Following the Second World War, the Presidency returned to a one year tenure, and has stayed that way since. The first post-war President was Sir Cyril Norwood.
The career of Sir Cyril Norwood, who took on the role in the immediate Post War period, is tied up with that of Clement Cyril Carter, who was President at the outbreak of the Second World War and held the post for several years. It must have been a great delight to Carter to be followed a few years later by someone who had no doubt nurtured him and supported him in his own teaching.
It is also the story of someone who influenced the education of generations of schoolchildren, as well as giving a lifetime of service as a teacher, Headteacher and leadership of the HMC, which continues to this day.
Norwood was the son of a Reverend and educated at Merchant Taylor's School, and the University of Oxford.
He was a classics schoolmaster at Leeds Grammar School (1901–1906), before serving as Headmaster of Bristol Grammar School (1906–1916), Master of Marlborough College (1917–1925), Headmaster of Harrow (1926–1934) and President of St John's, Oxford, from 1934-1946.
That's quite a list of schools to have been linked with, and an Oxford college to conclude his career.
Cyril Norwood was Master at Marlborough College, and this is where C C Carter taught at the same time.
There is a Norwood Hall at Marlborough College named after him. I may even try and get to see it as part of my Presidential year travels.
Norwood was knighted in 1938 for services to education.
He had a major influence on the 1944 Education Act, and the division of schools into three categories, which persisted for decades. I started my secondary education after other changes had taken place such as ROSLA, and the introduction of Comprehensive schools - some of the books and folders I used still had 'High School' written on them.
R. A. Butler, then minister for education, chose Norwood to chair a committee on secondary education, which produced a report on Curriculum and Examinations in Secondary Schoolsthat in turn influenced the 1944 Education Act, setting out the template for the division of state schools in England into three categories: secondary modern, technical, and grammar.
Little wonder that Gary McCulloch described Norwood as “one of the most prominent and influential English educators of the part century”. He was also a died-in-the-wool establshment figure who had passed the civil service entrance examination before devoting himself to a career in education. He served as a teacher in Leeds Grammar School, then as Master of Marlborough College, then headteacher of Harrow for eight years, before becoming Master of an Oxford College in 1934.(Source)
Book link to read: https://epdf.tips/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
He had a long career in teaching before he took over the Presidency, at the age of 70 years old.
His Presidential address was simply called 'Geography', and he started by reminiscing about what he had noticed during his 'three score years and ten'.
He started with a useful and positive quote saying:
"there is no subject in the school curriculum which has improved in scope and content more than geography".
"the true geographer finds nothing human alien to his interest"
A book on Norwood's contributions to the development of education was written by G McCulloch
Norwood also co-wrote Carter's obituary.
Norwood retired to Iwerne Minster in Dorset where he died in 1956.
A building is named after him as part of Bristol Grammar School's Elton Road Houses and is primarily used for the teaching of modern languages.
The career of Sir Cyril Norwood, who took on the role in the immediate Post War period, is tied up with that of Clement Cyril Carter, who was President at the outbreak of the Second World War and held the post for several years. It must have been a great delight to Carter to be followed a few years later by someone who had no doubt nurtured him and supported him in his own teaching.
It is also the story of someone who influenced the education of generations of schoolchildren, as well as giving a lifetime of service as a teacher, Headteacher and leadership of the HMC, which continues to this day.
Norwood was the son of a Reverend and educated at Merchant Taylor's School, and the University of Oxford.
He was a classics schoolmaster at Leeds Grammar School (1901–1906), before serving as Headmaster of Bristol Grammar School (1906–1916), Master of Marlborough College (1917–1925), Headmaster of Harrow (1926–1934) and President of St John's, Oxford, from 1934-1946.
That's quite a list of schools to have been linked with, and an Oxford college to conclude his career.
Cyril Norwood was Master at Marlborough College, and this is where C C Carter taught at the same time.
There is a Norwood Hall at Marlborough College named after him. I may even try and get to see it as part of my Presidential year travels.
Norwood was knighted in 1938 for services to education.
He had a major influence on the 1944 Education Act, and the division of schools into three categories, which persisted for decades. I started my secondary education after other changes had taken place such as ROSLA, and the introduction of Comprehensive schools - some of the books and folders I used still had 'High School' written on them.
R. A. Butler, then minister for education, chose Norwood to chair a committee on secondary education, which produced a report on Curriculum and Examinations in Secondary Schoolsthat in turn influenced the 1944 Education Act, setting out the template for the division of state schools in England into three categories: secondary modern, technical, and grammar.
Little wonder that Gary McCulloch described Norwood as “one of the most prominent and influential English educators of the part century”. He was also a died-in-the-wool establshment figure who had passed the civil service entrance examination before devoting himself to a career in education. He served as a teacher in Leeds Grammar School, then as Master of Marlborough College, then headteacher of Harrow for eight years, before becoming Master of an Oxford College in 1934.(Source)
Book link to read: https://epdf.tips/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
He had a long career in teaching before he took over the Presidency, at the age of 70 years old.
His Presidential address was simply called 'Geography', and he started by reminiscing about what he had noticed during his 'three score years and ten'.
He started with a useful and positive quote saying:
"there is no subject in the school curriculum which has improved in scope and content more than geography".
"the true geographer finds nothing human alien to his interest"
A book on Norwood's contributions to the development of education was written by G McCulloch
Norwood also co-wrote Carter's obituary.
Norwood retired to Iwerne Minster in Dorset where he died in 1956.
A building is named after him as part of Bristol Grammar School's Elton Road Houses and is primarily used for the teaching of modern languages.
Marlborough College has not forgotten him.
The main dining hall at Marlborough College is named the Norwood Hall.
Norwood also wrote the lyrics, in Latin, for Bristol Grammar School's song, Carmen Bristoliense, which is still sung today apparently.
During his career he fulfilled other prominent roles, including: Chairman of the Secondary School Examinations Council (1921-46); Chairman, Allied Schools (1934-54); and Chairman of the Committee on Curricula and Examinations, which in 1943 produced the influential report Curriculum and examinations in secondary schools (the "Norwood Report") which led to the post-war tripartite system of secondary education.
Norwood also wrote the lyrics, in Latin, for Bristol Grammar School's song, Carmen Bristoliense, which is still sung today apparently.
During his career he fulfilled other prominent roles, including: Chairman of the Secondary School Examinations Council (1921-46); Chairman, Allied Schools (1934-54); and Chairman of the Committee on Curricula and Examinations, which in 1943 produced the influential report Curriculum and examinations in secondary schools (the "Norwood Report") which led to the post-war tripartite system of secondary education.
A committed Christian, he was also President of the Modern Churchmen's Union (1937-47).
His publications, in addition to the Norwood Report, include: The higher education of boys in England (1909), The English educational system (1928), and The English tradition of education (1929).
His publications, in addition to the Norwood Report, include: The higher education of boys in England (1909), The English educational system (1928), and The English tradition of education (1929).
I contacted Marlborough College to see if their archivist could help fill in some gaps in his entry, given his long association with the school.
Grainne very kindly sent me a range of additional information on Cyril Norwood, as she did previously for Clement Cyril Carter (see that entry)
Quite a CV
Grainne very kindly sent me a range of additional information on Cyril Norwood, as she did previously for Clement Cyril Carter (see that entry)
Educated at Merchant Taylor’s School and Scholar of St John’s College, Oxford, 1st Lit. Hum.
Civil Service (Admiralty) 1899-1900
Assistant Master Leeds Grammar School 1901-06
Head Master Bristol Grammar School 1906-16
Master Marlborough College 1916-25
Member of Marlborough College Council 1926
Head Master Harrow School 1926-34
Hon. Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford 1927, President 1934-36
Chairman of Secondary School Exam Council 1921-46
Editor of Report on Curriculum and Examinations 1943
Past chairman of Head Masters Conference
Knighthood in 1938
She sent an image of Norwood with the Duke of Connaught, from 1925, the only photograph I could source of him. He's on the left in the image.
Grainne also sent me an image of Norwood's obituary in the
References
Norwood, Cyril. “Address to the Geographical Association.” Geography, vol. 31, no. 1, 1946, pp. 1–9. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563684.
Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_Norwood
I added his GA Presidency to this page, as I have with all the other GA Presidents.
https://thelearningprofessor.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/cyril-norwood-and-a-national-labour-service/
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/df921236-0085-49e4-8360-da7efdf7bbb6
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230603523_3
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/norwood1943.html
Papers at Sheffield University: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/special/norwood
Book: https://epdf.pub/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LvJ5CwAAQBAJ&lpg=PT293&ots=_1Lsigvfcz&dq=cyril%20norwood%20geography&pg=PT293#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/ - the Norwood Report
If anyone has further information on Cyril Norwood, please get in touch.
Update - late October 2019
Here's a YouTube clip of Dr Cyril Norwood, as he was then, welcoming boys back to Harrow School for the new year in 1926 as their new Headmaster.
An early clip of a GA President.
1956 Marlburian C Norwood Obit by GeoBlogs on Scribd
References
Norwood, Cyril. “Address to the Geographical Association.” Geography, vol. 31, no. 1, 1946, pp. 1–9. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563684.
Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_Norwood
I added his GA Presidency to this page, as I have with all the other GA Presidents.
https://thelearningprofessor.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/cyril-norwood-and-a-national-labour-service/
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/df921236-0085-49e4-8360-da7efdf7bbb6
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230603523_3
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/norwood1943.html
Papers at Sheffield University: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/special/norwood
Book: https://epdf.pub/cyril-norwood-and-the-ideal-of-secondary-education-secondary-education-in-a-chan.html
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LvJ5CwAAQBAJ&lpg=PT293&ots=_1Lsigvfcz&dq=cyril%20norwood%20geography&pg=PT293#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/norwood/ - the Norwood Report
If anyone has further information on Cyril Norwood, please get in touch.
Update - late October 2019
Here's a YouTube clip of Dr Cyril Norwood, as he was then, welcoming boys back to Harrow School for the new year in 1926 as their new Headmaster.
An early clip of a GA President.
Updated August 2021.
#whsfridayfact 1935 WHS was re-opened at Highden, its current location, by Dr Cyril Norwood, President of St John's College, Oxford. The School Hall, 'Harrow' was named after the school that Dr Norwood was previously Headmaster of. Harrow is used for assembly, gymnastics & plays pic.twitter.com/HdeLudQGnm
— OWLS (@whsowls) January 18, 2019
https://thelearningprofessor.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/cyril-norwood-and-a-national-labour-service/
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/15/nicol-russel-obituary
At his 90th birthday, Nick recalled a "lost" poem composed by Larkin one evening at dinner, mocking the then president of St John's:"If approached by Sir Cyril Norwood
Any respectable whore would
Charge double
For her trouble."
Updated August 2023
On the Norwood Report
"The Long Read: Reform ideas just have to find their moment in history."
— Private Education Policy Forum (@PEPForum) April 29, 2020
This is a genuinely eye-opening, hugely wide-ranging opinion piece from history professor Malcolm Gaskill @uniofeastanglia. Nuggets about private schools and reform you never knew.https://t.co/nQztLwXT2k pic.twitter.com/v5geT1bUlf
#whsfridayfact 1935 WHS was re-opened at Highden, its current location, by Dr Cyril Norwood, President of St John's College, Oxford. The School Hall, 'Harrow' was named after the school that Dr Norwood was previously Headmaster of. Harrow is used for assembly, gymnastics & plays pic.twitter.com/HdeLudQGnm
— OWLS (@whsowls) January 18, 2019
This fascinating comment has just been shared with me by @knightsben So relevant to English teaching & the excessive, damaging impact of examinations on the subject itself. Where's it from and when was it written do you think? Answer coming later! pic.twitter.com/jLdllyednn
— Barbara Bleiman 🎓 Education is Conversation (@BarbaraBleiman) October 17, 2020
"It ought to be our common aim to make education responsive to the needs of our national life, and since these continually change and develop, so ought the content of our education to be continually changing and developing."
(Dr Cyril Norwood (1875 – 1956), Harrow address 1930
“The education that has so far been given to the people is at most partial and second best, and has little in common whether in range or in spirit with the universal education that may be. It was but the least possible with which the people would be contented, and it was calculated to equip not citizens, but servants… But education has to fit us for something… so incomparably precious that it will save a man from being a mere unit, a cipher: it will give him a life of his own, independent of the machine. And therefore at any cost our education must never sink to the level at which it will be merely vocational.” (1929)
There is plenty to read of Norwood's time at Harrow, and opposing views on how successful it was.
McCulloch, Gary. “Cyril Norwood and the English Tradition of Education.” Oxford Review of Education, vol. 32, no. 1, 2006, pp. 55–69. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4618644. Accessed 24 Aug. 2023.
I found this quote, which needs to be referenced:
"It ought to be our common aim to make education responsive to the needs of our national life, and since these continually change and develop, so ought the content of our education to be continually changing and developing." (Dr Cyril Norwood (1875 – 1956), Harrow address 1930
— Kenneth P Armitage⚓️ (@Dinostratus) January 4, 2019
A few thoughts on girls...
Daily Mail October 1928:
When you consider the 100,000 or so of girls of 12 to 18 who are now being educated in the secondary and public schools - the number has increased two and three times since the war - is it not very short-sighted to suppose that a stereotyped course of learning will suit all of them? The majority will eventually marry. At school they are taught exactly as if they were going on to university (quoted in McCulloch 2007:70).
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