The former chair of Birmingham charity Services For Education, Sarah Smith, which each week teaches music to some 32,000 children in Birmingham and delivers professional development and school improvement for teaching and support staff, has been congratulated on being awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours for Services to Education.
Sarah, who continues to be a trustee of the charity and who has many years of working in education, was congratulated by the Trustees of Services For Education on “a great and well-deserved accolade”.
Sarah became a Trustee of Services For Education in 2015 and served as Chair from 2021 to 2024. In her role as Birmingham Diocesan Director of Education and Chair at Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, she oversees 52 schools in the Church of England diocese and her work has also included leading the project to setting up a new secondary Free School. Previously, she was Executive Headteacher of St John’s CE Primary School in Sparkbrook, rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, which she led successfullyfor eleven years. She has also served as Chair of Birmingham Local Authority Primary Forum supporting schools on their journey of school improvement.
Sharon Bell, Chief Executive of Services For Education, praised Sarah on her being awarded an MBE.
“Sarah has counselled and guided us for nearly a decade and made a significant contribution to our work supporting Birmingham schools and young people, as well education more widely. This is a great and well-deserved accolade. We cannot think of a more deserving recipient,” said Sharon at a meeting of the charity’s trustees.
Services For Education has an annual income of around £7m and is supported by The Arts Council, charitable donations and its commercial operations.
