Melvyn Roffe

Bristol-based Clifton College Education Group’s chief executive Melvyn Roffe has been awarded an MBE for services to education and to the community in Edinburgh in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

The award is recognition for his 10-year leadership of one of the UK’s largest independent schools, George Watson’ College in Edinburgh, and for his role in delivering community education partnerships in Scotland.

In his role at George Watson’s College, Roffe has supported several community projects which focused on improving access to education in Scotland. This includes the formation of the Swire Chinese Language Centre which provides Mandarin Chinese lessons to state schools in Edinburgh and the Engineering and Computer Science in Edinburgh Schools project, which provides access to high-quality computing education. He was also chair of the Education Working Group which delivered the schools education programme for the Eric Liddell 100 project, which is a programme of events and activities in recognition of the Scottish Olympian.

During his time at Clifton College Education Group, Roffe has continued his work supporting community partnerships, both through the Bristol Education Partnership and more recently by linking with the Cabot Learning Foundation to give the young people of Bristol new pathways into careers, sport and the arts.

Roffe said “I am thrilled and humbled to be honoured in this way. For me, education has always been much more than just a career, as fulfilling as my career to date has been, so it means a great deal that this honour also recognises service to the community in Edinburgh. I have always been committed to the idea that young people are best educated in schools which are integral to their communities and that communities are stronger if they benefit from active citizens and strong institutions, including schools, working within them. In accepting this honour, I would like to pay tribute to all those who are working in state-funded and independent schools across the UK to make communities stronger and to secure better opportunities for young people.”

In August, Roffe will take over as head of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, a co-ed day and boarding school educating children aged three to 18.