Celebrations have poured in for a Worcester teacher named in the New Year’s Honours.

Pete Hines, the headteacher of Perryfields Primary Pupil Referral Unit, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Since the King’s New Years Honours List was revealed on December 30, Mr Hines has been flooded with messages of congratulations.

Former colleague Annabel Young said: “Brilliant! I worked with Pete years ago at Sion Hill and he was outstanding then.”

READ MORE: Worcester headteacher named in King's New Year's Honours list 2023

Worcester News: Pete Hines has been awarded an OBE for services to educationPete Hines has been awarded an OBE for services to education (Image: Perryfields Primary PRU)

Gaynor Maritza, who knows Mr Hines from his role as a rugby coach, added: “OMG Pete that's fantastic news, well done and congratulations, you must be super proud of this.

“It is no wonder though you made an awesome rugby coach too! Keep up the fabulous teaching and being that super caring and compassionate guy you are.”

Ian Griffiths, whose child attended Perryfields, said: “Very deserved award my son did a six-week referral at Perryfields before specialist school and loved it and only said good things about Pete.”

Another wellwisher, Katrina Kear-Wood, added: “Absolutely deserved by you Pete, your team and for the passion of supporting inclusion, understanding the individual and believing small differences really do matter. 

“Keep on sharing the message, every child really does matter, we all have a part to play and today is a new day, a new start and each and every child has a place.”

Mr Hines has been awarded the OBE for services to education, having joined Perryfields in 2005.

He has served as headteacher of the school, which supports children in south Worcestershire who are at risk of permanent exclusion from mainstream schools, for the last ten years.

Since Mr Hines took over as headteacher, it has been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted on four consecutive occasions.

Perryfields, on Glebe Close, also serves as a lead school in the Department for Education’s national behaviour hubs programme, meaning Mr Hines and his colleagues provide support to schools across the country in a bid to improve their behaviour culture.

"I am humbled and honoured to be receiving this award and would like to thank the incredible team of people who have been part of the Perryfields success story over the last 20 years,” said Mr Hines.

“I am proud of the hard work, dedication and determination of all of the pupils, staff and governors past and present and very grateful to Worcestershire Children First for their support.

“Nothing I have achieved can or has been done in isolation, so I accept the award on behalf of us all."