Headteacher’s MBE is for ‘the school and the community’

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A headteacher who was made an MBE in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours has said the award is for the school and the community.

Nicola Davies, of Nant y Parc Primary in Senghenydd, began her educational career as a nursery nurse aged 18 before heading to university at the age of 30 to become a teacher.

Mrs Davies, who is now 48, has been headteacher at Nant y Parc Primary since 2014. In a 2019 inspection the school received an ‘Excellent’ rating across all five assessed areas.

Mrs Davies, who didn’t even tell her husband about the MBE until 30 minutes before the announcement, said: “To be awarded an MBE is an honour for me but more importantly for our school and our community in Senghenydd.

“I initially thought about not accepting the award and I didn’t feel that I had done anything different to anyone else in education – I just do my job.

“I have always enjoyed supporting pupils and staff to achieve excellence and realise their ambition through my many roles in education. I feel so proud to be the headteacher at Nant-y-Parc and I have the privilege of working with so many dedicated and inspirational colleagues on a daily basis.

“The children in Nant-y-Parc are thrilled and I would like to thank all of the parents, carers and communities I have worked with over the years for their support.”

In what has been a turbulent 15 months or so, Mrs Davies, who helped lead a keyworker hub last year, said her pupils have coped well with the pandemic. Recent emphasis has been to reassure everyone that school is safe with the right measures in place.

She added: “I am doing no more than my job – I feel everybody should have this same award.”

Despite her modesty, Mrs Davies has been rightly praised for her work.

Aber Valley ward councillor John Roberts, who is a governor at Nant y Parc, said: “Mrs Davies has done tremendously well.

“I’ve got loads of time for Mrs Davies. She’s hard-working and demanding, but fair. She’s done such a tremendous job and is always looking at ways to improve the school.

“The school logo says ‘No limits to learning’ – and Mrs Davies has taken this to heart.”

Cllr Roberts added: “Mrs Davies and all the staff, not just the teaching staff, do an excellent job. All pupils are given the same opportunities.”

Cllr Ross Whiting, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We are absolutely thrilled for Mrs Davies and I’m sure the whole community will join me on congratulating her on this achievement. She is dedicated to her school community and is thoroughly deserving of this honour.”