THE OUTGOING CEO of a Lower Earley-based schools trust has been honoured with an MBE for her services to education.
Mary Davies headed up the Maiden Erlegh Trust, which oversees six schools in the borough including Chiltern Edge, Great Hollands primary school, and a new additional needs school called Oak Tree. This will open in September next year.
Her initial involvement with Maiden Erlegh school was her appointment as deputy headteacher. She then became co-head, then executive headteacher, before becoming the CEO of the trust running the school.
She announced her retirement earlier this year.
At the time she said: “It has been a difficult decision to make, and one that I have not taken lightly.
“The Trust is in a very strong position; the schools are performing and improving well and they have strong leaders and talented staff who are dedicated to the children it serves. Our values remain strong and underpin all of our work, notably putting children first, with uncompromising inclusivity and ambition, and respecting the importance of nurturing the talented professionals who work for them.”
The trust’s chair of trustees, Nick Jones, said: “she has, quite simply, been at the heart of all that we seek to do for our children and young people.”
At her retirement event, she was greeted by governors, staff and students from the schools, and presented with a leaving gift of a tiara and a sash.
In a statement on the Trust’s website about her retirement, it said: “Good luck for the future Mary, we are going to miss you.”
