Ava Sturridge-Packer CBE is a National Leader of Education and her  school is a National Support School. She is Head of St Mary's Church of England Primary School in Handsworth Birmingham, which was put into Special Measures in 1996. She was successful in leading the school out of Special Measures in 1998. She was awarded a CBE for services to education in 2000. She has been a member of the Birmingham Anglican Diocesan Board of Education for the last 10 years. She regularly works for the National College of School Leadership and is a member of a Primary Reference Group. As well as being the Head Teacher at St Mary's, she has supported leadership teams in a number of schools both within Birmingham and other local authorities. This includes schools that are in 'Special Measures’. Ava is a national judge for the Teaching Awards and is currently being trained as an associate OFSTED inspector.