Martin Roberts was the head of The Cherwell School in north Oxford for 22 years from 1980.
He managed its evolution from a secondary modern school with 300 pupils to a comprehensive school with 1,800 pupils by the time he retired.
Inspectors for OFSTED (the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) deemed the Cherwell ‘outstanding’ - the first school to receive such an accolade in Oxfordshire.
Mr Roberts’ vision, drive and managerial skills, with support from carefully selected management teams and specialist staff, along with successive governing bodies and hugely supportive parents and Oxford residents, produced outstanding results in university entrances, and in music and drama, in art and in sport.
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There were regular entrants for Oxbridge entrance examinations but above all, the school posted consistently high ‘added value’ results, enabling students from all backgrounds to achieve their greatest potential, and a life-long love of training and education.
Mr Roberts’ reputation as an education expert extended beyond Oxford.
He served and advised on national bodies and in Europe, particularly with regard to his many published books and articles on modern history, including histories on Pakistan and African countries, that are still in use .
Local affairs always interested Martin, and this interest developed following his retirement in 2002 - particularly those affecting north Oxford and Summertown.
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He was the founding chairman of the local Neighbourhood Forum, tasked by central government to construct a Local Plan for the development and evolution of facilities and buildings in and around Summertown, including, a particular interest of Martin’s, the greening of the spaces between the buildings.
Mr Roberts' family was hugely important to him both personally and as his anchor for his professional life.
He is survived by his wife Diana, who had her own distinguished career in social services at County Hall, and she was a constant support to him.
He is also survived by his son and daughter, Tom and Sarah and grandchildren Ben, Lauren, Aidan, Emily and Jazmin.
Mr Roberts’ funeral was held at North Oxfordshire Crematorium on December 4. He died aged 80 on November 7.
Following the service, a celebration of Mr Roberts’ life was held at Cherwell School in Marston Ferry Road.
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Mike Gotch, a former governor at the school, and a city councillor until May last year, paid tribute to Mr Roberts’ time as headteacher and said his contribution to local education was ‘outstanding’.
He added: “I was chairman of governors at Cherwell School for 10 years and a governor for 18 years, and governor of three other Oxford schools.
“And that experience confirms the opinion of many.
“Martin Roberts was outstanding in his contribution to community education in Oxfordshire.”
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