Educators given top marks for dedicated lessons

More Birthday Honours

But today her career has been given national recognition as she becomes a Dame in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

The 55-year-old headteacher leads two inner-city primaries, performs inspections for Ofsted and has helped to raise standards at schools across Bradford.

Her leadership and drive have been singled out by Ofsted and her school Copthorne is rated as outstanding.

Copthorne Primary serves one of the most deprived areas of the city but Mrs Zaffar says its staff do not allow this to become a barrier to children learning.

"We just build on what each child brings to the school," she said. "We have a fantastic relationship with our community and I would never want to work anywhere else. Bradford is a fantastic place."

Mrs Zaffar, who is originally from Kenya but moved to Bradford when she was 12, added: "I am thrilled to have been given this honour. I never thought for a second that this would happen. I simply could not believe it when I found out."

She is one of several people from the region to be recognised for their work in education in today's honours list.

Marcia Hutchinson, from Huddersfield, has received an MBE for her work promoting diversity in schools.

Her success can be traced back to a decision she took more than 13 years ago to quit her job as a lawyer to publish her own children's books.

Her company, Primary Colours, now produces learning packs for school, performs theatre in education to teach pupils about diversity and delivers teacher training.

"When I was opening the envelope I just thought it was going to be a bill but I when I saw what it was I burst into tears," she said. "When you are working in the voluntary sector you are just beavering away thinking nobody is noticing what you do, so this is wonderful."

Jeanette Dawson, the principal at Bishop Burton College, near Beverley, has been awarded an OBE for her services to land-based further and higher education.

Mrs Dawson, who has led the college for seven years, said they have had to work hard to allow young people to keep pace with the technological changes in agriculture.

She added: "I am shocked and honoured and I can't believe I would have received this award without the support of colleagues and governors."

Other OBE recipients include Grace Owen Nursery School's headteacher Jean Jones, from Sheffield, for her services to early years education.

Gillian Westerman, from Sheffield, has been given a CBE for her services to adult learning as principal and chief executive of the Northern College for Residential Adult Education in Barnsley, while Joan Westerman, the manager of Leeds University's Logik Centre, which offers staff new learning opportunities has been made an MBE.

MBEs have also been awarded to Joan Brier, the chairman of corporation at Rotherham College, John Duggan from Huddersfield University of the Third Age and Alex Pettifer, Sheffield Hallam University's director of estates and facilities.