King’s Birthday Honours – Dr Martin Raby made an OBE

The honour was made as a testimony of Dr Raby’s services to higher education.

With a 155-year heritage in creative education, The Northern School of Art is the only specialist arts and design school in the North East.

The prestigious honour recognises Dr Raby’s leadership during a period of significant progress which has seen the school become one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of creative education.

Dr Martin Raby, Principal of the Northern School of Art, honoured with the OBE in recognition of his work in higher education (Image: The Northern School of Art)

During his 18-years as principal, the school secured degree awarding powers in 2024, enabling it to award its own qualifications for the first time in its history.

The school has also achieved the rare distinction of securing three successive Ofsted outstanding ratings for its Middlesbrough-based further education provision.

Students at The Northern School of Art celebrate ‘outstanding’ Ofsted recognition in February 2025 (Image: The Northern School of Art)

It has twice received an overall Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award, the highest rating awarded to a university or college by the Office for Students (OfS) in England, for its higher education provision in Hartlepool.

The Northern School of Art’s Hartlepool campus (Image: The Northern School of Art)

Dr Raby has also overseen the transformation of the school’s estate during the past decade, working closely with partners including Middlesbrough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Together they have delivered a purpose-built further education campus in Middlesbrough, substantial new teaching facilities in Hartlepool and the establishment of the Northern Film and TV Studios.

Backed by support from North East Screen, the commercial studios are playing an increasingly important role in attracting television and film production to the region.

It has created opportunities for students, alumni and crew returning to the North East.

Production activity is set to grow further through planned enhancements to the studios and the development of a production village, a collaborative project involving the school, Hartlepool Borough Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Screen.

Throughout his career, Dr Raby has championed social mobility through education, helping thousands of students from diverse backgrounds to access further and higher education, leading them to pursue careers in the creative industries.

Many of those successful students are the first in their families to progress into higher education or employment in the sector.

His contribution extends beyond the institution through support for regional regeneration, economic development and skills growth across Tees Valley and Hartlepool.

Through employer partnerships, civic leadership and a commitment to creative excellence, he has helped school to become a nationally recognised institution and an important anchor organisation supporting the future prosperity of the region.

Dr Raby, now OBE, said: “I’m delighted to receive this honour, which reflects the remarkable achievements of The Northern School of Art and the dedication of everyone associated with it.

“Whilst our key partners have been magnificent in the support that they have provided as we have transformed the school, what is truly special is the exceptional efforts of my colleagues, who are incredibly dedicated to supporting our students.

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“The real transformation is what our students can achieve by studying with us, growing as creative practitioners thanks to the quiet dedication of our staff teams, whether they are FE students, going on to undergraduate study, or our graduates, progressing to impressive careers in the creative industries.

“I could not wish for a better group of colleagues, and it is an honour to lead them, supported by talented governors, as the school continues on its trajectory of growth and development.”

The new OBE recipient pledged: “There is much more to come.”