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Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Professorship of Primary Education and a Professorship of Educational Leadership

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The strategic plan of the School of Education gives a high priority to the development of the School as a leading international centre for the study of teaching and learning in schools. It is already widely recognized by schools, local education authorities, and those responsible for the education of teachers as being of high standing in the areas of primary and secondary school teaching and learning, provision for special educational needs, and educational leadership for school improvement. In pursuing its strategy of achieving academic excellence, the School needs to strengthen its staffing establishment in two fields, which are of great importance to the current programmes of teaching and research. Furthermore, the retirement of Professor McIntyre and Professor Hargreaves, in 2004 and 2006 respectively, and the fact that only one of the Professorships in the School is permanently established, have highlighted the need for additional senior posts to carry forward the School's plan, and to enhance the School's rating in the next Research Assessment Exercise in 2001. Accordingly, the Faculty Board of Education have advised the General Board of the need for two new Professorships, in Primary Education and in Educational Leadership.

2. With respect to primary education, many national changes introduced in recent years, such as the National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy, have increased the need to provide support for, and investigation of, developments in primary schools. The School of Education is engaged in a number of successful research and development projects, such as the Essex Primary School Improvement project, and provides widespread support for primary school teachers and headteachers, through consultancy and through the provision of short courses, Advanced Diploma courses, and courses for the M.Ed. Degree. The Faculty's provision of initial primary school teacher education is recognized by OfSTED as being of outstanding quality.

3. The need for both initial and continuing professional education of primary school teachers will undoubtedly continue, and there is every expectation of increased demand for high quality scholarship and research in primary education. Through its close links with national bodies such as the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, and with local education authorities and schools throughout the eastern region, the School of Education already plays a leading role in meeting these needs, and is well placed to play an even more prominent role in future. Among its present strengths are those in education in the early years, in teaching and learning, in assessment, in school improvement, in literacy, and in primary school history. The Faculty Board of Education consider that the establishment of a Professorship of Primary Education would provide the necessary leadership to build on the School's present strengths, especially in its research and postgraduate teaching of primary education.

4. The School of Education's high standing in research and development in the area of educational leadership is reflected in its work in the professional education of headteachers and others in school leadership roles. For example the School, in collaboration with a consortium of local education authorities, was successful in its bid in 1996, and again in 1999, to be the Eastern Region Centre, providing professional education and assessment for the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers.

5. The creation by the Government of the National College for School Leadership reflects the growing national need both for high quality research and scholarship in this area, and for the professional education of headteachers and others who have leadership roles in schools. An important element of the strategic plan of the School of Education is that it should build on its established reputation in educational leadership and thereby seek to attract much of the work that will be sponsored by the new National College. Accordingly, the Faculty Board of Education are of the view that a Professorship of Educational Leadership is necessary, not only to achieve this goal, but also to support the teaching programme and to expand the School's research base in this area.

6. In order to meet the cost of these two new offices, the Faculty Board have proposed that three vacant University Lectureships in the School of Education should be suppressed; these are the offices that became vacant on 1 October 1997 on the resignation of Dr G. W. Southworth, on 1 October 1998 on the resignation of Dr M. Dadds, and on 1 September 1999 on the resignation of Dr M. Fielding. The General Board have accepted the Faculty Board's proposals for the establishment of the new Professorships on this basis. They have accordingly agreed that, if the recommendations of this Report are approved, they will suppress the three University Lectureships mentioned above.

7. The General Board are assured that suitable accommodation for the Professors is available, and that the necessary support and facilities can also be provided in both cases. They are also satisfied that appointments at this level will be likely to attract strong fields of well-qualified candidates.

8. The General Board accordingly propose that a Professorship of Primary Education and a Professorship of Educational Leadership should be established in the University from 1 October 2000, and assigned to the Department of Education. They have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board of Education that elections to the Professorships should be made by ad hoc Boards of Electors. They have also agreed, in each case, that candidature should be open to all persons whose work falls within the general field of the title of the office concerned.

9. The General Board recommend:

I. That a Professorship of Primary Education be established from 1 October 2000, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Education.

II. That a Professorship of Educational Leadership be established from 1 October 2000, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Education.

21 July 1999

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Cambridge University Reporter, 28 July 1999
Copyright © 1999 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.