Oxford academic Kathy Sylva has been awarded an Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours for services to education.

Professor Sylva, who lives in Osney Island, is an American citizen and the award was not listed in the official records released yesterday.

A Harvard graduate, she is a fellow of Jesus College and Professor of Educational Psychology at the Department of Education Studies.

Her major interests are child care, early language and literacy studies.

She is a former specialist adviser to the House of Commons Select Committee on Education and the specialist adviser on early years education to the Scottish Parliament.