OBE honour for former teacher (From Chorley Citizen)

OBE honour for former teacher

2:10pm Wednesday 2nd January 2008 in News By Andrew Greaves

A former Chorley teacher was awarded an OBE for services to education in the New Year's Honours List.

Geoff Southworth, who taught across Lancashire including Whittle-le-Woods CE Primary, was recognised for his outstanding contribution to education over a considerable period of time.

Prof Southworth is now deputy chief executive of the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) in Nottingham which he joined NCSL in 2002 after 16 years' teaching and leading schools in the Preston, Chorley and Darwen.

He said: "I am very pleased to receive this honour, not only for personal reasons, but also because of what it conveys about the importance of education, particularly in the primary years of schooling and the work of the National College in supporting and developing excellent school leaders."

Prof Southworth went to school in Preston and went on to work in Whittle-le-Woods, and also at Lostock Hall Junior School, St James CE Primary School, Darwen, and Seven Stars Junior School in Leyland where he was headteacher.

He moved into higher education when he worked at the University of Cambridge, held a Professorship at Reading and became an honorary Professor at the University of Leicester. His current role is deputy chief executive and director of research at NCSL which exists to transform children's achievement and well-being through excellent school leadership and to identify and grow tomorrow's leaders.

Prof Southworth, aged 60, has also published a dozen books and a range of articles for both academic and subject journals, most of which draw on his school-based research into leadership and school improvement.

The Honours List recognises extraordinary people from many walks of life for their achievement or service to the community - people who have really changed things for the good of others.