David Bell (university administrator)

Sir David Robert Bell KCB (born March 1959 in Glasgow) is a public policy analyst who is Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland.[1] He was previously Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading for 6 years.[2] Prior to that, he was Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[5]

Educational standards

Bell took up his post as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools on 1 May 2002.[6] 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.[3]

University of Reading

Sir David Bell faces student protests

In 2012, Sir David left the civil service to become the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading. He succeeded Gordon Marshall.[2]

In 2016 a move to reorganise the structure of Reading University provoked student protests.[7] On 21 March 2016, staff announced a vote of no confidence in David Bell,[8] the no-confidence motion being backed by 88% of those who voted.[9]

Sir David left Reading “under a cloud”, according to Times Higher Education [10] when it emerged that Reading had returned a £20 million deficit, largely because of its Malaysia campus.

University of Sunderland

Sir David began his new role as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland on 24 September 2018. He announced the closure of history, politics, modern languages and public health courses and research on 13 January 2020[11].

Personal life

Bell was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2011 Birthday Honours.[12]

References

1. "Our new Vice-Chancellor". University of Sunderland News. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
2. "University of Reading appoints Permanent Secretary for Education as new Vice-Chancellor". University of Reading Press Releases. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
3. "David Bell Named as new Permanent Secretary at Department for Education and Skills". Department for Children, Schools and Families. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
4. "University welcomes new Vice-Chancellor". Press Release. University of Reading. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
5. A & C Black (2015). "BELL, Sir David (Robert)". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
6. "David Bell – Permanent Secretary, Department for Children, Schools and Families". UK Civil Service. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
7. Hyde, Nathan. "Cost-cutting review slammed by University of Reading student". getreading. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
8. Hyde, Nathan. "University of Reading vice chancellor faces vote of no confidence". getreading. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
9. "'No confidence' in University of Reading vice-chancellor". bbc. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
10. Morgan, John. "Tough at the top: v-cs who left under a cloud". Times Higher. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
11. "Announcing our career-focused curriculum". University of Sunderland. University of Sunderland. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
12. "No. 59808". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2011. p. 2.

Offices held

Government offices
Preceded by Sir Mike Tomlinson	Chief Inspector at Ofsted 2002–2006	Succeeded by Maurice Smith as Interim
Preceded by Sir David Normington	Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education and Skills 2006–2007	Succeeded by Himself as PUS, DCSF
Preceded by Himself as PUS, DfES	Permanent Secretary of the Department for Children, Schools and Families 2007–2010	Succeeded by Himself as PUS, DfE
Preceded by Himself as PUS, DCSF	Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education 2010–2012	Succeeded by Tom Jeffery as Acting
Academic offices
Preceded by Gordon Marshall	Vice-chancellor of the University of Reading 2012–2019	Incumbent