Alan Bullock: historian, social democrat and chairman

Abstract

This study considers the influence on British education (particularly schools) of Alan Bullock, Vice‐Chancellor of Oxford University from 1969 to 1973 and distinguished contemporary historian. It quotes extensively from Bullock’s own writings, including his developing personal views on education, and reflections on his own experiences. Following a brief biographical section, the paper reviews his work as chair of Government committees and advisory bodies, notably the Schools Council and the eponymous ‘Bullock Committee’ to consider all aspects of the teaching of English. These experiences contributed to his increasing disillusion with formal political power structures as a means of bringing about social change. I examine Bullock’s long period as a dominant figure in the administration of the University, and the consequences for schools of the changes which occurred over that time, especially the move towards admissions policies based almost entirely upon academic merit, and towards becoming a leading scientific university. St Catherine’s College, which he founded, played a significant part in these changes. Bullock’s personal views on the need to offer in schools a broader education, which would be attractive to young people searching for values of their own, were developed in his later writings and are briefly summarised. The paper speculates that he would not have been happy with the competitive and measurement‐oriented system of today.

Notes

1. I have chosen, whenever possible, to express Alan’s views in his own words rather than attempt a paraphrase. These words are italicised throughout. In writing their account of the creation of St Catherine’s College, Alan’s colleagues, Margaret and Derek Davies, say that they found it difficult to refer to Lord Bullock other than by his Christian name, and used that throughout (Davies & Davies, 1997). I have done the same.