Long-standing Bradford school and education system leader recognised with national award
Long-standing Bradford headteacher and academy trust leader, David Horn has received a national award for his services to the schools’ sector.
Mr Horn, who took on the headship of the Beckfoot School in 1997, before leading ten schools across the city as CEO of the Beckfoot Trust, received the award at the Forum Strategy annual national conference of academy trust Chief Executives in Nottingham today. Mr. Horn retired from his role as Chief Executive earlier this Summer. The conference, chaired by Maggie Farrar included speakers such as Ben Page CEO of Ipsos Mori, Mark Russell CEO of The Children’s Society and Liz Williams MBE, Social Mobility Commissioner.
Mr. Horn’s leadership of Beckfoot was judged to be outstanding by Ofsted in 2014, with the report describing his “implacable focus on getting the very best possible outcomes for students” and how this was proving to be “highly effective”. He notably led the development of the ground-breaking Bradford Partnership, an agreed approach to Bradford schools supporting one another and working together. As Chair, he pioneered the principles of school-to-school support, ensured that schools shared information, ideas, data, training and best practice and that they stopped competing and started to support one another. This was innovative and transformational and seen nationally as a model of best practice. It was also an early example of the principles of system leadership.
Presenting the award, Michael Pain CEO of Forum Strategy, said: “David’s success, not only in leading his own schools as a trust leader, but in supporting and encouraging other school leaders – particularly those new to the profession – with generosity and a commitment to securing success for all pupils, helped inspire the culture of collaborative improvement between schools that is now widespread in the trust system today. David has undoubtedly left a hugely positive legacy to school leaders, teachers and pupils across his city and it is only right that we mark this outstanding career and contribution to our education system.”
Previous recipients of the award have included former Yorkshire headteacher and CEO, Ros McMullen: Tony Blair celebrates ‘pioneer’ head Ros McMullen (schoolsweek.co.uk)
Documents from today’s National #TrustLeaders CEO Conference, currently available:
Michael Pain’s Keynote Speech to the National #TrustLeaders CEO Conference 2021
