The founder and chief executive of a growing North-East education trust has been awarded the MBE, more than 30 years after he embarked on his teaching career.

Nick Blackburn has been included in King Charles’ birthday honours list for services to education.

Mr Blackburn founded the Lingfield Education Trust ten years ago, with just two Darlington primary schools – Heathfield and Hurworth.

Since then, the trust has grown into a family of 11 primary schools: Corporation Road, Heathfield, Hurworth, Mount Pleasant, and Northwood, at Darlington; Cambrai, at Catterick Garrison; Handale, at Loftus; Hemlington Hall, at Middlesbrough; Preston, at Stockton; and Vane Road and Woodham Burn, in Newton Aycliffe.

The trust will expand again in September when it will be joined by four Middlesbrough primary schools from the James Cook Learning Trust – Marton Manor, Lingfield, The Avenue, and Captain Cook. Lingdale Primary School, near Saltburn, is to be another addition.

Mr Blackburn said: “It’s humbling to be recognised for work that I love doing, and it’s a testament to the trusted team I’m blessed to have alongside me, and who make all the difference.

“I’m very proud to lead an organisation covering such a diverse population, with schools that place kindness and respect at the heart of everything they do, and understand that the emotional world of children is as important as academic achievements.”

Mr Blackburn, who is originally from Buckinghamshire, started his career as a primary teacher in Islington, London, in 1990. He went on to teach at four primary schools in Islington before taking his first deputy headship in the capital.

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He moved to Darlington in 2002 to become deputy head of Corporation Road Primary School, and his first headship came four years later at the town’s Heathfield Primary School.

As well as being chief executive of Lingfield Education Trust, Mr Blackburn is a member of the Independent Monitoring Board of the Prison Service. He is also a trustee of North East Wellbeing – a charity he set up ten years ago to run therapy projects for children and young people.

He is married to Amy, who is also a head teacher, and father to Ella, Rosie, Leo, and Harry. He paid tribute to his family, describing them as “my constant inspiration”.