Kim James awarded MBE for Oxfordshire County Council work

Kim James, from Wantage, has been awarded in the King’s Honours for services to education.

The head of ‘School Improvement and Learning’ at the authority said she is ‘deeply moved and humbled’ to be recognised in the list.

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She said: “I am but a small part of a fantastic team of people who are all focused on improving outcomes for the pupils across Oxfordshire.

Kim James (Image: n/a)

“I accept this honour on behalf of everyone who works in Education; teaching assistants, school office staff, teachers, senior leaders, heads and school governors.”

Ms James has spent the majority of her 36-year teaching and senior leadership career in Oxfordshire secondary schools including St Birinus Boys school in Didcot, Gillotts School in Henley and Fitzharrys School in Abingdon.

In 2008, she joined Hampshire County Council as an inspector/adviser working across the primary, secondary and special schools.

In 2013, she became part of a team of Hampshire leaders, seconded to the Isle of Wight to help raise attainment in schools. Three years later, she was promoted to lead school improvement on the Island.

In 2018, Ms James returned to the Oxfordshire County Council where she leads School Improvement, Governor Services, Early Years and the Virtual School.

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Throughout the pandemic, she led the authority’s education Covid-19 response team, supporting schools, colleges and Early Years Leaders.   

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This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @geeharland