greater London)
• Martin John Edward Moorman, headteacher, Ravenscliffe High School and Sports College. For services to young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Calderdale, West Yorkshire (Halifax, West Yorkshire)
• Alison Paul, headteacher, Brimble Hill Special School, Swindon. For services to education (Swindon, Wiltshire)
• Dr Philip Bryan Robert Smith, executive principal, Outwood Academy Portland. For services to education (Doncaster, South Yorkshire)
• Mandie Stravino, For services to education (West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire)
• Janet Claire Thompson, headteacher, Dorothy Goodman School, Hinckley. For services to education (Badby, Northamptonshire)
• Sian Elizabeth Thornhill, director of education, Harrow International Schools, and lately executive principal, Skinners’ Kent Academy Trust. For services to education