A Caerphilly county borough Principal has been awarded an MBE for services to Special Education in Wales.
Ian Elliott, Principal at Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre in Ystrad Mynach, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.
Mr Elliott, 48, who lives in Abercynon, has worked in Special Education for 25 years. He was schooled at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School and was trained at Gwent College of Higher Education, where he gained a degree in Special Needs Education. In 2009 he received a Masters in Education Leadership and Management, passing with distinction.
He said: “You hear of people getting these awards, but you don’t ever think it will be you.
“My view is that it’s my day job that I’m paid to do, I never expected this.
“I’m still on cloud nine. It’s a great honour for me, but it’s also a great honour for Special Education as a whole – an area of education that does not always get the recognition it deserves.”
Mr Elliott was nominated for the award by his previous school Ysgol Penmaes in Brecon, where he tripled pupil numbers and oversaw a move to a new building during his 12-year tenure as headteacher.
He added: “When I received the letter in November notifying me that I was being considered for an MBE the feeling I had was one of disbelief.
“I didn’t hear anything after the letter in November. I was away in Barbados at Christmas, and it was only on January 2 when I started receiving congratulatory emails that I realised I’d actually been awarded an MBE. People had seen it in the papers – it was almost as if they knew before I did! It was quite surreal, but since then it’s been a lovely journey.
“To all those people who supported my nomination I give them my heartfelt thanks. I am truly overwhelmed and humbled.”
Cllr Harry Andrews, leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “On behalf of everyone at Caerphilly County Borough Council, I would like to extend my congratulations to Ian Elliott on the award of his MBE.
“This well-deserved honour is recognition of the work Ian has carried out at special schools across south and mid Wales over more than two decades. We are delighted to have Ian as Principal at Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre in Ystrad Mynach.”