New Year Honours 2023: OBE for Coventry special needs champion

Adam Boddison was chief executive of the National Association for Special Educational Needs for six years

A Coventry man has been appointed an OBE for services to children with special educational needs.

Prof Adam Boddison was chief executive of the National Association for Special Educational Needs for six years, after working as a teacher.

He said one of his biggest achievements was getting the government to see the need for early identification.

Mr Boddison said the award was a "massive shock" and he had almost deleted an email telling him the news.

"I'm always very suspicious when someone sends you an email with an attachment, saying you've won an award," he said.

'Funding a huge issue'

Once he got over the surprise, he said he was "very humbled" by the OBE and believed it reflected on the work of a lot of people within the organisation.

When he started at the National Association for Special Educational Needs he said "I wouldn't have described myself as as an expert" and admitted he had learnt a lot over the six years.

He also helped increase the number of members from about 4,000 to 40,000, but said a lot of challenges remained for families of children with additional needs.

"Funding is a huge issue," he said, and while more families were able to access support, "the amount of money in the system is insufficient".

He believes there are also "disincentives to be inclusive" for schools, because the money is not there for schools which try to help more children.

Mr Boddison moved on to become chief executive of the Association for Project Management a year ago, seeking a fresh challenge, but said he "could have stayed for life" in his old role.

Other honours recipients from Coventry and Warwickshire include:

• Prof Robert Dover, from Leamington Spa, chairman of the Advanced Propulsion Centre, appointed a CBE for services to the automotive industry

• Jessica Hudson, from Berkswell, appointed MBE for services to the community in Coventry

• Aston Moore, of Rugby, a coach for British Athletics, is made an MBE for services to athletics

• Bhavena Patel, from Coventry, is appointed MBE for services to further education

• Ian Hares, from Kenilworth, who was CEO of UK Asset Resolution, is appointed an OBE for services to the financial sector

• Diane Hill, from Coventry, an employment tribunal lay panel member, is appointed an OBE for services to the administration of justice

• Joanne Amy Horne, from Stratford-upon-Avon, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Stratford-upon-Avon

• Robert Johnston, from Coventry, the technical services manager at the University of Warwick, is awarded a BEM for services to physics

• Douglas Shorter, a Scout leader from Nuneaton, is awarded a BEM for services to young people in Warwickshire