537:, at its Southbank International School had systematically sexually abused at least 60 pupils at the school over a period of years. Vahey taught at the school from 2009 to 2013. Woodhead was the chairman of the school board. Hugh Davies QC, who was appointed to look into the scandal stated that at the school, "The structures of governance did not deliver effective supervision of those with operational responsibility for child protection," and that child protection policies were not "fully understood and/or implemented" and there was a lack of training among the school's child protection officers.
411:, with little resemblance to actual classroom practices. Woodhead most prominently identified weaknesses in schools with poor teaching and repeatedly asserted this view. Amongst his controversial remarks he claimed there were "15,000 incompetent teachers" and "I am paid to challenge mediocrity, failure and complacency". His blunt approach gained him many enemies, especially in the teaching profession.
38:
486:, a company that owns and runs independent schools. Woodhead and Cognita were reported in the press as having expelled pupils, and were accused of "milking profits", and dismissing a whistleblower who accused the company of allowing ineligible teachers to participate in the state run Teachers' Pension Scheme.
575:
and campaigned for an assisted dying law: "The problem with MND is that it just gets worse, which means everything becomes a matter of timing. If I knew that the choice of an assisted death at home was a reality it would bring me great comfort and happiness." Woodhead died in London on 23 June 2015,
406:
By this time, Woodhead advocated "traditional teaching methods" and took a scornful view of "progressive educational theories" introduced into
English schools from the 1960s onwards. Supporters claimed that Woodhead was a radical reformer willing to tackle the failings of the education system and
370:
In 1976, he left teaching, and subsequently moved into teacher education. He worked as a tutor on the
Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) teacher training course at the University of Oxford and held a number of posts in education development, including Deputy Chief Education Officer in
563:
published on 3 May 2009, he stated publicly that he would prefer to end his own life than suffer the indignities of the final stages of the disease; in an interview he stated, "The truth is that I would be more likely to drive myself in a wheel-chair off a cliff in
Cornwall than go to
511:
Later, Woodhead lived with Amanda
Johnston, a former pupil of Gordano School, for nine years. They insisted that their relationship had begun after they had left the school but his former wife disputed this version of events and stated that she had been asked to consider a
407:
only encountering the defensiveness of the educational establishment. Critics argued that he was generating poor morale, rarely identified successes in schools, and that the "progressive teaching" he attacked was a
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government came to power in 1997 there was much political pressure to replace
Woodhead, either immediately or when his initial term expired in 1998, but instead he was retained and his appointment renewed by
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In 1999, he was heavily criticised for saying pupil–teacher relationships could be 'experiential and educative on both sides'; he later said he thought his remarks had been off the record.
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Woodhead met his wife, Cathy (née
Greenaway), at Bristol, married in 1969 and had a daughter in 1975, his only child. Shortly afterwards he left home and they divorced in September 1976.
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newspapers. Subsequently, he stated that he felt the school-inspection system was now in a strong position and that he "felt unable to defend some aspects of government policy". In 2002
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1099:"His ex-wife says he's a liar. Teachers hate him. Few people believe his version of events. So why is the government so determined to save Chris Woodhead?"
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475:, a damning verdict on the systemic failures of British education, was published. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed a Professor of Education at the
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was failing and required special measures. According to the head of the school at the time, "the consequences for staff and pupils were catastrophic".
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479:. He continued to speak out in public on many issues relating to education at both school and university level, often provoking great controversy.
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311:, on 20 October 1946. His father was an accountant, and his mother a school secretary; he was an only child. He went to Selsdon Primary School on
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from 1994 to 2000, and was one of the most controversial figures in debates on the direction of
English education policy. He was Chairman of
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as Head of
English. During this period, he was noted for his espousal of "progressive" educational ideology, which he later recanted.
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383:(1990–1). From 1991 to 1993 he was chief executive of the National Curriculum Council, and also of the SCAA from 1993 to 1994 (the
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with
Johnson when the latter was just 17, a claim in which she was supported by a number of Woodhead's colleagues at Gordano and
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1174:"As Chris Woodhead says, pupil-teacher sex is indeed "experiential". But so are war, crime and serious illness"
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Woodhead enjoyed running and rock climbing until he was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative condition
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Curthoys, Mark (2019). "Woodhead, Sir
Christopher Anthony (Chris) (1946–2015), schools inspector".
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Cognita became embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal when it emerged that one of its teachers,
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in English from Keele University in 1974. His final teaching position was at
1304:"Chris Woodhead 'considering suicide' after motor neurone disease diagnosis"
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Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills
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299:, a company dedicated to fostering private education, from 2004 to 2013.
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Expulsion row hits ex-Ofsted chief Sir Chris Woodhead's schools empire
1227:"I'm desperately sorry, says head who hired paedophile William Vahey"
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A Desolation of Learning: Is this the education our children deserve?
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708:"Bristol University - Department of English - Department of English"
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from 1972 to 1974 as assistant Head of English. He obtained a
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He married again in 2006, to Christine Kensett, and lived in
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Chittenden, Maurice; Carr-Brown, Jonathon (25 April 1999).
846:"Woodhead overrode inspectors to fail improving school"
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and speak to a bearded social worker about my future."
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On 2 November 2000 Woodhead announced his resignation.
1285:"Blairs Mr Education Chris Woodhead considers suicide"
899:"Free schools: private firm Cognita 'milked profits'"
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People educated at Wallington County Grammar School
403:(OFSTED), the schools inspection service, in 1994.
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Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England
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1073:"Woodhead lied about sex with pupil, reveals wife"
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614:The Times 3 February 1997 Valerie Grove interview
339:Woodhead briefly worked as an English teacher at
323:in Surrey. Later, he graduated in English at the
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1330:, dignityindying.org.uk; accessed 23 June 2015.
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287:(20 October 1946 – 23 June 2015) was a British
1369:General Register Office for England and Wales
749:"Sir Chris Woodhead, Ofsted chief - obituary"
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16:Former teacher and Chief Inspector of Schools
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666:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1512:Deaths from motor neuron disease in England
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385:School Curriculum and Assessment Authority
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1492:Academics of the University of Buckingham
523:He was previously in a relationship with
473:Class War: The State of British Education
341:Wallington County Grammar School for Boys
307:Christopher Anthony Woodhead was born in
1403:The public view on his departure in 2000
1360:"DOR Q2/2015 in WESTMINSTER (258-1A)"
1341:"Former school inspector Woodhead dies"
663:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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389:Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
1272:(Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 1.
991:"The loves and lies of Chris Woodhead"
694:"Selsdon Primary School & Nursery"
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844:Smithers, Rebecca (4 February 2005).
672:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.110531
520:, who knew the Woodheads in Bristol.
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482:In 2004 Woodhead became chairman of
1537:Schoolteachers from Gloucestershire
1502:Alumni of the University of Bristol
1097:Aitkenhead, Decca (22 April 1999).
1046:"Education Minister backs Woodhead"
872:"Reader's Digest - British Edition"
459:He was employed as a columnist for
399:Woodhead was appointed head of the
1225:Booth, Robert (27 November 2014).
496:He was on the Advisory Council of
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1200:"Education Pupil sex row deepens"
401:Office for Standards in Education
343:. Subsequently, he taught at the
1153:"In full cry for a head to roll"
989:Bright, Martin (11 April 1999).
926:, The Guardian, 28 October 2012.
814:Barry Jones (27 November 1997).
774:Pearson, Alison (3 March 2001).
321:Wallington County Grammar School
285:Sir Christopher Anthony Woodhead
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897:Daniel Boffey (10 April 2011).
443:obtained information using the
375:(1988–90), as well as posts in
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1283:Griffiths, Sian (3 May 2009).
1244:Booth, Robert (31 July 2014).
1130:"Meet the real Chris Woodhead"
1071:Hugill, Barry (7 March 1999).
1018:"Meet the real Chris Woodhead"
776:"Meet the real Chris Woodhead"
559:in 2006. In an interview with
1:
1517:English educational theorists
816:"Islington Green High School"
504:Personal life and controversy
489:In May 2009 his second book,
351:from 1969 to 1972, moving to
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1542:Schoolteachers from Somerset
1302:Paton, Graeme (3 May 2009).
680:UK public library membership
145:Christopher Anthony Woodhead
552:for services to education.
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1497:Alumni of Keele University
1321:Christopher Woodhead Quote
445:Freedom of Information Act
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1394:His departure as seen by
937:"Pencil-Sharp Publishing"
630:. Cognita. Archived from
571:Woodhead was a patron of
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1371:. Entry Number 512221029
477:University of Buckingham
823:Her Majesty's Inspector
353:Newent Community School
1507:British civil servants
976:, accessed 15 May 2011
825:. London: The Guardian
755:. London. 23 June 2015
449:Islington Green School
387:later replaced by the
327:, where he obtained a
557:motor neurone disease
550:2011 Birthday Honours
325:University of Bristol
265:University of Bristol
972:26 July 2011 at the
309:Southgate, Middlesex
200: 1969;
158:Southgate, Middlesex
30:Christopher Woodhead
1532:People from Croydon
1326:1 July 2013 at the
1308:The Daily Telegraph
1180:. The New Statesman
1022:The Daily Telegraph
878:on 11 December 2004
803:. 12 February 1999.
780:The Daily Telegraph
462:The Daily Telegraph
421:Education Secretary
46:interview, May 1999
1464:Sir Mike Tomlinson
1443:Stewart Sutherland
1365:GRO Online Indexes
1269:The London Gazette
1016:Pearson, Allison.
576:at the age of 68.
437:In February 2005,
241: 1970s–1980s
126:Sir Mike Tomlinson
114:Stewart Sutherland
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1461:Succeeded by
1178:The New Statesman
1140:on 22 April 2013.
1052:. 7 February 1999
678:(Subscription or
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236:Amanda Johnston (
212:Christine Kensett
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414:When the
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