Hamid Patel, CEO of Star Academies, has been knighted for services to education in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Along with him, a number of teachers, headteachers and eight other CEOs of multi-academy trusts have been recognised for their services to education.

Sir Hamid, who has also written extensively for Tes, has led Star Academies since its inception and received a CBE in 2015.

MAT leader Maura Regan OBE, CEO of the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, received a damehood.

Dame Maura, a trustee of Schools North East, started her career teaching history and RE in London, before returning to the North East and becoming principal of Carmel College, which she transformed into the Carmel Education Trust - now known as Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust.

Another MAT CEO, Sara Penelope Barratt, was made a CBE for services to education. She leads the Bridge London Trust, a four-school MAT that includes a mainstream school and three schools for autistic students  or those with severe learning difficulties.

Dr Barratt said: “I am absolutely delighted to be included in the Queen’s birthday honours - and, for me, this is recognition of what the whole team at the Bridge London Trust has achieved.

“We are an ambitious family of schools that embraces the individuality of everyone - children and adults. 

Around 100 people have been recognised for services to education in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Of these, 13 are headteachers.

One of the heads made a CBE was Ben Levinson, headteacher of Kensington Primary School in Newham, East London. The school last year won the wellbeing and mental health category at the Tes Schools Awards. 

The work of a student activist who has campaigned to end period poverty has been recognised with an MBE. Amika Sara George, who founded the #FreePeriods campaign, was honoured for services to education - the youngest recipient in this year’s honours. She said she was left “surprised and stunned”.

The Queen’s birthday honours 2021: recipients from the world of education include...

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

• Maura Regan OBE, chief executive officer, Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust

Knights Bachelor

• Hamid Patel CBE, chief executive officer, Star Academies

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• David Edward Boyle, chief executive officer, Dunraven Educational Trust, Lambeth
• Susan Frances Douglas, chief executive officer, Eden Academy Trust, and senior adviser, schools, the British Council

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Dr Sara Penelope Barratt, chief executive officer, the Bridge London Trust
• Alexander Russell, chief executive officer, Bourne Education Trust
• Wendy Tomes, lately chief executive officer, Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust
• Dr Janice Howkins, chief executive officer, Bentley Wood Trust. 
• Carolyn English, secondary director, Harris Federation
• John Hardy, headteacher, St John Vianney RC Primary School, Hartlepool
• Dr Janet Moyles, professor emeritus, Anglia Ruskin University, Hampshire.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Sally Alexander, headteacher and proprietor, Kimichi School, Birmingham
• Barry Michael Bond, chair of governors, Green Park School, Wolverhampton
• Nicola Davies, headteacher, Nant y Parc Primary School, Caerphilly, Wales
• Clive Anthony Douglas, chair of the board of Trustees, The Boleyn Trust
• Aimee Durning, teaching assistant, University of Cambridge Primary School
• Amika Sara George, founder, #FreePeriods Campaign
• Michael Kelly, executive headteacher, Redriff Primary School, Rotherhithe, London. 
• Marian McCouaig, principal, Kylemore Nursery School, Coleraine, Ulster. 
• Linda McGrath, headteacher, Woodthorpe Junior and Infant School, Birmingham
• Anna Miles, co-founder, Red Box Project, Portsmouth 
• Alan Pearson, headteacher, New Invention Junior School, Walsall, West Midlands
• Catherine Scutt, director of education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching. 
• Geoffrey Simmonds, trustee, Pavilion Opera Educational Trust
• Sarah Thompson, nursery school teacher, Orritor Nursery School, Cookstown, County Tyrone