Ofqual chair Ian Bauckham is to receive a knighthood and former school and college trust leader Sally Dicketts will receive a damehood in the King’s first New Year Honours list tomorrow.

The pair are among the prominent names from the sector who are being honoured for their services to education.

The list also includes Dominic Herrington, the Department for Education’s former national schools commissioner, who will become a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

And CBEs have been awarded to several people for services to education including Becky Francis, the chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, and Northern Education Trust’s chief executive Rob Tarn. 

• Honours: Who in education was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List?
• Background: Ian Bauckham becomes permanent chair of Ofqual 
• Profile: Sally Dicketts

Mr Bauckham is also the chief executive of the Tenax Schools Trust, a chair at Oak National Academy and has formerly worked for the Department for Education as chair of the Market Review into initial teacher training. 

He told Tes he was “surprised and humbled” to hear he was set to receive a knighthood.

Mr Bauckham said: “The areas of work that I’ve been involved in had put me into contact with a large number of extremely committed and talented people who have worked very, very hard in their respective teams to help achieve all the things that I’ve been privileged to be involved in.

“All the things I’ve done, I’ve done because I think they’re the right things to do and will ultimately benefit schools and the education of children and young people and the achievements of greater equality in our education system.”

Ms Dicketts is the former chief executive of Activate Learning, which runs colleges, a multi-academy trust (Activate Learning Education Trust) and adult education programmes. 

She has also been the president of the Association of Colleges and has previously received a CBE.

Commenting on her CBE, Becky Francis said: “It’s very humbling to receive this recognition for service to education.

“Throughout my career, it’s been a privilege to work with many fantastic organisations and individuals dedicated to improving equity and life chances through education.

“Leadership in this sector has been an honour, as I witness the collective dedication of those working in education to giving young people the best start in life. It’s a privilege to play a part in supporting this shared mission.”

Other CBE recipients from the education sector this year include two civil servants who will receive the honour for their work towards the government’s Covid response in education.

Sarah Maclean and Tess Griffiths, who were directors of Covid Response Measures for the DfE, will both receive a CBE.

In this year’s New Year Honours list, the education sector is also well represented with OBE recipients.

Professor Adam Boddison, the former chief executive for Nasen and chair of the Whole School SEND group, is to receive the honour for services to children and young people with special educational needs.

Academy trust chief executives to receive the honour include Richard Sheriff of Red Kite Learning Trust in Yorkshire, who is also a past president of the Association of School and College Leaders, and Stephen Docking, the chief executive of North West Academies Trust.

Dr Jeffery Nii Adjei Tawiah Quaye, the national director of education and standards for Aspirations Academies Trust, is also among those in education to receive an OBE.

New Year Honours list recipients for services to education include:

Order of the British Empire

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE):

Sally Anne Sheila Dicketts CBE. Lately chief executive officer, Activate Learning. For services to education. (Oxford, Oxfordshire)

Knights Bachelor:

Ian Bauckham CBE. Chair, Ofqual. For services to education. (Tunbridge Wells, Kent)

Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB):

Dominic James Herrington. Former national schools commissioner. For services to education. (London)

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE):

Professor Becky Francis FBA. CEO, Education Endowment Foundation. For services to education. 

Robert Tarn. CEO, Northern Education Trust. For services to education. (Wynyard, County Durham)

Tessa Helen Griffiths. Former director, Covid Response Measures, Department for Education. For services to education and to the Covid-19 Response. (Thames Ditton, Surrey)

Sarah Maclean. Former director, Covid Response Measures, Department for Education. For services to education and to the Covid-19 Response. (London)

Peter Joseph McGhee. Principal, St John Rigby Sixth Form College, Greater Manchester. For services to further education. (Cheadle, Greater Manchester)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):

Dr Jeffery Nii Adjei Tawiah Quaye. National director of education and standards, Aspirations Academies Trust. For services to education. (Dartford, Kent)

Jane Mary Bass. Chief executive officer, Connected Learning Multi Academy Trust. For services to education. (Witham, Essex)

Professor Adam Boddison. Former CEO, Nasen and chair, Whole School SEND. For services to children and young people with special educational needs. (Coventry, West Midlands)

Fiona Jane Boulton. Headteacher, Guildford High School. For services to Education. (Woking, Surrey)

Celia Elaine Dawson. Headteacher, Cricket Green School, London Borough of Merton. For services to Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs. (London)

Stephen Docking. Chief Executive Officer, North West Academies Trust. For services to Education. (Chester, Cheshire)

Dr Vivian Ivor Hinchcliffe. Chair and managing trustee, St. Jude Foundation. For services to children and young people with special educational needs. (Sevenoaks, Kent)

Peter James Hines. Headteacher, Perryfields Primary Pupil Referral Unit, Worcester. For services to education. (Worcester, Worcestershire)

Mouhssin Ismail. Former principal, Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre, London Borough of Newham. For services to education. (London)

Karen Joy. Headteacher, Abbey Court Community Special Foundation School, Medway, Kent. For services to children and young people with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. (Selling, Kent)

Carol Marie McCann. Former principal, St Dominic’s Grammar School, Belfast. For services to Education. (Belfast, Belfast)

Mary Montgomery. Principal, Belfast Boys’ Model. For services to education. (Larne, County Antrim)

Kieran Jude Osborne. Chair of trustees, Impact Multi Academy Trust, London. For services to education. (London)

Dr Jeffery Nii Adjei Tawiah Quaye. National director of education and standards, Aspirations Academies Trust. For services to education. (Dartford, Kent)

Trevor Dale Robinson. Former principal, Lurgan College, County Armagh. For services to education. (Portadown, County Armagh)

Riaz Shah. Founder and chair of trustees, One Degree Academy. For services to education. (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire)

Richard Edward Sheriff. CEO, Red Kite Learning Trust. For services to education. (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

Carolyn Stidston. Founder, CS Nursery Schools Ltd. For services to education. (Farnham, Surrey)

Simon Taylor. CEO, Three Rivers Trust. For services to education. (Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear)

Christan Upton. Headteacher, Tarleton Community Primary School, Preston, Lancashire. For services to education. (Preston, Lancashire)

Deborah Ann Walls. Former CEO, Coombe Academy Trust, Surrey. For services to education. (London)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Syed Samad Ali. Lately Teacher, Thornhill Academy, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. For services to education. (Sunderland, Tyne and Wear)

Jill Baker. Former executive headteacher, Eastbrook School, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. For services to education. (London)

Mary Elizabeth Davies. CEO, Maiden Erlegh Trust. For services to education. (Newbury, Berkshire)

Eileen Lilian Mary Donnelly. Member, board of Governors, The Integrated College, Dungannon. For services to education in Northern Ireland. (Dungannon, County Tyrone)

Rupert William Evenett. Chair of governing body, Christ the King Sixth Forms, South London. For services to education. (London)

Janet Penelope Forshaw. Head of education, Coram Life Education. For services to education during Covid-19. (Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire)

Dr Janice Victoria Gorlach. Deputy CEO, North East Learning Trust. For services to education. (Shincliffe, County Durham)

Caroline Mary Grant. Former headteacher, Billing Brook Academy Trust, Northampton, Northamptonshire. For services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. (Banbury, Oxfordshire)

Marie Joanne Hamer. Executive director, strategy and impact, Ambition Institute. For services to education. (Penrith, Cumbria)

Gaèl Hicks. CEO, Our Lady Of Grace Catholic Academy Trust, London Borough of Newham. For services to education. (London

Veronica Hilliard. Executive headteacher, Golborne and Maxilla Children’s Centres, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. For services to early years education. (Wallington, Surrey)

Kim Elizabeth James. Head of school improvement. Oxfordshire County Council. For services to education. (Wantage, Oxfordshire)

Gillian Rosalind Jones. Former His Majesty’s Inspector and deputy director of schools and early years, Ofsted. For services to education. (Wirrall, Merseyside)

Christine Joyce Lewis. Lately headteacher, Children’s House Nursery School, London Borough of Tower Hamlets. For services to education. (London)

Sheila Mary Morrison. Former governor, Meadow Primary School, Epsom, Surrey. For services to education. (London)

Sylvia Pierce. Founder and chair of governors, Mossbourne Community Academy, London Borough of Hackney. For services to education. (London)

Heather Pratt. Chair, board of governors, Rossmar Special School, Limavady, County Londonderry. For services to education. (Limavady, County Londonderry)

Alison Jennifer Saunders. Headteacher, Simon Balle All-Through School, Hertford, Hertfordshire. For services to education. (St Albans, Hertfordshire)

June Simm. Chair of governors, Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School, Liverpool, Merseyside. For services to education. (Liverpool, Merseyside)

Rama Venchard. Chair of trustees, STEP Academy Trust. For services to education. (London)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):

Christopher Paul Ashworth. Estates manager, Ashton Sixth Form College. For services to further education. (Dukinfield, Greater Manchester)

Susan Ball. Teaching assistant, St Vincent’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Mill Hill, London Borough of Barnet. For services to education. (London)

Sarah Anne Brewis. Headteacher, Woodborough Church of England Primary School, Pewsey, Wiltshire. For services to primary education. (Calne, Wiltshire)

Troyton Bronick Theophilus Bunbury. Lately Site Manager, St Michael’s Church of England Primary School, Highgate, London Borough of Haringey. For services to education. (London)

Hilary Judith Cooper. Girlguiding leader, school governor and volunteer. For services to young people and to education. (Monkseaton, Tyne and Wear)

Peter Offord Davies. Reading volunteer, Dean Valley Community Primary School, Bollington, Macclesfield. For services to education. (Bollington, Cheshire)

Charlotte Victoria Francis. Head of Mathematics, St Catherine’s Catholic School, Bexleyheath, Greater London, CEO, Biankha and Friends, and CEO, Tutall Ltd. For services to education. (London)

Richard Henry Hanley. Music teacher, Thomas Mills High School, Framlingham, Suffolk. For services to education. (Ipswich, Suffolk)

Shirley Anne Hearnshaw. Volunteer, New Whittington Community Primary School, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. For services to education. (Chesterfield, Derbyshire)

Lorna Jones. Committee member, Croydon Schools Primary Netball Association. For services to school netball in the London Borough of Croydon. (London)

Ann Pinhey. Music teacher and conductor. For services to music, to choirs and to charity. (Petersfield, Hampshire)