Sheila Jeanne Browne, (25 December 1924 – 26 August 2015) was an English academic specialising in Medieval French, Chief Inspector of Schools for the United Kingdom, and Principal of

Newnham College, Cambridge Newnham College is a women's constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1871 by a group organising Lectures for Ladies, members of which included philosopher Henry Sidgwick and suffragist campaigner Millic ...

Early life and education

Browne was born on 25 December 1924. She was educated at

Ranelagh School Ranelagh School is a Church of England day school in Berkshire close to the centre of Bracknell. The school was founded by Lord Ranelagh in 1709. Admissions Attendance is limited to Church of England children whose parents attend church at l ...

in Bracknell, before studying modern languages at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. After graduating in 1945, she spent two years at the

École Nationale des Chartes The École Nationale des Chartes (, literally National School of Charters) is a French ''grande école'' and a constituent college of Université PSL, specialising in the historical sciences. It was founded in 1821, and was located initially at ...

Career

In 1947 Browne began teaching and researching as an Assistant Lecturer at

Royal Holloway College Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic departm ...

, University of London. In 1951 she became a Tutor, Fellow and Lecturer in French at

St Hilda's College, Oxford St Hilda's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college is named after the Anglo-Saxon Saint, Hilda of Whitby and was founded in 1893 as a hall for women; it remained a women's college until 20 ...

. In 1961 Browne was appointed as an Inspector of Schools, then in 1970 Staff Inspector for Secondary Education until 1972. She was promoted to Chief Inspector of Schools in 1974, and held this post until 1983. Her reports were frequently critical of government policy. She spoke out against what she saw as government interference in the operations and curriculum of the school system and about the standards set for school inspectors. She also spoke out about the need for research into effective methods of education in a changing society. In the

1977 Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours The 1977 Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours were announced on 11 June 1977 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee and Birthday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados, Mauritius, Fiji, the Bahamas, Grenada, and ...

, she was appointed a Companion 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 one ...

. Browne became an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College in 1978. She was Principal of

, from 1983 to 1992.

Personal

Browne did not marry. Her leisure interests included bellringing,"Sheila Browne RIP"
Newsletter of the Oxford Diocesian Guild of Church Bell Ringers. 7 September 2015 mountains and medieval France. She died on 26 August 2015.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Browne, Sheila 1924 births 2015 deaths Academics of the University of Cambridge Alumni of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford British women academics Companions of the Order of the Bath École Nationale des Chartes alumni Fellows of St Hilda's College, Oxford People educated at Ranelagh Grammar School Principals of Newnham College, Cambridge