A FORMER headteacher has received an MBE for his outstanding work in supporting children of military families.

Grahame Shepherd, who was headteacher at Le Cateau Primary School in Catterick Garrison for 17 years, has received his accolade from the Prince of Wales at an investiture held earlier in the month at Buckingham Palace.

It was awarded for his voluntary services to the children of military families.

Mr Shepherd was chair of the Service Children in State Schools (SCISS) national executive advisory committee for several years.

SCISS is an affiliation of thousands of state-maintained schools in England which have children from military personnel on roll.

The committee focuses particularly on the impact of moving schools as parents in the armed forces are moved and pupils' emotional wellbeing when mothers or fathers are deployed to war zones or long-term training.

Mr Shepherd was an inaugural member of the SCISS’ advisory committee since its inception in 2003.

During his time with the committee he helped highlight the specific needs of service children. He helped achieve the introduction of a marker for service pupils on the annual census for schools and Department for Education funding to provide additional care support and guidance through the Service Pupil Premium.

He also chaired the English regional panel which considered bids to the MOD Education Support Fund, as part of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Schools and local authorities were able to apply for funding for support such as service pupil champions, parent support advisers, ICT provision and additional teaching assistants.

Mr Shepherd retired from his role as headteacher at Le Cateau Primary School, Catterick Garrison in 2014, following his 17 years as its headteacher.

He was previously Headteacher at Brompton-on-Swale CE Primary School and was a finalist in the 2014 The Northern Echo Headteacher of the Year Award.

He has been involved in the organisation of several annual national conferences for professionals who support children and their families from military families.

The former teacher has continued to support the work involved nationally and locally in providing the best care and guidance for pupils for service families and continued to be chair of SCISS following his retirement.

He said: “It is a hugely humbling honour to accept this award. I have dedicated it to all of those I have worked with to support our families from service personnel.

“They all do a fantastic job to ensure that the children are given the best care, support and guidance in, sometimes, challenging and difficult circumstances.”