Sir David Robert Bell (born March 1959) is a public policy analyst who is Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the
University of Sunderland
, mottoeng = Sweetly absorbing knowledge
, established = 1901 - Sunderland Technical College1969 - Sunderland Polytechnic1992 - University of Sunderland (gained university status)
, staff =
, chancellor = Emel ...
. He was previously Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a public university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as University College, Reading, a University of Oxford extension college. The institution received the power to grant its own degrees in 192 ...
for six years. Prior to that, he was
Permanent Secretary at the
Department for Education
The Department for Education (DfE) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for child protection, child services, education (compulsory, further and higher education), apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
A Department ...
and its predecessor departments from January 2006 until 2012. Before that he was Chief Inspector of Schools at the
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted is responsible for inspecting a range of educational institutions, includ ...
from 2002.
Early life and career
Bell studied history and philosophy at
Glasgow University
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
and obtained his
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE/PGCertEd) is a one- or two-year higher education course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which provides training in order to allow graduates to become teachers within maintained schools. In ...
(PGCE) from
Jordanhill College of Education
Jordanhill Campus is an historic estate within the boundaries of Jordanhill, Glasgow, Scotland, which developed as a country estate. It is best known and most recently used as the home to the Faculty of Education of the University of Strathc ...
. He also has a
Master of Education
The Master of Education (MEd or M.Ed. or Ed.M.; Latin ''Magister Educationis'' or ''Educationis Magister'') is a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum a ...
degree in management and administration from Glasgow University. Bell then held teaching posts at primary schools in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, moving on to become a deputy head, and then a
headteacher
A head master, head instructor, bureaucrat, headmistress, head, chancellor, principal or school director (sometimes another title is used) is the staff member of a school with the greatest responsibility for the management of the school. In som ...
at Kingston Primary School, in
Thundersley
Thundersley is a town and former civil parish, now in the unparished area of Benfleet, in the Castle Point borough, in southeast Essex, England. It sits on a clay ridge shared with Basildon and Hadleigh, east of Charing Cross, London. In 1951 ...
, Essex.
Educational administration
In 1990, Bell became assistant director of education at
Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council is the local government authority for the city and metropolitan borough of Newcastle upon Tyne. The council consists of 78 councillors, three for each of the 26 wards in the city. It is currently controlled by the Labou ...
. During this time he spent a year as a Harkness Fellow at
Georgia State University
Georgia State University (Georgia State, State, or GSU) is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1913, it is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities. It is also the largest institution of hig ...
,
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, 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
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education. DCSF was replac ...
from June 2007, and then the
Department for Education
The Department for Education (DfE) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for child protection, child services, education (compulsory, further and higher education), apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
A Department ...
from May 2010.
University of Reading
![Sir David Bell](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Sir_David_Bell.jpg)
In September 2012,
Bell left the civil service to become the vice-chancellor of the
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a public university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as University College, Reading, a University of Oxford extension college. The institution received the power to grant its own degrees in 192 ...
. He succeeded Acting Vice-Chancellor
Tony Downes.
In 2016 a move to reorganise the structure of Reading University provoked student protests.
On 21 March 2016, staff announced a vote of no confidence in Bell, the no-confidence motion being backed by 88% of those who voted.
Bell left the University of Reading in September 2018 and was succeeded by
Robert Van de Noort as acting vice-chancellor. Bell had left "under a cloud", according to
Times Higher Education
''Times Higher Education'' (''THE''), formerly ''The Times Higher Education Supplement'' (''The Thes''), is a British magazine reporting specifically on news and issues related to higher education.
Ownership
TPG Capital acquired TSL Education ...
when it emerged that Reading had returned a £20 million deficit, largely because of its
Malaysia campus.
University of Sunderland
Bell began his new role as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the
University of Sunderland
, mottoeng = Sweetly absorbing knowledge
, established = 1901 - Sunderland Technical College1969 - Sunderland Polytechnic1992 - University of Sunderland (gained university status)
, staff =
, chancellor = Emel ...
on 24 September 2018.
He announced the closure of history, politics, modern languages and public health courses, and of research in those fields, on 13 January 2020.
Honours
Bell was appointed
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved bathing (as a symbol of purification) as o ...
(KCB) in the
2011 Birthday Honours and a Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear in 2020.
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, David
1959 births
Living people
Academics from Glasgow
Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Permanent Under-Secretaries of State for Education and Skills
Permanent Under-Secretaries of State for Children, Schools and Families
Vice-Chancellors of the University of Reading
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
Deputy Lieutenants of Tyne and Wear
Presidents of the Association for Science Education