Ted Wragg
Encyclopedia
Edward Conrad Wragg known as Ted Wragg, was a British
education
alist and academic known for his advocacy of the cause of education and opposition to political interference in the field. He was Professor of Education at Exeter University
from 1978 to 2003, serving as Emeritus Professor of Education from 2003 till his death, and a regular columnist in the Times Educational Supplement
and The Guardian
.
In the UK, the Ted Wragg Teaching Award for Lifetime Achievement honours his memory, and is given out annually to educators who are considered to have shown excellent devotion to teaching throughout their careers.
and attended Hunters Bar Primary School and then King Edward VII School
(photo), followed by Hatfield College
, Durham University
where he obtained a B.A.
degree in German
, awarded with first class honours. He taught at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
from 1960 to 1964 when he moved to be Head of German at Wyggeston Boys' School
in Leicester
. In 1966 he went to the University of Leicester
where he obtained a M.Ed. degree.
began in the late 1960s when he went there to lecture on Education, principally the methodology of teaching Modern Languages, and to study for a Ph.D.
(which he was awarded in 1972). As Professor of Education at Nottingham University
from 1973 to 1978, he created the University's Post Graduate Certificate of Education course (he also acted as Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons
Select Committee on the attainments of school-leavers in 1976-77).
In 1978 he returned to Exeter as a Professor where he headed the amalgamation of the Exeter Education department with St Luke's College. While at Exeter he directed numerous research projects on such topics as classroom processes, teaching strategies, curriculum evaluation, appraising competence and incompetence, and performance-related pay. He also studied education in numerous countries around the world. Throughout his academic career he would always make time to teach a class of children for one or two days a week so that he would remain in touch with the profession at the 'chalkface
'.
in 1981-82, Chairman of the Educational Broadcasting Council of the UK from 1981 to 1986 as well as a member of the board of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
from 1997 to 2003. He wrote more than 50 books on a wide range of educational topics, as well as producing a 120-book reading scheme, two CD-ROMs, a DVD
on teachers' questions, and many videos and audiotapes. Shortly before his death he was elected as an Academician of the Social Sciences.
and the Guardian
. Wragg was an advocate of warmth, humour and humanity in the classroom and defended these ideals with passion against a narrowly utilitarian approach to learning; he was vociferous in opposing attempts to roll back the education changes of the 1960s. He had a ready and sharp wit, which worked well with his savage indignation at politically-inspired educational reforms. Although initially his beliefs were reflected by the government of Tony Blair
, he later fell out with it and attacked it, nicknaming Ruth Kelly
"Ruth Dalek
" and "The Duchess of Drivel"; he also coined the nickname 'Tony Zoffis' (Tony's
office) for Andrew Adonis
, then a member of the Downing Street
policy unit but subsequently ennobled and appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
alist and academic known for his advocacy of the cause of education and opposition to political interference in the field. He was Professor of Education at Exeter University
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
from 1978 to 2003, serving as Emeritus Professor of Education from 2003 till his death, and a regular columnist in the Times Educational Supplement
Times Educational Supplement
The Times Educational Supplement is a weekly UK publication aimed primarily at school teachers in the UK. It was first published in 1910 as a pull-out supplement in The Times newspaper. Such was its popularity that in 1914, the supplement became a separate publication selling for 1 penny.The TES...
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
In the UK, the Ted Wragg Teaching Award for Lifetime Achievement honours his memory, and is given out annually to educators who are considered to have shown excellent devotion to teaching throughout their careers.
Early career
Wragg was born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
and attended Hunters Bar Primary School and then King Edward VII School
King Edward VII School (Sheffield)
King Edward VII School is a secondary school and language college located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. KES, named after the reigning monarch, was formed in 1905 when Wesley College was merged with Sheffield Royal Grammar School on the site of the former on Glossop Road...
(photo), followed by Hatfield College
Hatfield College
Hatfield College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Founded in 1846 by the Rev. David Melville, it is the second oldest of Durham's colleges, and was originally called Bishop Hatfield's Hall...
, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
where he obtained a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, awarded with first class honours. He taught at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School is an independent school in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. QEGS is distinct from most other schools in that it was founded by Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1591 at the request of leading citizens in Wakefield 75 in total and some of whom formed the...
from 1960 to 1964 when he moved to be Head of German at Wyggeston Boys' School
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, or "Q.E" is a sixth form college in Leicester, England.-Admissions:There are 1,865 full-time 16-18 year-old students and 140 teaching staff. More than 40 subjects are offered at A Level. Somewhat against the national trend Mathematics and Sciences account...
in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. In 1966 he went to the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
where he obtained a M.Ed. degree.
Academic career
His long association with Exeter UniversityUniversity of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
began in the late 1960s when he went there to lecture on Education, principally the methodology of teaching Modern Languages, and to study for a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(which he was awarded in 1972). As Professor of Education at Nottingham University
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
from 1973 to 1978, he created the University's Post Graduate Certificate of Education course (he also acted as Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
Select Committee on the attainments of school-leavers in 1976-77).
In 1978 he returned to Exeter as a Professor where he headed the amalgamation of the Exeter Education department with St Luke's College. While at Exeter he directed numerous research projects on such topics as classroom processes, teaching strategies, curriculum evaluation, appraising competence and incompetence, and performance-related pay. He also studied education in numerous countries around the world. Throughout his academic career he would always make time to teach a class of children for one or two days a week so that he would remain in touch with the profession at the 'chalkface
Chalkface
Chalkface literally means a cliff or quarry exposing chalk, e.g. the White Cliffs of Dover.To work "at the chalkface" means to work in education, specifically in a school. This term, believed to have originally been coined by Ted Wragg for his Times Educational Supplement column, should be seen as...
'.
Professional recognition
Wragg was president of the British Educational Research AssociationBritish Educational Research Association
The British Educational Research Association is an association dedicated to promoting a researching culture within the academic field, and informing guidance on policy and practice within the field. They provide a forum for academic discussion through holding conferences, disseminating material,...
in 1981-82, Chairman of the Educational Broadcasting Council of the UK from 1981 to 1986 as well as a member of the board of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
from 1997 to 2003. He wrote more than 50 books on a wide range of educational topics, as well as producing a 120-book reading scheme, two CD-ROMs, a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on teachers' questions, and many videos and audiotapes. Shortly before his death he was elected as an Academician of the Social Sciences.
Commentary
He was a frequent broadcaster on radio and television and wrote regularly in newspapers including the Times Educational SupplementTimes Educational Supplement
The Times Educational Supplement is a weekly UK publication aimed primarily at school teachers in the UK. It was first published in 1910 as a pull-out supplement in The Times newspaper. Such was its popularity that in 1914, the supplement became a separate publication selling for 1 penny.The TES...
and the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. Wragg was an advocate of warmth, humour and humanity in the classroom and defended these ideals with passion against a narrowly utilitarian approach to learning; he was vociferous in opposing attempts to roll back the education changes of the 1960s. He had a ready and sharp wit, which worked well with his savage indignation at politically-inspired educational reforms. Although initially his beliefs were reflected by the government of Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, he later fell out with it and attacked it, nicknaming Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
"Ruth Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
" and "The Duchess of Drivel"; he also coined the nickname 'Tony Zoffis' (Tony's
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
office) for Andrew Adonis
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis is a British academic, journalist, Labour Party politician and Life Peer, who was Secretary of State for Transport between 2009-2010....
, then a member of the Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
policy unit but subsequently ennobled and appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education.
Selected publications
Ted Wragg was a prolific writer. The following list of some of his books is freely adapted from the material posted on the Exeter University Curriculum Vitae. A number of these items have been translated.- E C Wragg (1974) Teaching Teaching David and Charles
- E C Wragg, J Oates and P Gump (1976) Classroom Interaction Open University Press
- E C Wragg (1981) Class Management and Control Macmillan
- E C Wragg (1982) Swineshead Revisited Trentham
- E C Wragg (1982) A Review of Research in Teacher Education NFER-Nelson
- E C Wragg (ed) (1984) Classroom Teaching Skills Croom Helm
- E C Wragg (1984 Pearls from Swineshire Trentham
- E C Wragg (1986) Education: An Action Guide for Parents BBC
- E C Wragg (1987) Teacher Appraisal Macmillan
- E C Wragg (1988) The Wragged Edge Trentham
- E C Wragg and J A Partington (1989) Schools and Parents Cassell
- E C Wragg (1990) Riches from Wragg Trentham
- E C Wragg (1991) Mad Curriculum Disease Trentham
- E C Wragg and M Williams (1993) The Parents' File Southgate
- E C Wragg (1993) No, Minister! Trentham
- E C Wragg (1993) Class Management Routledge
- E C Wragg and G Brown (1993) Explaining Routledge
- G Brown and E C Wragg (1993) Questioning Routledge
- E C Wragg (ed) (1993) Education: a Different Vision IPPR
- E C Wragg (1993) Primary Teaching Skills Routledge
- E C Wragg (1994) An Introduction to Classroom Observation Routledge
- R Dunne and E C Wragg (1994) Effective Teaching Routledge
- E C Wragg, F J Wikeley, C M Wragg, G S Haynes (1996) Teacher Appraisal Observed Routledge
- E C Wragg (1994) Flying Boot Nelson
- E C Wragg (1995) The Ted Wragg Guide to Education Butterworth Heinemann
- E C Wragg (1996) The Last Quango Trentham
- E C Wragg (1997) The Cubic Curriculum Routledge
- E C Wragg (1997) Assessment and Learning Routledge
- E C Wragg (1998) The Prince of Darkness Trentham
- E C Wragg, C M Wragg, G S Haynes and R P Chamberlin (1998) Improving Literacy in the Primary School Routledge
- E C Wragg (1999) An Introduction to Classroom Observation (2nd edition) Routledge
- E C Wragg, G S Haynes, C M Wragg and R P Chamberlin (2000)Failing Teachers? Routledge
- E C Wragg (2001) Class Management in the Primary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg (2001) Class Management in the Secondary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg (2001) Assessment and Learning in the Primary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg (2001) Assessment and Learning in the Secondary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg and G Brown (2001) Explaining in the Primary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg and G Brown (2001) Explaining in the Secondary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg and G Brown (2001) Questioning in the Primary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg, G Brown (2001) Questioning in the Secondary School, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg (2004) Education, Education, Education, Routledge Falmer
- E C Wragg, G S Haynes, Wragg, C M and Chamberlin, R P (2004) Performance Pay for Teachers, Routledge Falmer.
- E C Wragg (Ed) (2004) Teaching and Learning, RoutledgeFalmer.
- E C Wragg (Ed) (2005) Letters to the Prime Minister, Central Books.
- E C Wragg (2005) (in press) The Art and Science of Teaching and Learning, Routledge.
- Editor of the international research journal Research Papers in Education (Taylor and Francis) since 1986.