Devon School celebrates New Year’s Honour
STUDENTS and staff at the School for Inspiring Talents celebrate the start of 2023 with the news that its owner, Mark Escott, has been inducted into the King’s first New Year’s Honors Roll.
Mark co-founded the School for Inspiring Talents with Judith Johnson and Dave Strudwick in 2014. Mark was awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for his commitment to education.
In 2014 he founded the School for Inspiring Talents, an independent day school where specialized educational, therapeutic and support staff work together to create an enabling environment and work with young people and families who have experienced trauma.
The school now has campuses in Newton Abbot and Ashburton and supports nearly 70 children who travel from areas across South Devon to attend the specialist facility including Plymouth, Ivybridge, Exeter, Torbay and Dartmoor.
Mark, who lives in Exeter, says: “I feel very humbled by this news – it has already been a great journey for me, from being a troubled teenager and early school leaver to co-founding a school that actively supports children who have experienced trauma, and gives them opportunities to develop.
“I look forward to sharing this with my own children, but also with the students at the school; to show them that you really can achieve more than you ever thought possible.’
Hannah Moon, CEO of Life Chance Group, said: “Everyone here at Life Chance and the School for Inspiring Talents will be thrilled with this news; It is well-deserved recognition for Mark who has put so much time and enthusiasm into creating a nurturing school environment that allows children to have the very best support and opportunities, and helps young people who, like Mark, have been at risk to get through to slip the school network of general education.’
The full list of Devon recipients is:
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
dr Marcus Andrew Samuel, most recently Chief Executive of the North Sea Transition Authority. For services in the energy sector.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
dr Ross Hemingway, Civilian Doctor, Commando Training Center Royal Marines. For service to the Royal Marines. exeter
Members of the Order of the British Empire
Paulin Anne Barker, Founder of Devon and Cornwall Wild Swimming. From Plymouth. For swimming services in South West England.
Julie Hawker, Joint Chief Executive Officer, Cosmic. For business services. From Exeter.
dr Keith Hiscock of Plymouth, a marine biologist for services to marine conservation.
Nicholas John Millington from Exmouth, Director Safety Task Force, Network Rail. Awarded for services to the railways and NHS during Covid-19.
Mark Victor Peter Ruston of Torquay, Inspector with Devon and Cornwall Police, for services to the police.
Richard Charles Barrington Stevens of Plymouth, Managing Director of Go South West for services to the transport and community of Plymouth.
Medalist of the Order of the British Empire
Angela Marie Bennett of Plymouth for her volunteer service in the Plymouth community.
Andrea Dawn Corrie from Tiverton, a water safety activist, for her contributions to water safety in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
Anthony Marc Cussen of Plymouth for his services to Plymouth charity and the community.
Mark Clive Escott from Exeter for his services to education in the South West.
Kerry Ann James from Plymouth. Nurse, Plymouth Councilor, for Nursing Services.
Reverend Innocent Nathan Kiyaga of Torquay. Chairman of the Examination Board of Devon and Cornwall, School Chaplain, St Cuthbert Mayne School, and Area Dean, Church of England, Torbay. For services to the community in Devon and Cornwall.
Alison Jane Kohler of Newton Abbot, most recently Director of Conservation and Communities, at Dartmoor National Park. For conservation services in Devon.
Julia Margaret Meredith of Budleigh Salterton for services to the community in Budleigh Salterton, Exeter and East Devon.
Zoe Elizabeth Sayers from Plymouth for her services to the Kent community during Covid-19.
Marilyn (Marie) Jane Whitehead of Dawlish for her services to the Dawlish community.
