Name David Bell Role University administrator | Education University of Glasgow | |
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Dean s convocation david bell
Sir David Robert Bell (born March 1959 in Glasgow) is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading. He was previously Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education and its predecessor departments from 3 January 2006 until 2012. Before that he was Chief Inspector of Schools at the Office for Standards in Education from 2002.
Contents
- Dean s convocation david bell
- Early career
- Educational administration
- Educational standards
- University of Reading
- Personal life
- References
Early career
Bell studied history and philosophy at Glasgow University and obtained his PGCE from Jordanhill College of Education. He also has a Master of Education degree in management and administration from Glasgow University. Bell then held teaching posts at primary schools in Glasgow, moving on to become a deputy head, and then a headteacher at Kingston Primary School, in Thundersley, Essex.
Educational administration
In 1990, Bell became assistant director of education at Newcastle City Council. During this time he spent a year as a Harkness Fellow at Georgia State University, Atlanta, studying education and local government reform across the United States of America. Bell trained as an Ofsted team inspector in 1993. He became a Registered Inspector in 1994 and carried out inspections in primary schools. He was promoted to director of education and libraries at Newcastle City Council in 1995 and became chief executive of Bedfordshire County Council in 2000.
Educational standards
Bell took up his post as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools on 1 May 2002. He was Chief Inspector for over three years and, in January 2006, he became Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education and Skills, named the Department for Children, Schools and Families from June 2007, and then the Department for Education from May 2010.
University of Reading
In 2012, Sir David left the civil service to become the Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading. He succeeded Gordon Marshall.
Personal life
Bell was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2011 Birthday Honours.