SCHOOL chiefs have paid tribute to a “visionary” leader after he was named in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Gareth Moss joined other locals set to be honoured after confirmation will receive an MBE for services to education.
He has been involved in governance at John Taylor High School for more than two decades, initially as part of the local governing body and also as chair of the school’s finance committee.
Gareth later worked alongside John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust CEO Mike Donoghue OBE to prepare the school to become the first in Staffordshire to become an academy.
He became the founding chair of the trust board, supporting the
growth from one school to 20 before stepping down in 2023 to focus on his corporate roles.
Current chair of the trust board, Colin Hopkins MBE, said:
“Gareth is a real pioneer in education, whose visionary leadership of the governance of John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust from its early days has been the catalyst of its successful development into one of the strongest trusts in the Midlands.
“His entire focus has been to ensure that our schools are happy, inclusive places where all pupils are celebrated, and no-one is left behind.
“Gareth has given his time selflessly over many years to supporting young people, and his MBE is very richly deserved.”
Gareth, who currently works at Nottinghamshire County Council and has previously been finance director at the chartered institute of public finance and accountancy, said:
“One of the guiding principles of the trust has been our focus on the best teaching and learning, to provide students with the foundations to make a difference with
their lives. To have that recognised in this way is indeed an honour and I am delighted.
“Serving the trust has been both hard work but a pleasure, and it makes me proud to see the success continue.”
