Nicholas Tate
Encyclopedia
Dr. Nicholas Tate is a historian who was educated at Balliol College, University of Oxford
, and at the universities of Bristol and Liverpool
and until July 2011 was the Director-General of the International School of Geneva
, Switzerland
. Dr. Tate is known to be vocal in his education philosophy and is a fierce critic of undue reliance on standardized testing.
and Scotland
, and in school examining, Dr. Tate joined England's National Curriculum Council in 1989 at the time of the establishment of the English national curriculum, and for the next 11 years worked for a succession of public bodies charged with the administration of England's school curriculum, assessment and qualifications systems.
From 1994 to 1997 he was chief executive of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and from 1997 to 2000 chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
(the bureau was renamed in 1997). In both of these positions he was the chief curriculum and qualifications adviser to the Secretary of State for Education. During this period he courted controversy with his attacks on cultural relativism
and on its perceived influence on other educationalists' philosophy.
From 2000 to 2003 he was headmaster of Winchester College
, one of England's leading independent boarding schools. In 2003 he was appointed Director-General of the International School of Geneva
. In August 2011 he became Chairman of International Education Systems (IES).
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and at the universities of Bristol and Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and until July 2011 was the Director-General of the International School of Geneva
International School of Geneva
The International School of Geneva , also known as Ecolint, is a private international school based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the oldest currently operating International School in the world...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Dr. Tate is known to be vocal in his education philosophy and is a fierce critic of undue reliance on standardized testing.
History
Following a career in schools and teacher training institutions in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and in school examining, Dr. Tate joined England's National Curriculum Council in 1989 at the time of the establishment of the English national curriculum, and for the next 11 years worked for a succession of public bodies charged with the administration of England's school curriculum, assessment and qualifications systems.
From 1994 to 1997 he was chief executive of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and from 1997 to 2000 chief executive 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...
(the bureau was renamed in 1997). In both of these positions he was the chief curriculum and qualifications adviser to the Secretary of State for Education. During this period he courted controversy with his attacks on cultural relativism
Cultural relativism
Cultural relativism is the principle that an individual human's beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual's own culture. This principle was established as axiomatic in anthropological research by Franz Boas in the first few decades of the 20th century and...
and on its perceived influence on other educationalists' philosophy.
From 2000 to 2003 he was headmaster of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, one of England's leading independent boarding schools. In 2003 he was appointed Director-General of the International School of Geneva
International School of Geneva
The International School of Geneva , also known as Ecolint, is a private international school based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the oldest currently operating International School in the world...
. In August 2011 he became Chairman of International Education Systems (IES).