Former South Shields headteacher receives MBE as part of the New Year's Honours list

The former headteacher of Harton Primary School, Karen Ratcliffe, has been named as part of the New Year’s Honours list.

Karen spent 36 years at the school, on East Avenue, in South Shields, before she retired in July 2024.

Now she is set to become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education as part of the honours list.

Mrs Ratcliffe started her career at Harton Primary in September 1988, when she was just a newly qualified teacher.

During her time at the school, she taught thousands of pupils, including the parents of many of the current pupils of Harton Primary.

She then went on to be instrumental in the design of the new building and the amalgamation of the infant and junior schools in 2010.

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The New Year’s Honours list also reveals that South Shields’ Marion Dudgen, a Newcastle Station Support Officer with British Transport Police, will become a BEM for services to transport policing.

Jason Sweeney, from Washington, will also receive a BEM for services to the community in Hebburn.