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Andria Zafirakou MBE

2019 | New Year Honours

Andria Zafirakou MBE, Associate Deputy Head, Alperton Community School. For services to Education and Young People in Brent

Andria Zafirakou received an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2019. She was the first British Winner of the Global Teacher Prize – a $1m award for an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. Her commitment to students takes myriad forms, from forming a boxing club where children can channel their energy, to patrolling the streets outside the school to deter gang members from attempting to recruit her students. She redesigned the curriculum with the help of colleagues to ensure it would engage all her students. She worked with an artist to inspire pupils to confront and draw upon their complex home circumstances. As a result, Alperton was awarded specialist school status in visual arts.