Sir Peter Birkett

An innovator and educational pioneer, Sir Peter Birkett has been an important presence in the fields of education, business and charity for more than three decades. Sir Peter’s achievements were recognised with a Knighthood in 2012, which was awarded as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Birthday Honours for Services to Further Education, Schools and the Academy Movement. In 2007, Sir Peter Birkett created the UK’s first college-led federation – made up of one further education college, two primary academies, two secondary academies and three vocational skills academies – which, under his leadership, moved from the bottom of the league table to the top and greatly improved educational services nationally. The success of Sir Peter’s first college-led federation has provided a model that has been widely adopted throughout the UK and beyond.