CEO of a Chester-based Trust awarded an honour for outstanding service to education

The CEO of a Chester-based Trust was awarded an honour for his outstanding service to education, in His Majesty The King’s first New Year Honours List.

Steve Docking told The Prince of Wales that ‘people and positivity’ are key to North West Academies Trust’s success, when he was made an OBE at Windsor Castle. 

The CEO of the Chester-based Trust was awarded the honour for his outstanding service to education, in His Majesty The King’s first New Year Honours List. 

Prince William presented the awards, and the pair shared a memorable conversation about the work of the Trust, which Steve founded in 2011. 

He said: "Prince William was sharp, intelligent, and interested in what we do. He asked what our recipe for success is, and my response was ‘people and positivity’.  

“I explained how proud I am of the job we all do, how we all love coming to work, and how hard we all work for the children we serve.  

“I never thought anything like this would happen to me. It was a special day I’ll never forget. 

“As a Trust, we strive to make our schools the best they can be. Education changes lives, and the harder you work, the greater the power it has to transform.  

“Receiving an OBE demonstrates how the power of hard work and determination can make a real difference.” 

Steve, who lives in Chester, has taught in five different primary schools, and held three Headteacher positions. 

After being appointed Headteacher at Delamere CE Primary in 2005, he saved the school from closure and then helped earn an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. 

When Steve founded NWAT, Delamere became the smallest school ever to convert to an Academy.  

Over the past decade, NWAT has grown from 42 pupils to 2,500 across Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East and Shropshire.  

The Trust now oversees the running of nine primary schools and one secondary school. All are rated Good or Outstanding.

Steve was accompanied by his parents, partner Wenda and their daughter Nancy, at Windsor Castle. 

He added: “I told Prince William about my son Frankie, who plays water polo for Great Britain. He said he loves water polo and wishes he still played. I was incredibly proud when he asked my son’s name. 

“It was an incredible experience. It was great to meet Lionesses stars Lucy Bronze and Beth Meade, my childhood football hero Luther Blissett, and Ben Francis, owner of Gymshark. 

“It was humbling to meet Pauline Hudgell and her adopted son Tony - the young boy who had his legs amputated due to abuse he suffered as a child and raised £1.7m for Evelina Children’s Hospital during lockdown. 

“Being bestowed with this honour will drive me to help make the Trust, and all that we do, even bigger and better.  

“This award represents the hard work and determination our schools put into serving the children in their care, so I’d like to thank every member of staff who does so much.” 

Underpinned by Steve’s vision to ‘open children’s eyes to the wonderful world of possibility’, the Trust’s schools deliver outstanding education built on great academic achievement. Enrichment opportunities are a vital part of inspiring children toward their full potential. 

For more information about NWAT, email:

admin@northwestacademies.co.uk

.. or phone:

01244 566167