Nigel Ronald Anthony de Gruchy (born 28 January 1943) is a British former

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

official.

Career

De Gruchy attended De La Salle College on

Jersey Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label=Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependencies, Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west F ...

, then 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 ...

, where he graduated with a BA in Economics and History. After a few years teaching English in Spain and France, during which time he received qualifications in French from the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

and the

Alliance Française An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

, he completed a

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 ...

at the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

. He became a teacher at St Joseph's Academy, Blackheath in London, rising to become its head of economics, and also joined the

National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers The NASUWT is a TUC-affiliated trade union representing teachers, including headteachers, throughout the United Kingdom. The early years 1919–1976; breakaway and the formation of a new union The origins of the NASUWT can be traced back to ...

(NASUWT), first being elected to its national executive in 1975.de Gruchy, Nigel Ronald Anthony
, ''

Who's Who ''Who's Who'' (or ''Who is Who'') is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biography, biographical information on the prominent people of a country. The title has been adopted as an expression meaning a gr ...

NASUWT

In 1978, de Gruchy became the full-time Assistant Secretary of the NASUWT, then in 1983 he became Deputy General Secretary, and in 1990 was elected as General Secretary of the union.Nigel de Gruchy: The teachers' leader who spoke in sound bites
, ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'', 28 March 2002 As leader of the union, de Gruchy opposed the introduction of the

National Curriculum A national curriculum is a common programme of study in schools that is designed to ensure nationwide uniformity of content and standards in education. It is usually legislated by the national government, possibly in consultation with state or other ...

. His opposition was a major reason why the Labour Party, on coming to power, commissioned the

Dearing Report The Dearing Report, formally known as the reports of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, is a series of major reports into the future of Higher Education in the United Kingdom, published in 1997. The report was commissioned by ...

into education. De Gruchy also opposed the introduction of literacy and numeracy hours, and rejected a mooted merger between the NASUWT and rival teachers' unions. He retired as General Secretary in April 2002, but maintained connections with the union, writing ''History of the NASUWT 1919–2002: the story of a battling minority'', which was published in 2013.

Politics

On retirement from the NASUWT, de Gruchy served for a year as President of the Trades Union Congress. In 2007, he was chosen as secretary of the

Orpington Orpington is a town and area in south east London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south east of Charing Cross. On the south-eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area, it is south of St Ma ...

Labour Party. He fought

as the Labour candidate in both

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

and 2017, being defeated on both occasions by the

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

incumbent Jo Johnson. In 2015, at 72 years and 3 months, he claimed that he was the oldest first-time candidate to stand in the election, whereas in fact Ian Sanderson (Liberal Democrat,

Romford Romford is a large town in east London and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. Historically, Romford ...

) was the oldest at 73 years and 8 months.)Richard Vaughan,
Former NASUWT leader Nigel de Gruchy stands as Labour candidate
, ''

Times Educational Supplement ''Tes'', formerly known as the ''Times Educational Supplement'', is a weekly UK publication aimed at education professionals. It was first published in 1910 as a pull-out supplement in ''The Times'' newspaper. Such was its popularity that in 19 ...

'', 1 May 2015

References

External links

Describing politicians as 'self-seeking, self-opinionated rogues' in April 2002
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Gruchy, Nigel 1943 births Living people Alumni of University of London Worldwide Alumni of the University of London Alumni of the University of Reading Jersey people General Secretaries of NASUWT University of Paris alumni Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress Presidents of the Trades Union Congress People educated at De La Salle College, Jersey British expatriates in France