An assistant Headteacher from Rickmansworth is proud to have been made an OBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List.

David Bartram, a director of inclusion at Lampton School in Hounslow, received the award for his work on improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN).

Alongside his classroom work, David is the director of SEN for London Leadership Strategy where he is responsible for the SEN Leaders Programme – a national initiative that identifies effective practice in the schools and uses a combination of peer support and challenge to spread this learning across other schools.

Mr Bartram said: “I feel very privileged to be working in education, in particular the area of special educational needs and disability (.

“I am proud to have received this award and very grateful to work with such committed colleagues at Lampton School and the London Leadership Strategy.

“It is important that schools continue to share good practice in the area of SEN so that all children, in all educational settings, achieve their very best.”

The SEN Leaders Programme recognises that there is much to do to continue to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEN.

Mr Bartram said: “In many of the schools that I visit, I see passionate and committed staff with high levels of expertise working tirelessly to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

“This award is very much a reflection of the impact and importance of their work.”

Chair of London Leadership Strategy Professor David Wood added that they are delighted his work has been acknowledged.

He said: “Alongside his work at Lampton he has been a national advocate of the work of specialist leaders of education and the importance of supporting classroom teachers in effective inclusion practice through brokering partnerships with their peers.

“Across London, in Somerset, in Birmingham, with local authorities and academy chains David has personally supported of inclusion teams and brokered peer support for many more.

“The SEN Leaders programme – led by school leaders for school leaders – is an exciting partnership approach to supporting more schools over the years ahead and David’s leadership has been instrumental in making this happen.”