Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Reading University's Mr Impeccable

former senior education "has never had a difficult relationship" with Michael Gove said. And indeed, when he speaks, his phraseology seems eerily similar to that of the secretary of state, said Peter Wilby

is surprising to learn that Sir David Bell is still only 52. He was Director of Education, Newcastle, chief executive of Bedfordshire County Council, Ofsted chief and, more recently, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education. He is currently Chancellor of the University of Reading and may, as he says, "Home!" Call Bingo teaching position, "not bad for a man who began as an elementary school teacher in his hometown of Glasgow He received most of its jobs in the ridiculously early age:. A Deputy Head 26, with 29 years of leadership, direction 36. He does not believe that reading youngest president, but it should be the first to be formed as a primary teacher.

If you ask how he got these jobs, people will say it's because he is good at running things. These include, for example, a "capacity review" in the department of education conducted by the Cabinet Office during the term of Bell was "visible and decisive, interesting and inspiring." Or Ofsted verdict at Newcastle in 1999: that "significant improvement" in performance "largely as a result of" Bell's appointment four years ago. He did well as the permanent secretary, who was at one stage tipped to Cabinet Secretary.

But others are good handling things, and even Bell setbacks. In the department of education, for example, has accepted a position of responsibility when Michael Gove, the Secretary of State, left open to legal challenge on axeing school building projects, and clock Ofsted, the inspection was reprimanded for issuing a number of erroneous reports.

So maybe Bell is an authoritarian manner that has led so far. Everything he says seems balanced and measured - "I'm in great restraint", he explains - and the certainty and confidence from probably (although it is no longer a member of the church itself even) of his Scottish Protestant background. Estelle Morris, former Secretary of Education, Labor, describes him as "one of the quietest men I have ever met."

manners are impeccable. In his study of reading, with its panoramic views of the University Whiteknights Park, welcomes me with the firmest of handshakes, we are reminded of our previous meetings, introduced me to his assistants, and regularly cancel my appointment in their responses . You admire the smooth operation as you can see a Rolls-Royce. I learn from communications manager of the university, while the quality of applications for next fall are down 7% in general, reading a 10% increase. It can not have anything to do with Bell, who was in office only four weeks, but you can not help thinking that when he appears on stage, things go wrong inevitable.

In Ofsted, was often highly outspoken, criticizing the Labour government to reject the Tomlinson report's recommendation to scrap A-levels and GCSEs and lamenting the effects of "culture of destination "in schools. Permanent Secretaries, however, are not allowed to express controversial opinions in public, even after leaving work. So reports of tensions between him and Gove have never publicly confirmed. Bell has always been described as "close to New Labour", although no one would be so rude as to call a friend. When he left the Department of Education Christmas, the press reported a "difficult relationship" with Gove. "This is the title of knight, good references, you will" was a cause of his departure.

It should, however, that the responsibility is still a problem that has not been completely resolved and the future of local education authorities is uncertain. "It's a question of whether schools that the local authority provides such services. Local authorities must find a way to work with schools will continue to be relevant. As it should. The idea that the local authority should have the power because he is the local authority is that most people in today's education system would undermine ".

on schools, free schools and the possibility of allowing for-profit to run the schools (which has "no objection in principle" and he thinks he is likely to happen over time), Bell sometimes uses almost exactly the terms used Gove, but not biased political rhetoric. This may suggest to some that Bell has not lost the habit of echoing the voice of his master. It is more likely that this shows that Gove listened to the advice of his Permanent Secretary.

The perfect pitch
Bell understanding of how they should lead a Whitehall mandarin is all the more remarkable given his background is a world away from public schools and training Oxbridge traditionally associated with the paper. His grandfather was a guard at the Flying Scotsman and his father began as a purser on the Clyde steamer and later, white collar in the state of division of ownership of British Rail. As a child, Bell said, was more interested in football, reading and school work, but it was a complete novice in Glasgow, where bright young teachers inspired him to aspire to a teaching career. He took the history and philosophy at the University of Glasgow, living at home until he married his childhood sweetheart (who are still married and has two daughters who went to the public school) and teacher training in Jordanhill College of the City.


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