Pauline Perry, Baroness Perry of Southwark (née Welch; born 15 October 1931) is an educator, educationist, academic, and activist. She is a

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

politician and was for 25 years a working member of the British

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

. In 1981 she became Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England. In 1986 she became Vice-Chancellor of South Bank Polytechnic, and serving during its transition to a university, became the first woman in history to run a British university.

Early life

Perry was educated at

Wolverhampton Girls' High School Wolverhampton Girls' High School is a grammar school for girls in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands of England. Overview Wolverhampton Girls' High School, founded in 1911, educates girls from the age of 11 to 18. There are 1178 girls enroll ...

and

Girton College, Cambridge Girton College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon as the first women's college at Cambridge. In 1948, it was granted full college status by the un ...

. where she read Moral Sciences (philosophy) and received her MA. For the next 10 years she taught philosophy, mainly at post-graduate level, teaching in England, Canada and the USA. In 1952 she married

Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...

lecturer George Perry, and had three sons and a daughter (Christopher, Timothy, Simon and Hilary).

Career

In 1970, Perry joined HM Inspectorate at the Department of Education and Science, and was appointed Chief Inspector in 1981. In 1986 she became

Vice-Chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

and Chief Executive of South Bank Polytechnic, and serving during its transition to a university became the first woman in history to run a British university. In 1994 she was elected President of

Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge Lucy Cavendish College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was established in 1965 as a women's college and since 2021 has admitted both women and men. The college is na ...

. and served as Head of House for 7 years until 2001. She subsequently held other roles including pro-chancellor of the

University of Surrey The University of Surrey is a public research university in Guildford, Surrey, England. The university received its Royal Charter, royal charter in 1966, along with a Plate glass university, number of other institutions following recommendations ...

2001–2005, Chair of Governors at Roehampton Institute 2001–2005 (which was granted university status in 2003). In 1986, she collaborated with John Cassels and

James Prior James Michael Leathes Prior, Baron Prior, (11 October 1927 – 12 December 2016) was a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician. A Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament from 1959 to 1987, he represe ...

to create the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE), which would become the National Centre for Universities and Business in 2013. She has also been active in the

Southwark Cathedral Southwark Cathedral ( ), formally the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, is a Church of England cathedral in Southwark, London, near the south bank of the River Thames and close to London Bridge. It is the mother c ...

and

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

community and the

City of London The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...

. She was appointed by General Synod as chair of the review group examining the operation of the Crown Appointment Commission, the body which nominates Diocesan Bishops. The Perry Report "Working with the Spirit", was published in May 2001 and led to more transparent selection procedures for the appointment of Anglican Bishops. She was Rector's Warden of Southwark Cathedral from 1990 to 1995. Perry was awarded the

Freedom of the City of London The Freedom of the City of London started around 1237 as the status of a 'free man' or 'citizen', protected by the charter of the City of London and not under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord. In the Middle Ages, this developed into a freedom or ...

in 1991. She was a member of the

Nuffield Council on Bioethics The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is a UK-based independent charitable body, which examines and reports on bioethical issues raised by new advances in biological and medical research. Established in 1991, the Council is funded by the Nuffield F ...

(2003–05), and chaired the Working Party on the ''Ethics of research involving animals''. She has also served as Chair of the Commission on Secondary Reorganisation for the

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham () is a London boroughs, London borough in West London and which also forms part of Inner London. The borough was formed in 1965 as the London Borough of Hammersmith from the merger of the former Metr ...

; Chair of the Commission on Academies and Free Schools in the

London Borough of Wandsworth Wandsworth () is a London boroughs, London borough in South West (London sub region), South West London, England. It forms part of Inner London and has an estimated population of 329,677 inhabitants. Its main communities are Battersea, Balham, P ...

; Co-chair of The Conservatives Public Services Commission, which reported in 2007; and Chair of the Governing Body of Kaplan College and Law School, in 2013. In 2018 the Furfure Educational Trust for Leadership (FETL) who a blog about women who shaped further education, and devoted a whole article to Baroness Pauline Perry, for all of her work with education entitle
100 years of women in FE and skills. A passion for opportunity: Pauline Perry

UK Parliament

On 16 July 1991, she became a

life peer In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the D ...

as The Right Honourable Baroness Perry of Southwark, of

Charlbury Charlbury () is a town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the River Evenlode, Evenlode valley, about north of Witney in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England. It is on the edge of Wychwood, Wychwood Forest and the C ...

in the County of

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

. She sits on the Conservative Party benches. She was appointed a Conservative Party Whip in the Lords in January 2011. She retired from the Lords on 26 May 2016.

Parliamentary Committees

*Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee) 2015–2016 *Liaison Committee (Lords) 2015–2016 *Hybrid Instruments Committee (Lords) 2014–16 *Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I 2010–2011 *Science and Technology Committee (Lords) 2009–14 *Liaison Committee (Lords) 2007–12 *Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I 2005–07 *Science and Technology Committee (Lords) 2003–07 *Committee on Religious Offences 2002–03 *Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee) Lords 2002–2015 *Human Rights (Joint Committee) 2001–03 *Relations between Central and Local Government, Select Committee (1995–96) *Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform 1993–98 *Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I 1993–95 *Science and Technology Committee (Lords) 1992–95 *Member House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology 1992–95, 1997–2005, 2008–10, 2010–14 *Member House of Lords 1991–2016 The official record can be found on he
House of Lords career page

Appointments

2010 to 2019

* Member of the Foundation Board of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge University. (2018 – Present) * Member of the Board of the British University in Egypt (2018 – Present) * Patron: National Conference of University Professors (2016– ) * Chair Governing Body Kaplan College (2014–15) * Abbey Schools (2012–14) * Sub-Committee I igher education in STEM subjects(2011–12)

2000 to 2009

* EU Sub-Committee G – Social Policies and Consumer Protection (2007–09) * Co- Chairman Policy Group on Public Services, Cons Party (2006–07) * Honorary Freeman of the

Worshipful Company of Fishmongers The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers (or Fishmongers' Company) is one of the 111 livery companies of the City of London, being an incorporated guild of sellers of fish and seafood in the City. The Company ranks fourth in the order of precede ...

(2006) * Chair of City and Guilds Quality and Standards Committee (2005–10) * Patron: British Friends of Neve Shalom-Watat al Salaam (2005) * Chair, Inquiry into Energy Efficiency (2004–05) * Inquiry into Animals in Scientific Experiments, Nuffield Council on Bio-Ethics (2003–05) * President, Foundation for Higher Education (2002–06) * Ecclesiastical Committee (2002–16) * On Stem Cell Research (2001–02) * Chair of Governors and Trustee of Roehampton Institute,

(2001–2006) * Pro-Chancellor and Member of Council, University of Surrey (2001–06) * President, Westminster & City Branch of Chartered Management Institute (2000–14) * Vice President, City and Guilds of London Institute * Vice President, British Youth Opera * Governor of

Gresham's School Gresham's School is a private school (English fee-charging boarding and day school) in Holt, Norfolk, England, one of the top thirty International Baccalaureate schools in England. The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a f ...

, Holt (2000–06) * Governor, London South Bank Centre * President, Council for Independent Education (CIFE) (2000–13)

1990 to 1999

* C of E Rec Cp on Operation of Crown Appointments Committee (1999–2001) * Alexander Stone Lecturer in Rhetoric, Glasgow (1999) * Judges Panel on Citizen's Charter (1997–2004) * Trustee, Cambridge University Foundation (1997–2006) * Chairman All-Party University Group (1996–2009) * Royal Society Project Sci, Bd of Patron, (1995–2003) * Relations between Central and Local Government, Select Committee (1995–96) * Chair, Friends of Southwark Cath (1994–2002) * Vice-president City and Guilds of London Institute (1994–99) * On Scrutiny of Delegated Power (1994–98) * Chairman DTI Export Group of Education and Training Sector (1993–98) * National Adv. Council on Education and Training Targets (1993–98) * Companion of the Institute of Management (CIMgt 1993) * Trustee, Daphne Jackson Memorial Trust * Companion of the Institute of Management * Board of Directors, South Bank Centre, (1992–94) * Vice Chancellor South Bank University (1992–93) * Northern Ireland Higher Education Funding Council (1992–94) * Patron: British Youth Opera (1992–) * Liveryman of the

Worshipful Company of Bakers The Worshipful Company of Bakers is one of the livery companies of the City of London. The Bakers' Guild is known to have existed in the twelfth century. From the Corporation of London, the Guild received the power to enforce regulations for ba ...

(1992) *

Freeman of the City of London The Freedom of the City of London started around 1237 as the status of a 'free man' or 'citizen', protected by the charter of the City of London and not under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord. In the Middle Ages, this developed into a freedom or ...

(1992) * Adv. on Police Training to Home Office (1991–93) * Member Court, University of Bath (1991–99) * Trustee, Bacon's City Technology College (1991–99) * St Mark's College, Limpopo SA (1991) * Rector's Warden Southward Cath (1990–94)

1980 to 1989

* ESRC Board Membership (1988–91) * Director South Bank Poly (1987–92) * Governing Body Institute of Development Studies, Sussex Uni (1987–94) * Member: Committee on International Co-Operation in Higher Education, British Council (1987–97) * Chief Inspector, for Schools UK (1981–86)

1970 to 1979

* Staff Inspector (1975) * HM Inspector of School (1970–86)

1960 to 1969

* Part time Lecturer in Education, Dept of Education Studies, Oxford University (1966–70) * Tutor for Inservice Training, Berks (1966–70) * Lecturer in Education (part time) University of Exeter (1962–66) * Lecturer in Philosophy: University of Massachusetts at Salem, (1960–62) * Lecturer in Philosophy: University of Manitoba (1957–59) * Research Fellow, University of Manitoba (1956–57) * High School Evaluator, New England USA (1959–61) * Teacher in English Secondary Schools, Canadian and American High Schools (1953–54 and 1959–61)

Other Memberships (not dated)

* Political Editorial Advisor a
i-MAGAZINE
* Member of the

Institute of Directors The Institute of Directors (IoD) is a British professional organisation for company directors, senior business leaders and entrepreneurs. It is the UK's longest running organisation for professional leaders, having been founded in 1903 and inco ...

* Member of the

International Women's Forum The International Women's Forum (IWF), founded in 1974 as the Women's Forum of New York, is an invitation-only women's organization with some 7,800 members. Its mission is "to support the women leaders of today and tomorrow". The IWF hosts two co ...

* Patron,

Women's Engineering Society The Women's Engineering Society is a United Kingdom professional learned society and networking body for women engineers, scientists and technologists. It was the first professional body set up for women working in all areas of engineering, pred ...

* Patron, St Mark's School, Limpopo Province, South Africa The list of appointments can be found in the

Who's Who A Who's Who (or Who Is Who) is a reference work consisting of biographical entries of notable people in a particular field. The oldest and best-known is the annual publication ''Who's Who (UK), Who's Who'', a reference work on contemporary promin ...

publication.

Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships

The Rt Hon Baroness Perry of Southwark has been awarded the following academic honorary doctorates and fellowships by university's worldwide for her work.

Doctorates

*Bath LL.D 1991 *Sussex D.Litt. 1992 *Aberdeen LL.D 1994 *LSBU LLD 1994 *Wolverhampton Ed.D. 1994 *Surrey D.Univ 1995 *City D.Litt. 2000 *Mercy College, New York. D.Ed. 2014

Fellowships

*City and Guilds of London (2000) *Girton College, Cambridge (1995) *London South Bank University (1994) *Sunderland University (1990) *Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge (1987) *Roehampton University *College of Preceptors

Companion of the Institute of Management

*Hon. Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers (2006) *Freeman of the City of London (1992)

Books and Published Works

She has published numerous articles, contributed chapters in twelve books, and published five books.

Published Books

* The Womb in Which I Lay: Daughters Finding Their Mothers in Life and in Death (published: 6 Mar. 2005) * Diversity and Excellence: A Contribution to the Debate (2001) * Case Studies in Adolescence (published: 1 Jan. 1970) * Your Guide to the Opposite Sex for the Under-twenties (published: 1 Jan. 1970) * Case Studies in Teaching Paperback (published: 1 Dec. 1969) Her book can be found on the authors page o
Amazon
and o
Google Books

Biographical Publications

Pauline Perry appears in several biographical publications which reference her career and achievements. * 'Who's Who' published by A &C Black * 'People of Today' published by Debrett's * 'Peerage and Baronetage' published by Debrett's * ‘Dictionary of International Biography’ published by Melrose Press Ltd, Cambridge * ‘Who’s Who in the World’ published by Marquis Who's Who LLC. USA * '2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century' Ninth Edition. published by Melrose Press Ltd, Cambridge

Arms

References

Sources

parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk; accessed 1 April 2016. {{DEFAULTSORT:Perry of Southwark, Pauline Perry, Baroness 1931 births Living people Politicians from Wolverhampton People educated at Wolverhampton Girls' High School Alumni of Girton College, Cambridge Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II Life peers created by Elizabeth II Conservative Party (UK) life peers Vice-chancellors of London South Bank University Schoolteachers from the West Midlands Civil servants in the Department of Education (United Kingdom) English educational theorists People associated with the University of Surrey Presidents of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge Fellows of Girton College, Cambridge Peers retired under the House of Lords Reform Act 2014