An OBE has been awarded in the New Year Honours List to the Chief Executive Officer of a Multi-Academy Trust which includes eight of the Diocese of York’s Church of England Primary Academies.
Nigel Ashley has served as CEO of Elevate Multi Academy Trust since its foundation in 2017; Elevate is a collection of 18 town and rural, faith and non-faith primary schools. Nine are Church of England primary academies of which all but one are in the Diocese of York; Hackness & Wykeham, Husthwaite, Knayton, Sessay, South Kilvington, Thornton Dale and Topcliffe.
Nigel served as headteacher of two schools before founding Elevate and has 25 years’ experience of leadership in education: “I am passionate about high-quality education with a relentless determination to improve outcomes for all, with the fundamental ambition to make sure that all pupils can aspire and achieve their full potential.
“While I’m very humbled by the honour I do also feel a little awkward as I’m just doing a job I really enjoy!”
In congratulating Nigel, Chair of York Diocesan Board of Education, Bishop of Whitby the Rt Revd Barry Hill, said, “Given Elevate’s commitment to ‘raising aspiration and achievement’, I’m sure this honour will highlight for students and staff alike the difference that hard work and inspirational leadership can make.”
Mari Palmer, newly in post as the Diocese of York’s Director of Education, said, “It is wonderful that Nigel’s long standing contribution to both the Elevate schools and the wider educational community has been recognised and this is a well deserved honour, illustrating the difference Nigel has made to many lives.”
Read more about Elevate at www.elevatemat.org
