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
344:
418:
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
1152:
530:
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.
1453:
508:
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.
471:
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
1303:
1526:
447:, which confirmed that in 1997 Woodhead had over-ruled a unanimous decision by his own inspectors, and a subsequent inspection visit by HMI inspectors, to declare that
1449:
292:
969:
1173:
1511:
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?"
662:
1491:
475:, a damning verdict on the systemic failures of British education, was published. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed a Professor of Education at the
451:
was failing and required special measures. According to the head of the school at the time, "the consequences for staff and pupils were catastrophic".
1129:
479:. He continued to speak out in public on many issues relating to education at both school and university level, often provoking great controversy.
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
1245:
1368:
524:
295:
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
1536:
1501:
1226:
444:
420:
384:
367:
as Head of
English. During this period, he was noted for his espousal of "progressive" educational ideology, which he later recanted.
748:
340:
1323:
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
1072:
871:
627:
516:
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
388:
1516:
565:
1541:
328:
1407:
1496:
391:) which replaced the National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council from 1 October 1993.
923:
898:
400:
966:
320:
815:
1506:
1017:
775:
493:, a critical examination of the almost two decades of education policy and reforming initiative, was published.
1431:
1284:
1174:"As Chris Woodhead says, pupil-teacher sex is indeed "experiential". But so are war, crime and serious illness"
1137:
1359:
1531:
936:
800:
990:
555:
Woodhead enjoyed running and rock climbing until he was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative condition
1521:
93:
1393:
1098:
845:
660:
Curthoys, Mark (2019). "Woodhead, Sir
Christopher Anthony (Chris) (1946–2015), schools inspector".
476:
352:
1263:
448:
1320:
556:
549:
533:
Cognita became embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal when it emerged that one of its teachers,
467:
324:
264:
671:
1486:
1481:
364:
8:
513:
497:
461:
1442:
1402:
1268:
875:
113:
631:
1419:
415:
312:
308:
157:
1157:
667:
585:
572:
269:
97:
1199:
1045:
679:
1327:
1125:
973:
545:
1463:
1246:"Elite London school accused of failings over paedophile teacher William Vahey"
423:
360:
356:
288:
125:
101:
1340:
1475:
541:
534:
517:
359:
in English from Keele University in 1974. His final teaching position was at
316:
1304:"Chris Woodhead 'considering suicide' after motor neurone disease diagnosis"
1103:
590:
439:
57:
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills
299:, a company dedicated to fostering private education, from 2004 to 2013.
1415:
595:
376:
348:
256:
83:
79:
924:
Expulsion row hits ex-Ofsted chief Sir Chris Woodhead's schools empire
1227:"I'm desperately sorry, says head who hired paedophile William Vahey"
491:
A Desolation of Learning: Is this the education our children deserve?
408:
708:"Bristol University - Department of English - Department of English"
707:
693:
380:
483:
296:
37:
355:
from 1972 to 1974 as assistant Head of English. He obtained a
56:
944:
540:
He married again in 2006, to Christine Kensett, and lived in
372:
1151:
Chittenden, Maurice; Carr-Brown, Jonathon (25 April 1999).
43:
25:
846:"Woodhead overrode inspectors to fail improving school"
568:
and speak to a bearded social worker about my future."
434:
On 2 November 2000 Woodhead announced his resignation.
1285:"Blairs Mr Education Chris Woodhead considers suicide"
899:"Free schools: private firm Cognita 'milked profits'"
1150:
1527:
People educated at Wallington County Grammar School
403:(OFSTED), the schools inspection service, in 1994.
293:
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England
1358:
1073:"Woodhead lied about sex with pupil, reveals wife"
1040:
1038:
984:
982:
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
1473:
743:
741:
503:
1330:, dignityindying.org.uk; accessed 23 June 2015.
1035:
979:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
725:
723:
721:
287:(20 October 1946 – 23 June 2015) was a British
1369:General Register Office for England and Wales
896:
749:"Sir Chris Woodhead, Ofsted chief - obituary"
622:
620:
16:Former teacher and Chief Inspector of Schools
718:
666:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1512:Deaths from motor neuron disease in England
813:
1096:
617:
385:School Curriculum and Assessment Authority
36:
1492:Academics of the University of Buckingham
1282:
917:
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
1262:
843:
659:
1360:"DOR Q2/2015 in WESTMINSTER (258-1A)"
1341:"Former school inspector Woodhead dies"
1124:
773:
663:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
389:Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
1474:
1272:(Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 1.
1070:
991:"The loves and lies of Chris Woodhead"
988:
694:"Selsdon Primary School & Nursery"
655:
653:
651:
649:
1301:
1243:
1224:
844:Smithers, Rebecca (4 February 2005).
672:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.110531
520:, who knew the Woodheads in Bristol.
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"
1015:
872:"Reader's Digest - British Edition"
646:
459:He was employed as a columnist for
399:Woodhead was appointed head of the
13:
1225:Booth, Robert (27 November 2014).
1171:
496:He was on the Advisory Council of
14:
1553:
1387:
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
201:
1351:
1333:
1314:
1295:
1276:
1256:
1237:
1218:
1192:
1165:
1144:
1118:
1090:
1064:
1009:
959:
929:
897:Daniel Boffey (10 April 2011).
890:
864:
837:
454:
443:obtained information using the
375:(1988–90), as well as posts in
334:
219:
197:
1425:
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"
807:
793:
776:"Meet the real Chris Woodhead"
767:
700:
686:
608:
559:in 2006. In an interview with
429:
1:
1517:English educational theorists
816:"Islington Green High School"
601:
504:Personal life and controversy
489:In May 2009 his second book,
351:from 1969 to 1972, moving to
302:
237:
1542:Schoolteachers from Somerset
1302:Paton, Graeme (3 May 2009).
680:UK public library membership
145:Christopher Anthony Woodhead
7:
579:
552:for services to education.
10:
1558:
1497:Alumni of Keele University
1321:Christopher Woodhead Quote
445:Freedom of Information Act
1460:
1447:
1439:
1394:His departure as seen by
937:"Pencil-Sharp Publishing"
630:. Cognita. Archived from
571:Woodhead was a patron of
394:
278:
255:
247:
232:
178:
164:
140:
135:
131:
119:
107:
89:
73:
62:
55:
51:
35:
23:
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
1470:
1469:
1461:Succeeded by
1178:The New Statesman
1140:on 22 April 2013.
1052:. 7 February 1999
678:(Subscription or
282:
281:
236:Amanda Johnston (
212:Christine Kensett
1549:
1522:Knights Bachelor
1440:Preceded by
1437:
1436:
1398:in November 2000
1381:
1380:
1378:
1376:
1362:
1355:
1349:
1348:
1337:
1331:
1318:
1312:
1311:
1299:
1293:
1292:
1280:
1274:
1273:
1260:
1254:
1253:
1241:
1235:
1234:
1222:
1216:
1215:
1213:
1211:
1196:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1185:
1169:
1163:
1162:
1158:The Sunday Times
1148:
1142:
1141:
1136:. Archived from
1128:(3 March 2001).
1126:Pearson, Allison
1122:
1116:
1115:
1113:
1111:
1094:
1088:
1087:
1085:
1083:
1068:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1057:
1042:
1033:
1032:
1030:
1028:
1013:
1007:
1006:
1004:
1002:
986:
977:
967:Advisory Council
963:
957:
956:
954:
952:
943:. Archived from
941:pencil-sharp.com
933:
927:
921:
915:
914:
912:
910:
894:
888:
887:
885:
883:
874:. Archived from
868:
862:
861:
859:
857:
841:
835:
834:
832:
830:
820:
811:
805:
804:
801:"Chris Woodhead"
797:
791:
790:
788:
786:
771:
765:
764:
762:
760:
745:
716:
715:
704:
698:
697:
690:
684:
683:
675:
657:
644:
643:
641:
639:
634:on 22 March 2012
628:"Executive Team"
624:
615:
612:
586:Assisted suicide
573:Dignity in Dying
561:The Sunday Times
468:The Sunday Times
270:Keele University
242:
239:
233:Domestic partner
223:
221:
205:
203:
199:
171:
154:
152:
136:Personal details
122:
110:
98:Gillian Shephard
76:
67:
40:
21:
20:
1557:
1556:
1552:
1551:
1550:
1548:
1547:
1546:
1472:
1471:
1466:
1457:
1450:Chief Inspector
1445:
1428:
1390:
1385:
1384:
1374:
1372:
1357:
1356:
1352:
1347:. 23 June 2015.
1339:
1338:
1334:
1328:Wayback Machine
1319:
1315:
1300:
1296:
1281:
1277:
1261:
1257:
1242:
1238:
1223:
1219:
1209:
1207:
1198:
1197:
1193:
1183:
1181:
1170:
1166:
1149:
1145:
1123:
1119:
1109:
1107:
1095:
1091:
1081:
1079:
1077:The Independent
1069:
1065:
1055:
1053:
1044:
1043:
1036:
1026:
1024:
1014:
1010:
1000:
998:
987:
980:
974:Wayback Machine
964:
960:
950:
948:
947:on 11 July 2017
935:
934:
930:
922:
918:
908:
906:
895:
891:
881:
879:
870:
869:
865:
855:
853:
842:
838:
828:
826:
818:
812:
808:
799:
798:
794:
784:
782:
772:
768:
758:
756:
747:
746:
719:
706:
705:
701:
692:
691:
687:
677:
658:
647:
637:
635:
626:
625:
618:
613:
609:
604:
582:
544:. Woodhead was
506:
457:
432:
397:
337:
305:
274:
240:
228:
225:
222: 2006)
217:
213:
207:
204: 1976)
195:
191:
188:
187:Cathy Greenaway
174:London, England
173:
169:
156:
155:20 October 1946
150:
148:
147:
146:
120:
108:
100:
96:
82:
74:
68:
63:
47:
31:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1555:
1545:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1468:
1467:
1462:
1459:
1446:
1441:
1435:
1434:
1427:
1424:
1423:
1422:
1416:Chris Woodhead
1413:
1405:
1400:
1389:
1388:External links
1386:
1383:
1382:
1350:
1332:
1313:
1294:
1275:
1255:
1236:
1217:
1191:
1172:French, Sean.
1164:
1143:
1117:
1089:
1063:
1034:
1008:
978:
958:
928:
916:
889:
863:
836:
806:
792:
766:
717:
699:
685:
645:
616:
606:
605:
603:
600:
599:
598:
593:
588:
581:
578:
514:ménage à trois
505:
502:
456:
453:
431:
428:
424:David Blunkett
396:
393:
361:Gordano School
336:
333:
304:
301:
289:educationalist
280:
279:
276:
275:
273:
272:
267:
261:
259:
253:
252:
249:
245:
244:
234:
230:
229:
227:
226:
215:
211:
210:
208:
193:
189:
186:
185:
182:
180:
176:
175:
172:(aged 68)
166:
162:
161:
144:
142:
138:
137:
133:
132:
129:
128:
123:
117:
116:
111:
105:
104:
102:David Blunkett
91:
87:
86:
77:
75:Prime Minister
71:
70:
60:
59:
53:
52:
49:
48:
42:Woodhead in a
41:
33:
32:
29:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1554:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1480:
1479:
1477:
1465:
1456:
1455:
1451:
1444:
1438:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1421:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1410:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1397:
1392:
1391:
1370:
1366:
1361:
1354:
1346:
1342:
1336:
1329:
1325:
1322:
1317:
1310:. London, UK.
1309:
1305:
1298:
1291:. London, UK.
1290:
1286:
1279:
1271:
1270:
1265:
1259:
1251:
1247:
1240:
1232:
1228:
1221:
1205:
1201:
1195:
1179:
1175:
1168:
1160:
1159:
1154:
1147:
1139:
1135:
1134:The Telegraph
1131:
1127:
1121:
1106:
1105:
1100:
1093:
1078:
1074:
1067:
1051:
1047:
1041:
1039:
1023:
1019:
1012:
996:
992:
985:
983:
975:
971:
968:
962:
946:
942:
938:
932:
925:
920:
904:
900:
893:
877:
873:
867:
851:
847:
840:
824:
817:
810:
802:
796:
781:
777:
770:
754:
753:The Telegraph
750:
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
726:
724:
722:
713:
712:bristol.ac.uk
709:
703:
695:
689:
681:
673:
669:
665:
664:
656:
654:
652:
650:
633:
629:
623:
621:
611:
607:
597:
594:
592:
589:
587:
584:
583:
577:
574:
569:
567:
562:
558:
553:
551:
547:
543:
542:Herefordshire
538:
536:
535:William Vahey
531:
528:
526:
521:
519:
518:Tony Robinson
515:
509:
501:
499:
494:
492:
487:
485:
480:
478:
474:
470:
469:
464:
463:
452:
450:
446:
442:
441:
435:
427:
425:
422:
417:
412:
410:
404:
402:
392:
390:
386:
382:
378:
374:
368:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
345:Priory School
342:
332:
330:
326:
322:
318:
317:South Croydon
314:
310:
300:
298:
294:
290:
286:
277:
271:
268:
266:
263:
262:
260:
258:
254:
250:
246:
235:
231:
209:
184:
183:
181:
177:
167:
163:
159:
143:
139:
134:
130:
127:
124:
118:
115:
112:
106:
103:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
72:
66:
61:
58:
54:
50:
45:
39:
34:
27:
22:
19:
1448:
1411:2001 article
1408:
1396:The Guardian
1395:
1373:. Retrieved
1364:
1353:
1344:
1335:
1316:
1307:
1297:
1288:
1278:
1267:
1258:
1250:The Guardian
1249:
1239:
1231:The Guardian
1230:
1220:
1208:. Retrieved
1203:
1194:
1182:. Retrieved
1177:
1167:
1156:
1146:
1138:the original
1133:
1120:
1108:. Retrieved
1104:The Guardian
1102:
1092:
1080:. Retrieved
1076:
1066:
1054:. Retrieved
1049:
1025:. Retrieved
1021:
1011:
999:. Retrieved
995:The Guardian
994:
961:
949:. Retrieved
945:the original
940:
931:
919:
907:. Retrieved
903:The Observer
902:
892:
880:. Retrieved
876:the original
866:
854:. Retrieved
850:The Guardian
849:
839:
827:. Retrieved
822:
809:
795:
785:22 September
783:. Retrieved
779:
769:
757:. Retrieved
752:
711:
702:
688:
661:
636:. Retrieved
632:the original
610:
591:Right to die
570:
560:
554:
539:
532:
529:
522:
510:
507:
495:
490:
488:
481:
472:
466:
460:
458:
455:Later career
440:The Guardian
438:
436:
433:
413:
405:
398:
369:
338:
335:Early career
306:
284:
283:
170:(2015-06-23)
168:23 June 2015
121:Succeeded by
64:
18:
1487:2015 deaths
1482:1946 births
1432:Teachers TV
1426:Video clips
1264:"No. 59808"
525:Ruth Miskin
430:Resignation
109:Preceded by
94:John Patten
1476:Categories
1458:1994–2000
1375:6 December
882:15 January
682:required.)
602:References
596:Euthanasia
377:Shropshire
365:Portishead
349:Shrewsbury
303:Early life
257:Alma mater
151:1946-10-20
84:Tony Blair
80:John Major
1409:Telegraph
1289:The Times
1110:9 January
414:When the
409:straw man
313:Addington
291:. He was
160:, England
69:1994–2000
65:In office
1345:BBC News
1324:Archived
1204:BBC News
1050:BBC News
970:Archived
965:Reform,
909:14 April
905:. London
852:. London
638:14 April
580:See also
566:Dignitas
546:knighted
381:Cornwall
315:Road in
248:Children
90:Minister
1210:30 July
1184:30 July
1082:30 July
1027:30 July
1001:30 July
951:21 July
856:11 June
829:11 June
759:28 June
548:in the
484:Cognita
319:, then
297:Cognita
224:
216:
206:
194:
190:
179:Spouses
1454:Ofsted
1056:1 July
676:
498:Reform
416:Labour
395:OFSTED
1206:. BBC
997:. GMG
819:(PDF)
373:Devon
218:(
214:
196:(
192:
1420:IMDb
1377:2023
1212:2015
1186:2015
1112:2024
1084:2015
1058:2015
1029:2015
1003:2015
953:2020
911:2011
884:2005
858:2011
831:2011
787:2012
761:2015
640:2011
465:and
379:and
329:PGCE
202:div.
165:Died
141:Born
1452:at
1418:at
668:doi
363:in
347:in
44:BBC
26:Sir
1478::
1367:.
1363:.
1343:.
1306:.
1287:.
1266:.
1248:.
1229:.
1202:.
1176:.
1155:.
1132:.
1101:.
1075:.
1048:.
1037:^
1020:.
993:.
981:^
939:.
901:.
848:.
821:.
778:.
751:.
720:^
710:.
648:^
619:^
527:.
500:.
426:.
357:MA
331:.
238:c.
220:m.
198:m.
1379:.
1252:.
1233:.
1214:.
1188:.
1161:.
1114:.
1086:.
1060:.
1031:.
1005:.
955:.
913:.
886:.
860:.
833:.
789:.
763:.
714:.
696:.
674:.
670::
642:.
251:1
243:)
153:)
149:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.