The head of physics at Simon Langton Boys’ Grammar School has been awarded an MBE.

Becky Parker gets the honour for encouraging record numbers of students to take up physics.

She is among a number of people from Kent recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Another recipient is Valerie Miller, librarian at Kent University, who gets the MBE for services to higher education.

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Mrs Parker, who also gets a honorary degree from Kent University later this year, said: “I feel extremely honoured to be given these awards. What is so exciting at the school is the fact that we are not just teaching physics, but involving students in original research.”

For full story on the local honours, see this week’s Kentish Gazette, out on Thursday.