The University welcomes our new Vice-Chancellor

Tuesday, 03 January 2012

Sir David Bell has become the University's 9th Vice-Chancellor

This year marks the start of a new era for the University of Reading as Sir David Bell KCB, officially begins his post as Vice-Chancellor. 

Speaking about his new role Sir David said: "I am honoured and delighted to be joining this prestigious institution at the beginning of a very significant and demanding period for higher education.                                                       

"In leading the University, my overriding purpose will be to maintain and enhance our position as one of the country's top research-led institutions. It was that status that drew me here in the first place because through it, we have the ability to change for the better the world in which we live. Not only that, our students benefit immeasurably from working close to, and with, experts in their respective fields."  

Sir David was born in Glasgow in March 1959. He 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.

He held teaching posts at primary schools in Glasgow, moving on to become a Deputy Head, and then a Headteacher in Essex.

Between 1990 and 1995, he was 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.

Sir David 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.

Sir David was appointed HM Chief Inspector of Schools in England (HMCI) by the Privy Council in 2002. In 2006 he became Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education and Skills which, later, became the Department for Children, Schools and Families and then the Department for Education. As the most senior education civil servant in the country, Sir David served four Secretaries of State and three Prime Ministers.

Sir David became a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2011 Birthday Honours.