An outstanding teacher who has been instrumental in making a girls’ school among the best in Hackney has been made an MBE

Judy Miln, deputy head of Clapton Girls’ Academy, has been teaching maths at the Laura Place school for 25 years and exam results have rocketed under her watch.

The Stoke Newington mother-of-three, who won Hackney Teacher of the Year in 2002, has now been recognised by the Queen for her services to education.

She said she was “so excited, overwhelmed and proud” to have received the letter about the New Year’s honour, and said she prided herself on being a role model to young girls in showing them that women can be successful in maths.

Of her role, she added: “I’m really lucky as I was one of those people that found education right at the beginning, so I’ve been teaching since I was 23. I love maths teaching, and those ‘light bulb’ moments where students suddenly understand and say: ‘well, that was easy’, and knowing that it was easy because I’ve explained it well. It’s a lovely moment.”