Ivy Chair of Trustees awarded MBE
We are proud to announce that Deborah Thompson, Chair of the Trust Board at Ivy Learning Trust, has been awarded an MBE for her unwavering commitment to ensuring children receive the best possible education.
Deborah, who was named in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025, has directly contributed to the education of tens of thousands of children in Enfield for more than 50 years. She has also inspired and supported hundreds of teachers, collaborating with them to raise standards for every child.
Deborah began her education career in 1974 when she joined Enfield County School as a teacher. She moved into primary teaching and leadership in 1989 and later worked as Head of School Improvement at Enfield Council, before retiring in 2016.
In 2017, Deborah became Chair of the Trust Board at Ivy Learning Trust, a new multi-academy trust. Under her leadership, the Trust grew from two schools to 17.
Matthew Kleiner-Mann, CEO of Ivy Learning Trust, says: “I have known Deborah for 17 years and she was invaluable in coaching me through my first years of headship. When Ivy Learning Trust was formed, there was only one person I could think of who had the integrity, knowledge and strategic foresight to lead and grow a Trust, and that was Deborah. Under her leadership, we have taken two schools out of special measures and all schools inspected have been Good or Outstanding.”
Matthew adds: “Deborah is a truly outstanding educator who will stop at nothing to ensure that all children get the best possible education because she believes there is nothing more fundamental to improving a child’s life chances. The legacy of her work, passion and commitment can be seen across Enfield and beyond.”
Matt Miller has worked with Deborah since 2012, when he was appointed as a National Leader of Governance. He says: “Deborah has inspired a generation of educationalists to challenge standards and expectations and to remove barriers and misconceptions particularly around the life chances of disadvantaged young people.
“The impact of her work helped change cultures, with whole school communities buying into her philosophy that all children and young people, irrespective of background, can succeed in life. As a consequence, she was inspirational in levelling up the performance of pupils across a great many schools in Enfield.”
Nearly a decade after retiring, Deborah is continuing to make a difference. A busy grandmother-of-seven, she is still Chair of the Trust Board at Ivy Learning Trust and also a governor at two other schools in Enfield.
Deborah says: “I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw the official looking correspondence from the Cabinet Office on my doormat and it was an incredible shock to read that I had been awarded an MBE. It is an honour, but also a reflection of the many dedicated people who work tirelessly to give children the education they deserve. It has been a privilege to inspire and support children and to work in, and with, schools in Enfield over the past 50 years.”