King's Birthday Honours: Former St Luke's headteacher Krysia Butwilowska, later Portsmouth High chair of governors, is made an MBE
A former Portsmouth headteacher and later chair of governors has been recognised by the King
Krysia Butwilowska of Old Portsmouth has been made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
She has dedicated her life to education and was most recently the chair of governors at Portsmouth High School.
The nomination made for the honour told her story: “This is not a ‘rags to riches’ story but one which highlights that dreams can be realised and success achieved even from the most humble beginnings in Nissen huts. Mrs Krysia Butwilowska has given over 50 years’ loyal and unstinting service to the teaching profession; as an inspirational teacher, much respected headmistress and loyal and wise governance of schools across the UK. Through her dedication, and passion for young people to achieve their potential, Krysia is a remarkable and steadfast advocate of children’s education in the UK.
“In WW2 Krysia’s father, a citizen of Gdansk in Poland, served in the tank corp in the 8th Army under the command of General Alexander in North Africa and finally in Italy. He was then moved to Petworth in West Sussex to a displacement camp for Polish ex-servicemen and their families. Krysia started her teaching career in 1968 and was appointed her first substantive headteacher role in 1984. Her headships have included three independent girls’ schools, a Pupil Reform Unit in Swindon, which was in special measures at the time of her appointment, and various interim Headships of secondary schools, either to remove from special measures or to raise achievement.
“In 1999 Krysia was headhunted to take up the headteacher post of St Luke's CofE Comprehensive School in Portsmouth which had been placed in Special Measures. There had long been a cycle of deprivation in the city as Royal Navy activity had reduced, and many of the pupils came from families in which several generations had been unemployed or worked in unskilled jobs. This was a tough assignment given the socio-economic context of the school and over 50% of pupils having identified special needs. Academic achievement was the lowest in the city with extremely poor attendance. This was a school where once there had been a waiting list and in 1999 it was considered to be one to avoid. With supreme efforts from staff and pupils, and under the dynamic headship of Krysia, the school was released from measures in 2001 and was then named as second most improved school in the country in 2003. Krysia was determined and highly experienced. She used a variety of methods to persuade pupils of the value of learning and the worth of improving their own circumstances.
“Krysia also made a significant contribution to the development and improvement of education across the city by being a highly active member and chair of the school’s cross-phase Headteacher Conference, working closely with the City Council to improve education standards and the attainment of all pupils.
“Krysia went on to lead a wide range of other schools across the country, each of which benefitted from her outstanding leadership. Krysia has also taken on many voluntary roles including governor (and latterly chair of governors) at Portsmouth High School, GDST, Governor of Thinking Schools Academy Trust in Portsmouth, as well as Trustee of New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth, Trustee of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation and Director of the Royal Naval Club and Royal Yacht Club in Portsmouth.
“Krysia is truly deserving of a formal recognition for her outstanding service to education in Portsmouth and beyond.”